I Appreciated The What's New Section On The Home Page, Which Served As A

I appreciated the What's New section on the home page, which served as a ticker of sorts on which I could rely for updates, new reports, and new publications. The toolbar was clearly displayed, with easy access to both blogs and user forums. As a library management tool, Talis was effective in its service offerings (http://www.talis.com/services/service_select.shtml) including Consultancy, Implementation, and Training (Ibid). Information on the various Talis pages should have been presented in a more transparent manner. The Professional Development Programme (PDP) website (http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/professionaldevelopment/tipd/?417648532ef3c40-0739d6ed-599e-4b01-a4a0-2853e155508e), however, was cluttered and largely uninformative. While the site makes it self-evaluation easier, the organization and structure of the site could have been cleaner. The jump menu on the left side of the site was useful, and its stationary position made site navigation seamless. In addition, the search engine at the top right of the screen made locating the portfolio formats and instructions much easier. I found the most popular list at the right side of the page extraneous, as a site with that much information would do better to keep a comprehensive search engine on its own.
From a consumer standpoint, the information Talis provided should have been summarized in major pages (http://www.talis.com/solutions/academic.shtml) in such a manner as to accommodate smoother web browsing. If, for example, links were provided in place of detailed information and the information listed was an abridged version, the website would have been more convenient. Too much information was displayed for proper filtration and interpretation to take place. Perhaps the most impressive feature on Talis' website was the Talking with Talis feature (http://talk.talis.com/). Pre-recorded simulcasts were aired featuring speakers such as George Needham, Cliff Lynch, and Ed Batista. Most convenient was the immediate availability of interview transcripts below the recording link. There was no extra browsing involved, nor was there a need to remember focal points in each recording. I appreciated the efficiency and accessibility of the Talis transcripts, especially since my computer did not have the necessary software to listen to the interviews in real time. The PDP website was user-friendly to those who were familiar with its content. For the average web browser or curious professional, however, the site suffered a lack of engaging graphics and aesthetic design. The site's load times were faster than the Talis database, which kept me searching the site longer. There is a noted lack of media available; the site would do well to have a downloadable introduction or streaming video at the welcome screen. From a professional standpoint, the site accomplishes what is required.