Your Audience, Their Limitations & Needs

Questions to ask yourself:

What are the demographics of your audience? Maturity levels? Learning styles? Do your students have the connection speeds required to handle the resources they'll be accessing on your site? (Will they be accessing your material from a 28.8 modem, or from a T1 line at work?)

What web browser will they be using? Do they have the prior experience to use your site effectively and to participate in course activities?

Why is this important?

Audience analysis will affect both technology and pedagogy choices. If you plan to use large graphics, audio, and video in your course, students accessing these materials using a modem may have problems accessing the files due extended download times. A younger, less mature, or inexperienced audience is likely to become lost in the course unless you provide sufficient guideposts and structure (such as interim deadlines).

Decisions you can make:

You can try to design for multiple platforms and browsers. Your audience analysis will also influence the framing information and resources you provide learners such as "how to's", about this site, syllabus, downloads. Consider performing a usability test on your website to see if it is used the way you intended. If you have large files, audio, or video, or if you're providing large texts, consider breaking these components into segments and using multiple formats (like html and pdf for text; cd-rom for multimedia) to minimize technology problems and maximize accessibility.

Resources to explore this issue:

Web Site Garage:
http://websitegarage.netscape.com/

Elements of Good Design course:
http://delta.ncsu.edu/teach/web_development/design/

Usability Testing:
http://staff.washington.edu/rells/