Web Manager University – Spring 2009
Class Title: Managing Government Websites 101
| Class Format: | Two–Day Course | |
| Instructor: | Candi Harrison and others | |
| Date | Wednesday – Thursday, February 25–26, 2009 | |
| Time: | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm | |
| Place: | Department of Labor (DOL) |
Directions to DOL |
| Fee: | $400 federal, state, or local U.S. government; $600 for non-government |
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Register for this course (registration form hosted by a third–party vendor)
Course Description
Are you a new government web manager? Are you a contractor working on government websites? Are you a senior web manager who just wants a quick refresher course on web basics? Are you a member of a web team that is planning a new strategic direction? Then this course is for you!
In "Web 101" we'll cover the top 10 "best practices" in managing government's public websites. We'll touch on everything from governance to strategic planning to requirements and regulations to using social media to make your top tasks more effective. You'll hear about usability and using metrics to "listen" to your audience. And you'll learn a little bit about e-democracy and other new challenges awaiting the web manager community. You'll also get a brief overview of the history of government web management, including where we are now and where we're going, to put it all into context.
It's a lot to cover, and you won't come away expert on any one topic. But you will leave the course knowing a little bit about all the major topics that the successful government web manager needs to understand, and you'll know where you need to learn more. You'll also have a chance to get to know some of your colleagues – others who are facing the same challenges you are.
What You'll Learn
The course will cover:
- Roles of a government web manager
- Laws, rules, and requirements for federal public websites
- The importance of "top tasks"
- Basic rules for writing for the web audience
- Principles of usability
- Practical uses of web metrics
- Tips on search engine optimization to help citizens find what they want
- Current uses of social media to engage our audience and make our top tasks more successful
- We'll end with some suggestions for "next steps"
Tentative Agenda
Day 1
| 9:00 – 10:00 | Introduction |
- Where we've been, where we are, where we're going
- Current government web strategy
| 10:00 – 10:15 | Break |
| 10:15 – 12:00 |
Basic Governance |
- Your role as a web manager, in your agency and in the community
- Effective governance
| 12:00 – 1:00 |
Lunch |
| 1:00 – 1:30 |
Putting Citizens First |
- Listen to the audience; top tasks
| 1:30 – 2:15 |
Using Web Metrics |
| 2:15 – 2:30 |
Break |
| 2:30 – 4:00 |
Principles of Usability |
Day 2
| 9:00 – 10:00 |
Writing for the Web |
- Basic rules of writing for the web
- Group writing exercise
| 10:00 – 10:15 |
Break |
| 10:15 – 11:00 |
Basics of SEO |
| 11:00 – 12:00 |
Web Requirements |
| 12:00 – 1:00 |
Lunch |
| 1:00 – 2:00 |
Social Media |
| 2:00 – 2:15 |
Break |
| 2:15 – 3:00 |
Best practices |
| 3:00 – 4:00 |
Summary and Next Steps |
- What you can/should do for yourself
- What you can/should do for your community
- What you might expect in the coming transition
Who Should Attend
Government web managers or web team members (federal, state, or local) who are relatively new to the job, government employees who want to be web managers, contractors working on government websites, and seasoned web managers who want a little refresher.
Level of Course
Beginner (though it could be a good refresher for seasoned web managers as well)
About the Instructor
Candi Harrison was Web Manager at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, from 1995–2005, where she managed HUD's Internet and intranet websites, web–based public kiosks, and web clinics for HUD partners. Under her leadership, HUD received numerous awards, including the first Digital Government Award in 2000 for outstanding use of the Internet in serving citizens; the E–Gov Trailblazer Award in 2001 for HUD's web clinics; and the E–Gov Pioneer Award in 1999 for HUD's kiosks.
In 2004, Candi co-chaired the interagency U.S. Government Web Content Standards Working Group (currently known as the "Web Managers Council"), as part of the Interagency Committee on Government Information (ICGI), required by the E-Gov Act of 2002. The group researched and recommended policies for federal public websites that resulted in OMB's direction to agency heads in OMB Memorandum M–05–04. Candi organized and led workshops across the country to train government web managers on the new federal policies and best practices; and she helped create Webcontent.gov, as a resource for government web managers.
In 2000, Candi founded the Web Content Managers Forum as a means for government web content managers to exchange best practices and lessons learned, a group that now numbers more than 1,300 members across the country. She remained part of its leadership until she retired in September 2005, after 24 years of federal government service.
Since her retirement, Candi has taught several courses for Web Manager University, including courses on web governance and web manager leadership. She also maintains a blog on her experiences and ideas to improve the way government communicates with citizens (http://candioncontent.blogspot.com)
Prior to working in government, Candi was a member of student services staffs at the University of Pennsylvania, PA and Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ. She holds a B.S. in English Education and an M.S. in Higher Education Administration, both from Indiana University.
Presently, Candi lives in Tucson , AZ.
Return to the Spring 2009 Schedule of Classes
Page Updated or Reviewed: January 7, 2008
