Forum Moderators: phranque
Im going to be opening a web site that is going to be for students in January. The selling point is that it's going to be the only site for our fair city (Manchester, UK) that is written BY and FOR atudents. The domain name is also quite catchy.
My question, if you were going to a web site about students, what would you want on it? Toughy I know, but I had to think of a good question for you lot, I've not tax'd your brains for long enough :)
As always, any help appreciated,
Sticky (aka TLE)
From the front page link to......
Search Engine, which can search for both Unit's and courses, and the site content.
Dates, when do we start, when do we finish, what week are exams, when are the school events on.
Timetable, for both all courses and for the teachers. If I want to find Dr. Watson wednesday I want to know where he is, and if he's busy.
Contacts Page, listing all faculty staff (this can be divided up into seperate pages obviously, science, arts, medicine etc) and the main contact A PHONE NUMBER TO A REAL PERSON, incase I can't find what I need on your site.
Map of the school. My first day at uni, I don't want to be staring at a map in the front of the school trying to work out where I am.
This is a start, hope it is what you're after.
Also, I've heard of some software, BlackBoard I think, which is great for teachers. They are able to post assingments, lecture notes, notices etc with ease.
If you give them some coverage, I'm sure they will be happy to oblige
not so far from Mcr myself - how about some sort of rag mag type thing on there? say a copy of the last issue maybe??
Core concerns are just the same as everybody else, imho.
accommodation
loans
travel
jobs
insurance
How about a 'welfare' section - dealing with stress, drug / lifestyle issues etc
Although I think 'entertainment' is the big one ;)
links to sources of cheap beer
links to sources of illegal drugs
I suspect that students have changed over the last 25 years though
I like the magazine style idea. A section with articles on college life with how-to information, maybe a health line, a dating line, social information.
I would also think a section for developing professionally. Resume help, job hunting, community service and volunteer opportunities.
Good luck. Sounds like a fun project.
When I was at Uni I was'nt interested in any academic stuff..you get all that on day one -book lists, tutors, lesson etc.
A notice board is what ya need ...2nd hand books, rooms going spare, big party on sat, a trip to Alton Towers etc.
something thats accessable and relaxed rather than than politically correct lesson and sanitised like usual uni offerings.
>>I'm not sure if your site is for one university or all area ones
It's going to be for all the university's in Manchester, so UoM, UMIST, Man Met and Salford.
>>If you give them some coverage, I'm sure they will be happy to oblige
I'm hoping so, most people I've chatted to about the idea seem to think it's a good one. I also have some clever little ideas which as fam as I'm aware aren't in use on ANY web site, but I'll need to speak to some companies first, mostly mobile phone related. If anyone here has links in that department, give me a buzz will ya :)
>>Although I think 'entertainment' is the big one
Definately, I'm a 3rd year here and have 2 years to go and all I remember from my first 2 years is going out and partying, so I think that's going to be a major section
>>I suspect that students have changed over the last 25 years though
No comment ;)
>>Sounds like a fun project.
Well, it will be once the ball starts rolling I hope!
Once again, thanks for all your help so far guys. If you think of any more, I would be very appreciative.
Sticky
Simple classifieds system geared to apartments/roommates, rides, furniture, bongs, computers, and music. Oh yeah, add textbook sales/swaps to that.
My suggestions:
-Site for students to rate professors and give thoughts about their courses
-Scanned online menus of restaurants in town. ***MUST*** include pizza joints and their phone numbers. Call the restaurant owners and see if you can get them to develop special coupons or deals for students who found them on your site. See if you can change them periodically to keep traffic coming back for more.
-Roomates needed section
-For rent section
-Local events, weekend parties
-Student club pages and info (for any club that wants one)
-Tutors wanted / Tutors available
-"Need a Ride" section where students can hitch rides home
-Student Directory
-School closing information (breaks, weather)
-Listing of student recommended "fun" sites. I can give you some ideas, just sticky me.
Does this help?
a link to "uboot" - invaluable for anyone who wants to send free txt msg's.
cheap clothes shops (map and how to get there) - there's a student-dedicated place in manchester i forget the name but they have several places around england.
a link to nhsdirect.nhs.uk - they have some recent web-ad's that are student-related
can't think of any more...
However, some UK sites specifically targeted at students which offer a niche product appear to work well. Have a look under studentmobiles and travelstay (budget travel and Summer lets of University accommodation)
For general student stats you can look at either UCAS or the alternatively the European Union has tonnes of info available. Erasmus and Socrates students are also worth looking at as they have a relatively high spend ration and generally come from AB1 AB2 classes.
Definitely a "What's really going on around here" section. Not for the student's info - for the parent's info.
