Web Manager University – Fall 2009
Class Title: Managing Government Websites 101
| Class Format: | Two–Day Course | |
| Instructor: | Candi Harrison and others | |
| Date | Wednesday – Thursday, September 23–24, 2009 | |
| Time: | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm EST | |
| Place: | Department of Labor (DOL) | Directions to DOL |
| Fee: | $400 federal, state, or local U.S. government; $600 for non–government participants | |
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? Are you a member of a New Media team or a Public Affairs staff and want to get a basic overview of web management? Then this course is for you!
In "Web 101" we'll cover the top 10 "best practices" for managing government websites. We'll touch on everything from governance to strategic planning to requirements 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 ways to engage citizens in their government and support the goals of greater transparency, participation, and collaboration. 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'll 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 leave with specific strategies for where to fill your gaps in knowledge and experience.
Your instructors are current and former government web managers who will share not only their knowledge, but also their specific strategies and experiences. You'll also have a chance to learn from your colleagues across government – others who are facing the same challenges you are.What You Will Learn
The course will cover:
- Laws, rules, and requirements for federal public websites
- The importance of "top tasks"
- Basic rules for writing for the Web
- Principles of user–centered design
- Practical uses of web metrics
- Tips on search engine optimization to help citizens find what they want
- Uses of social media to engage your audiences and to make your top tasks more successful
- Strategies for "next steps"
Course Outline
Day 1
- Overview: Where we've been, where we are, where we're going as a web manager community. The challenges and opportunities.
- Web Governance: 5 "R's:" roles, relationships, responsibilities, rules, and review. Plus strategic planning
- Listening to Your Audience: Focusing on "top tasks." Practical uses of web metrics. Principles of Usability
Day 2
- Managing and Creating Great Content: Requirements for government websites. Search engine optimization. Tips for writing for the web.
- Leading Change: Being a web leader. Engaging the public and creating transparency. Using social media.
- Final tips and next steps
Who Should Attend
- Current 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;
- Web teams who want to use the training as a jump–off for strategic planning;
- Members of New Media teams or Public Affairs staffs who want an overview of web management;
- Contractors working on government websites; and
- Seasoned web managers who want a 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.
