Brief Critique of sts.vt.edu

This is not a social website, but some of what we discussed in our class still applies.  Some changes could make it more social and create a more enjoyable experience for visitors.

Highlights:

The website provides lots of useful information for those who want to get a sense of what STS is and to get in touch with faculty.  It provides information about live events (seminar series, course offerings) and links to apply to the program, contact information for professors and forms that students need.  In what it offers it allows all who visit to access the similar possibilities (Heidegger).

Critiques:

The website lacks organic unity. For example, when I click on the two pictures on the homepage they take me to pages with different layouts, even though both pages are information about the professors pictured.  One is very short, the other is lengthy. The layout of the website should be consistent. The layout doesn’t feel consistent as I click through the pages. The office manager’s email is listed at the bottom of the page, but it is not clear who crcrigge@vt.edu is without looking it up.  (Plato - Unity)

The website is very static. There isn't much to do on the website other than gather general information about the program.  Once I've done that, there isn't much to keep me coming back to the site.  It might be useful to publish or link to articles about current projects and papers that faculty or students are working on. This would give visitors are reason to come back to the site. (Plato - Ongoing)

It feels very much like a website is talking to me, and that is not very exciting.  It might be useful to have video messages or articles from faculty or students that talk about the program. Content should indicate that we can improve our lives by participation in the program. (Nietzsche - Ongoing)

None of the content on the website is easily shareable to social media. I know that I can copy and paste the URL but you might include some buttons for that. (Plato - Accessibility) Additionally, the icons to connect to the STS program’s social media pages seem hidden.

It also seems like some pages, particularly the Announcements page have not been updated for a while.  Users will be less likely to find content credible. Many of the professors do not have phone numbers.  Perhaps write “currently unlisted” or “no number.”  Also I assume TVA is a misspelled TBA. There are few images, many professors’ pages lack photos. There are no videos.