What’s on the web

Citation

(2006), "What’s on the web", Development and Learning in Organizations, Vol. 20 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/dlo.2006.08120bag.001

What’s on the web

Dense and dullwww.univation.org

We include this because it is a classic example of how not to encourage visitors to your site. It is pointless having useful content and important things to say if no on is likely to read them. The Univation Institute is a spin-off from the University of Cologne and is involved in the scientific development and comparative studies of evaluation theories and models. Interesting and useful one might think. However the site is dull, jargon-ridden and with a truly awful design. On top of that the English translation is turgid and error-strewn. Here is a sample of the text:

Univation is primarily specialized in carrying out evaluations, evaluation research as well as training and consulting in the field of evaluation. From the beginning Univation has combined activities in the field of evaluation theory, practice and training. The wide range of methods and its multidisciplinary orientation are characteristic of the institute.

Do have a look at how not to do it … they will wonder at the sudden influx of visitors.

Down underwww.avetra.org.au

AVETRA is Australia’s independent association of researchers in vocational education and training (VET). It was established in 1997 with initial financial assistance from the Australian National Training Authority Research Advisory Council and receives support from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). The main aims are to further the contribution of VET research to the development of government policy, review VET research priorities, promote independent and significant research in VET, raise the profile of VET research in the academic and training communities, promote training in research methods and provide platforms for the dissemination of research findings. The site is well laid-out and has much useful free material as well as some that is only available to members of the association.

Good counselwww.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/6491/neca.html

The national employment counseling association (NECA), a Division of the American Counseling Association (ACA), is dedicated to helping people prepare for, enter, understand and progress in the world of work through legislative advocacy, establishing standards and guidelines, showcasing best practices and networking. Their site is basic but efficient and with a wide variety of links offering research and useful advice. Worth visiting.

Thinking skillswww.debonothinkingsystems.com

Most people have heard of lateral thinking and its prime exponent, Edward de Bono. His company, Advanced Practical Thinking Training (APTT) has now been renamed de Bono Thinking Systems. In 14 years APTT has grown to over $1.6 million in gross sales for 1995, with a network of over 400 instructors in 27 countries. In 2004, APTT was re-branded to better reflect its core mission and officially became de Bono Thinking Systems.

There is some basic information on this well-designed web site with hyperlinks to courses and products. There is also a rather tedious flash introduction (which you may well want to skip). Otherwise this site is worth exploring.

The great outdoorshttp://reviewing.co.uk/outdoor/outindex

“Roger Greenaway’s substantial website continues to maintain its status as the premier information website for information for both practitioners and researchers in experiential and outdoor education,” wrote James Neill in 2002. It is still useful though only sporadically updated (the last update was three months ago). A good place to start exploring the subject however.

And finally

On efficiency and communications.

The efficiency expert (they used to be “time and motion”) concluded his lecture with a note of caution. “You don’t want to try these techniques at home.”

“Why not?” asked someone from the back of the audience.

“I watched my wife’s routine at breakfast for years,” the expert explained. “She made lots of trips to the refrigerator, stove, table and cupboards, often carrying just a single item at a time, ‘Darling,’ I suggested, ‘Why don’t you try carrying several things at once?’”

The voice from the back asked, “Did it save time?”

The expert replied, “Actually, yes. It used to take her 20 minutes to get breakfast ready. Now I do it in seven.”

Thanks to www.squarewheels.com for this.

Contact uswww.emeraldinsight.com

For a particularly interesting and useful site you could always try our own! And if you have any favorite (or otherwise) sites that you would like us to review on these pages, please drop us an e-mail and we will submit them to our usual rigorous analysis.