Web Site Analysis

Nicole Adachi

Wheaton College Community School of the Arts - www.wheaton.edu/csa

Community School of Art (CSA) provides professional instruction in the Fine Arts (Music and Art) to students of all ages (from Birth to Adult) and ability levels. CSA help students develop their aesthetic potential through quality teaching and learning experiences that stimulate growth and understanding through listening, performing, analyzing and creating.

CSA implements the educational philosophies and methods of various noted pedagogues; CSA do so through a Christian worldview, holding that the knowledge of God, through Jesus Christ, is the singular key to personal peace and transformation in the world.

CSA classes take places at Wheaton Community College, Faith Covenant Church and B.R. Ryall YMCA. CSA website also provides Class Schedules and registration forms that you could download (but not sign up online).

CSA provides many programs information in a not-very-organized way. I believe this site is more focus on Analytical type of consumer (parents) that is looking for a good music program for their family. It took me a while to find the program that I am interested but once I found it, I think I like their program design. If I am not live so far away from this school, I will sign up for my kids.

CSA site provides some video that introduce the school and programs. There are several instructors, students and parents that shared their experience with visitor which I think is a very good selling point. CSA also offer online class schedules and registration forms that you could download and print it out.

There is no order process and payment system on this CSA website.

There is no delivery, shipping and return process on CSA website.

CSA provides their contact information (phone number and email) on homepage for visitor to call or email the school. There is no technical support on CSA site.

There is only one level of navigation system on this site. I do think they should have second level navigation for "Instructional Tracks" session since there are many important content related to this topic. "General Information" tab is only working on homepage. Overall the navigation design is ok to me.

They have many good contents but not very organized. For example: I feel like they throw many different subjects on the homepage (MySpace site?). They should design sub-navigation system instead of provide many links on web page. On "Instructional Tracks" page, they should break this session into some sub pages that will make it easier for visitor to find the right program.

Homepage: There is one link on home page that I think is not very appropriated - Find me on MySpace and be my friend. I am guessing this is one of faculty's my space page.

Instructional Tracks page: I think reorganize the content and navigation system will make this site more useful to visitors. For example: "Instructional Tracks" page is really long with too many information. It's hard for parents or student to find the right information. It they could break this page into several sub pages, it will help visitor to navigate to the right program.

Dead links: Fix the "General Information" links on all pages except the homepage.

Current Student Information page: There are only 2 links on this page and I can't tell if the information are current or not. Add some more design and content on this page will be more appealing to visitors.

Performance Opportunity page will be better with more description on different events. Right now there is just a list of events in bullet points.

Logo: There are 2 logos on the top of every sub pages which I think is very confusing. Maybe have the CSA as main logo and Wheaton Community College logo on the bottom of the page will make more sense to visitors. Provide some description like "Back to Wheaton Community College website" so it's more clear that visitors are at CSA site.

Contact Information: I think it might be a good idea to have phone number or email on all pages especially on programs page. It will be easier for visitor to contact the school when they surf the site and also increase the conversion.