Improving Web Usability with a Content Management System

Low cost usability testing is a useful technique for improving a web site’s organization and function. This technique is especially useful for universities using Sungard’s Luminis Content Management System to distribute site content responsibilities. LCMS also provides a number of dynamic features to make frequent, fast, and cheap changes to improve usability. Illinois Wesleyan is currently using LCMS III.2, with over two years of experience. Since going live with LCMS in the Fall of 2005, we now have over 90% of campus offices using the content management system. This presentation will be divided into four sections as follows: First, we will present the lessons learned from IWU's conversion to LCMS, and how we came to recognize the importance of usability testing. Second, we will review the usability tools and techniques we use to improve our web presence. Third, we will demonstrate high speed, low cost usability testing using tasks selected by the session audience. Fourth, we will present a few additional usability tools and how they can be implemented within LCMS. Anyone using, or considering implementing, the Luminis web content management system should attend this presentation.