Training members on the new web site

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:22:47 -0400
From: "Hollie Bagley"
Subject: Orientation for new website

Hi All,

Since there has been discussion on training for the new AAUW website, I thought I would let you know about my experience. I introduced Massachusetts members to the beta site on Saturday at our Summer Leadership Training. We had the perfect location--a school library with enough wireless laptops for everyone (34 in attendance), a LCD projector and a Smart Board.

The agenda for the day was jam-packed so I did not have a lot of time. I showed the four main areas of the site (header, footer, left navigation area and content well) and how they remain consistent on each page. I explained the dynamic aspects so the site will not look the same each time it is visited, touched on the RSS feature (way too complicated to get into at this point), demonstrated the site index and search feature and stressed the login to the Member Center. Since I knew that technology skills would range from advanced to neophyte and that "hand-on" learning was my goal, I designed a www.aauw.org scavenger hunt which I have copied below. Feel free to use it and improve upon it. I did it very quickly just thinking about the items I saw exploring the site, what I usually get questions about how to locate on the old site, and tried to include at least one question from each area--membership, program, EF, LAF, etc.

I deliberately started with a difficult question so that those who considered themselves "advanced" would have to do some exploring as well. In retrospect, I would probably start with something a little easier to give everyone a sense of accomplishment right from the get-go. Also, which may or may not have been a mistake, I forgot to tell them to sign into the member center where many of the answers were, so those who remembered to sign in or tried to access the member center navigation tab were prompted to login. I had given each of them her membership ID # on her name tag because I was not sure whether the look-up function was in operation on the beta.

I had two assistants who circulated the room helping those who needed help (and watching frustration levels) and all members shared and helped each other. All in all I thought it was a good introduction to the new site and everyone in the room now knows what a breadcrumb is and how helpful it can be. Another public thank you to Peggy!

Later in the afternoon I did another introduction to Member Services Online database and the many useful features. So far I have received very positive feedback from both advanced and beginner users. In fact, our state president sent me flowers! All left saying they were going to go home to explore the site and many skipped the break to continue to work on the scavenger hunt.

One point of interest--one branch has an extremely young president-elect. Of course, she did not have any trouble with the scavenger hunt and it was good to see she could share her expertise and help our more mature members. It was a great inter-generational exercise.

My one recommendation--ask for as much time as you can on the agenda. Also, you may not have to ask for the URLs, the breadcrumbs might be enough. Below the scavenger hunt is an email cartoon I received this morning--might make a good introduction to your orientation.

1. Find a PowerPoint presentation on the Educational Foundation

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