Online Platform Criteria
Maine Department of Education – Online Needs Analysis
Here is a summary of online platform criteria that emerged during the online needs analysis project.
The rightmost column includes priorities (1=lowest, 10=highest) developed by Jay Collier.
Hosting Criteria
Hosting costs | ||||
Annual hosting costs | ||||
Network connectivity | ||||
Hosting server/service | ||||
Database server | ||||
Back-up and restore services | ||||
Administrative costs | ||||
Hosting technologies | ||||
Server environment | ||||
Operating system | ||||
Web server | ||||
Database server | ||||
Infrastructure | ||||
Redundant Firewall | ||||
Redundant backbone connections | ||||
Uninterruptible power back-up | ||||
24/7 network monitoring | ||||
24/7 server monitoring | ||||
Weekly backups | ||||
Criteria for hosting | ||||
Connectivity and uptime | ||||
Monthly bandwidth | Unlimited | 8 | ||
Connectivity uptime | 99.9% annual network connectivity | 10 | ||
Web server uptime | 99.9% annual server operation | 10 | ||
Database uptime | 99.9% annual database operation | 10 | ||
Storage | ||||
Storage Space | Unlimited | 7 | ||
Client support | ||||
Toll free general phone support | 24/7 | 6 | ||
Live chat assistance | 24/7 | 4 | ||
E-mail tech support | Response within 4 hours | 7 | ||
Online tutorials & knowledge base | 8 | |||
Account management | ||||
Control Panel | Cpanel | 9 | ||
Server-level password management | Cpanel, .htpasswd | 7 | ||
Editable Mime Types | 5 | |||
Editable Apache Handlers | 3 | |||
Cron Jobs | 6 | |||
IP Banning/Filtering | 4 | |||
Redirect URL | Cpanel, .htaccess | 7 | ||
Server Side Includes (SSI) | 4 | |||
Canonical redirection (no www) | 5 | |||
FTP management | ||||
FTP accounts | Control panel configuration | 6 | ||
FTP home directories | Control panel configuration | 4 | ||
Database management | ||||
phpMyAdmin | 9 | |||
Remote database access | 6 | |||
PHP and scripting technology | ||||
PHP 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, 5.0 | 10 | |||
Mod_rewrite, .htaccess | 10 |
Software Criteria
Software licensing and costs | ||||
Licensing
| ||||
License | Licensing model (commercial, open-source) | |||
Programming language | Scripting/programming language | |||
Costs | ||||
Cost of software license (initial) | ||||
Cost of software renewals | ||||
Cost of software upgrades | ||||
Criteria for software | ||||
Code standards compliance | ||||
XHTML compliant | Are the webpages the software generates XHTML compliant? | 10 | ||
UTF-8 support | Software supports text encoded in UTF-8? | 10 | ||
WAI compliant | Software generates content that is suitable for people with disabilities. Priority 2 W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. WAVE 4 validator | 10 | ||
Microformat support | Software supports microformats (hcard, vcard, hresume)? | 4 | ||
Software performance | ||||
Server memory caching | Memcache or equivalent | 8 | ||
Page caching | Platform generates cached pages for faster delivery | 8 | ||
Element caching | Caching is available for non-page elements | 5 | ||
Database optimization | The database can be optimized automatically | 6 | ||
Database replication | The database be automatically replicated and backed up | 5 | ||
Load balancing | Multiple instances can be used to reduce delivery time to users | 5 | ||
Search engine | Fast internal content search with measurably useful results | 10 | ||
Security features | ||||
Rapid security releases | Software be easily and quickly upgraded | 10 | ||
Error notification | The software notifies administrators of errors or other problems | 8 | ||
Access privileges | Different levels of users be given access to specific functions | 8 | ||
Authentication | The software authenticate users via ActiveDirectory or LDAP | 9 | ||
SSL logins/pages | The software can handle secure logins, if needed | 5 | ||
Opt-in confirmation | Software verifies user actions through double opt-in e-mail process | 8 | ||
Captcha – logical/graphic | The software provides logical and graphic prompts to verify human users | 8 | ||
Spam filter service | Reduce number of spam messages processed by software | 8 | ||
Interoperability | ||||
Repository interoperation | Platform can integrate with asset repositories, including OERs – OAI harvesting, SCORM | 4 | ||
Database interoperation | Platform can integrate with enterprise or legacy databases | 5 | ||
Directory interoperation | Users can be authenticated through open standards iincluding LDAP or CAS, or derivatives such as Active Directory | 8 | ||
Integrate with external services | Integrate via API, hooks, or DOM scraping | 4 | ||
RSS feeds | Standard feeds for categories, tags, posts, and comments | 10 | ||
iCal feeds | Standard feeds for events | 10 | ||
Linked data (RDF) | Software generates linked data in RDF format? | 2 | ||
Data exchange via API | Other software can interface with the software through an open application programming interface (API)? | 4 | ||
Administrator interface | ||||
Cross-platform, cross-browser | Code and add-on software can be administered from any modern browser | 10 | ||
Cross-device | The software can be administered via mobile or tablet (including iOS + Android) | 10 | ||
FTP support | Files can be uploaded to software-accessible locations using FTP | 10 | ||
Root access not required | Software be installed without root access to the server | 10 | ||
Shell access not required | Software be installed without shell access to the server | 10 | ||
Development environment | ||||
Staging and production instances | The software supports a staging environment to test feature additions, upgrades, changes | 5 | ||
Add-on standards | Standard methods for adding new features via add-ons | 8 | ||
Enterprise support | Professional services, training, and support are widely available | 8 | ||
Third-party developers | Third-parties developers are available for add-ons | 8 | ||
Developer community | Robust worldwide developer community | 8 | ||
Documentation | Professionally authored documentation is available | 8 | ||
Sustainability | ||||
Established roadmap delivery | Platform facilitates future enhancements, including nimble support for to-be-approved standards | 7 | ||
Portability across platforms for emergency | Platform supports open standards to make interfaces, aggregation and data exchange more easily managed and portable between systems | 10 | ||
Automatic updates for staging server | Platform supports agile testing of upgraded or new functions. | 9 |
Production Criteria
Domain and information architecture | ||||
Findability and usability | ||||
Meaningful URLs | Meaningful URLs, easilly changed by editors. | 10 | ||
Meaningful post titles | Meaningful page titles, including site name that can be read aloud, lowercase, hyphens (SEO) | 9 | ||
Syndication feeds | ||||
RSS and ics feeds | Standard feeds for categories, tags, posts, and comments | 8 | ||
iCal feeds | Standard feeds for | 7 | ||
Multiple devices | ||||
Print version | Print version with main content only | 6 | ||
Mobile version | Focused on top pages, categories, updates | 5 | ||
Search engine optimization | ||||
Validatable code | Pages meet XHTML strict W3C standards | 10 | ||
Sitemap generation | Sitemaps generated and updated automatically | 7 | ||
Multiple-site management | ||||
Multiple subsites | Single platform can support up to 100 subsites | 10 | ||
Standard site start-up configurations | Configurations can be predetermine when a new subsite is created | 5 | ||
Site structure import and export | Site structure and content can be imported or exported as XML, or other data exchange format | 8 | ||
Site structure | ||||
Nested pages and categories | Unlimited nesting | |||
Reorganize parent and child posts | Sections and pages can be moved easily by drag and drop | 8 | ||
Navigation functions | ||||
Global alerts | Integration of external content, live, within all pages | 10 | ||
Custom menus | Drag and drop menu items, including, posts, categories, external URLs | 9 | ||
Site and section indices (A-Z) | Automatically generated | 8 | ||
Current section path from home | Breadcrumbs | 7 | ||
Automatic URL redirection | Automatic redirection when permalink changes | 9 | ||
Manual URL redirection | Manual redirection can be created by author | 8 | ||
Paged navigation – chronological | Navigation for categories and archives with large numbers of posts | 7 | ||
Current section children | List of children on parent page | 7 | ||
Recent posts | 9 | |||
Term glossary | 6 | |||
Related content pop-up | See NYTimes.com | 7 | ||
Supplemental blocks | Content “blocks” or “widgets” | 9 | ||
Success metrics | ||||
Analytics integration | Google, mail service, campaigns | 9 | ||
Interface design | ||||
Support for computer platforms and Web browsers | ||||
Windows XP+: IE 7+, Firefox 3+, Opera 9+ | 10 | |||
Mac OS X 10.5+: Safari 3+, Firefox 3+, Opera 9+ | 10 | |||
Linux: Firefox 3+ | 10 | |||
JAWS 11+, Fangs 1.06, Universal Access | 10 | |||
Support for universal design standards | ||||
W3C HTML valid code | XHTML Strict, with preparation for HTML5 | 10 | ||
ADA/Section 508 | WAVE 4 accessibility checker | 10 | ||
Microformats | hCard, hResume | 5 | ||
Semantic structure | HTML Tidy throws no errors | 9 | ||
Customized print, mobile, aural styling | Separate CSS for each platform | 8 | ||
Support for mobile devices | ||||
Custom theme for Android | 8 | |||
Custom theme for Blackberry | 6 | |||
Custom theme for iOS | 9 | |||
Site-wide styling | ||||
Theme frameworks | Theme engine supports nested parent and child interface theming | 8 | ||
Automatic class selectors for page types | CSS selectors are automatically generated for site, section, page, post | 7 | ||
Automatic class selectors for page elements | CSS selectors are automatically generated for title, excerpt, thumbnail, category, date, author? | 7 | ||
Multiple, nested templates | Custom themes be selected by authors (no nav, side page, etc.)? | 7 | ||
HTML changes not required for styling | Layout and styling built upon Meyers CSS reset, CSS 3, elegant degradation | 9 |
Publishing Criteria
Criteria for content management | ||||
User management | ||||
Number of users | Unlimited users can be activated. | 7 | ||
User role management | Associate users with groups and users with roles, such as viewer, contributor, editor, designer, administrator, network-administrator | 7 | ||
Simple workflow | Workflows can be assigned at the category, page, and post level with little training | 8 | ||
Role-specific interface | Each role sees only needed functions: limited choices for contributors up through full source editing for administrators | 5 | ||
Transferrable content assignment | Workflow roles be reapplied when there are changes in personnel. Batch changeout of one user for another in one or more workflows. | 4 | ||
User support | ||||
Training | Training and support available for authors and editors | 7 | ||
Online help | Users have access to a useful online help software for the software | 8 | ||
Content types | ||||
Pages (drill-down) | 10 | |||
Posts (chronological) | 10 | |||
Event listings (dates and times) | Time-based posts, such as future and historical events can be presented within a calendar metaphor, with ICS (iCalendar) feeds | 8 | ||
Directories | Software can present individual and organization information from structured information | 9 | ||
Page restriction | ||||
By user role | 5 | |||
By password | Access be easily restricted (username/password) to sections. | 3 | ||
By classification | Access can be easily restricted to sections | 2 | ||
Page redirection | ||||
Redirected URLs | Software automatically redirecst changed URLs and can users specify custom and shortened URLs | 9 | ||
Comment management | ||||
Required submission fields | 7 | |||
Comment notification | 8 | |||
Moderation queue | 5 | |||
Prior-author approval | Comment is approved if author has already been approved. | 3 | ||
Content subscription and notifications | ||||
Scheduled email based on interests and engagement | 8 | |||
Subscriber management | 5 | |||
Content archiving | ||||
Archives with permanent URLs | Pages and sections are archived | 9 | ||
Quality assurance | ||||
Last modified date | Last modified date on each post | 8 | ||
Update reminders | Stale content reminders to authors | 6 | ||
Expiration date | Schedule content expiration and notify author and administrator ahead of time? | 8 | ||
Automatic metadata generation | Meta tags for description, date, categories, tags tuned for search engine optimization | 8 | ||
Metadata prompts | Manual addition of metadata | 6 | ||
Autolink URLs and hide email | Autolink URLs and obfuscate e-mail | 8 | ||
Automatic link checking | External and internal link checking is automated | 7 | ||
Logging and audit trail | Software keeps track of what users and the software have done | 6 | ||
Web statistics | Software provides or integrates content metrics | 9 | ||
Criteria for content authoring | ||||
Text editing and formatting | ||||
Intuitive page creation | Authors can post and edit content without support | 10 | ||
Simple content editing interface | Easy-to-use cross-platform, cross-browser “what you see is what you get” (WYSIWYG) editor | 10 | ||
Paste valid content | Content can be copied and pasted into editing window as validatable XHTML | 8 | ||
Paste cleaned up content from Word | Customizable MS clean-up function, including stripping all tags except structure (p, h1, h2, ul, li, etc.), strong, emphasis | 6 | ||
Insert tables from Excel data | Import from Microsoft spreadsheets (via CSV wizard) | 5 | ||
Spell checking | The editing interface provides spell checking | 3 | ||
External links | Link wizard | 3 | ||
Internal links | Internal link generator | 5 | ||
Pre-defined styles | Summary, Byline, Pull-quote, Float-right | 6 | ||
Columns | Page column wizard | 3 | ||
Simple functions | Software provides abbreviated text instructions for common commands | 4 | ||
Content preview | Users can accurately preview pages in a browser without exposure to search engines | 8 | ||
Content elements | ||||
Embed video | Automatic player for YouTube, Vimeo, and Blip URLs, with customized attributes. | 8 | ||
Present audio | Automatic player for mp3 files | 5 | ||
Structured data lists/tables (searchable and sortable) | Search connected tables of data, spreadsheets | 7 | ||
Multi-lingual content | Software supports content translation into multiple languages | 4 | ||
File upload and insert | ||||
File upload | Authors can upload document and media files individually or in batches | 9 | ||
Automatic image resize | Software automatically creates multiple-sized image derivatives (including thumbnails) during upload | 7 | ||
Media file metadata | Software stores IPTC, EXIF, XMP or other standard image data | 3 | ||
Image galleries | Authors can easily attach images to a post and generate an image gallery, which automatically generates overlay to display multiple images | 5 | ||
Image replacement | Authors can easily replace existing images with new ones | 2 | ||
Content classification | ||||
Nested categories | Software supports nested categories | 9 | ||
Category reordering | Administrators can change order of categories and tags | 5 | ||
Tags | Posts can be tagged | 7 | ||
Series | Posts can be chained into a series | 6 | ||
Location | Authors can assign latitude and longitude data to assets | 4 | ||
Related posts | ||||
Related posts – automatic generation | Software generate related posts automatically with customizable weighting for title, content, tags, categories | 6 | ||
Related posts – manual selection | Editors can assign related posts manually | 5 | ||
Integrate with external media | ||||
Post to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn | 4 | |||
Facebook Like button | 3 | |||
Automatic content filters | ||||
Autolink URL | Text strings starting with http:// automatically are automically hyperlinked | 7 | ||
Hide e-mail addresses | E-mail addresses are automatically turned into clickable links and obfuscated to avoid spamming | 8 | ||
External link identification | Software automatically inserts icon to indicate links are to external URLs. | 4 |
Collaboration Criteria
Online forms | ||||
Design | ||||
Drag and drop field selection | 10 | |||
Multi-page forms | 6 | |||
Schedule forms | 4 | |||
Standard and advanced fields | 8 | |||
Create blog posts from form | 7 | |||
Conditional logic | 5 | |||
Payment options | 2 | |||
Prepopulated fields | 5 | |||
Administration | ||||
Role management | 9 | |||
Layout configuration | 7 | |||
Style forms with CSS | 9 | |||
Customized confirmation messages | 9 | |||
Payment integration | 2 | |||
View, edit, and export entries | 10 | |||
E-mail campaign management | ||||
Design | ||||
Dynamic content based on subscriber information | 8 | |||
Simple process for embedding into pages | 8 | |||
Design builder wizard/editor | 8 | |||
Template gallery | 8 | |||
Free of branding from delivery service | 10 | |||
Publish | ||||
Trigger messages based on RSS updates | 9 | |||
Archives with permanent URLs | 9 | |||
Image and file hosting | 4 | |||
Create newsletter from e-mail message | 4 | |||
Target lists by location | 8 | |||
Deliver | ||||
Reliable delivery processes | 10 | |||
Compliance with spam laws | 10 | |||
Preview/test for multiple e-mail clients | 8 | |||
Scheduled delivery including digests | 5 | |||
User preferences | ||||
Receive updates immediately daily or weekly | 8 | |||
Receive messages integrating multiple lists | 8 | |||
Enable Facebook comments | 4 | |||
Manage | ||||
Double opt-in confirmation | 9 | |||
Lock subscriptions to prevent unsubscribing for mandatory lists | 8 | |||
Collect and segment on user interests | 7 | |||
Logins for multiple list managers | 5 | |||
Custom sign-up confirmation | 6 | |||
Restrict who can subscribe to specific topics | 4 | |||
Dynamic subscriber options based on referring link | 5 | |||
Manage via iPhone and iPad | 8 | |||
Analyze | ||||
Google Analytics integration | 10 | |||
Reports: e-mail open, click, and forwarding | 6 | |||
A/B version testing | 5 | |||
Support | ||||
User forums | 8 | |||
E-mail support | 7 | |||
Training videos | 5 | |||
Phone support | 3 | |||
Event registration and management | ||||
Define events | ||||
Customized registration form with unlimited questions | 8 | |||
Automatic Web pages for each event | 10 | |||
WYSIWYG event editor with pricing, locations, categories | 9 | |||
Import events via CSV or Excel files | 6 | |||
Duplicate similar events | 6 | |||
Manage recurring events | 7 | |||
Customized page/URL per event | 10 | |||
Event-specific e-mail campaigns | 7 | |||
Detailed event lists by date or category | 6 | |||
Online calendar with links to registration pages | 8 | |||
Custom confirmation emails for each event | 8 | |||
Multiple pricing options | 5 | |||
Provide and process waitlists | 6 | |||
Generate name badges and check-in lists | 5 | |||
Pay by check or at the door | 5 | |||
Promote events | ||||
Optimize for search engines | 10 | |||
Integrate with social media | 8 | |||
Create custom contact lists | 7 | |||
Use tracking links and affiliates | 4 | |||
Embed customizable widgets | 7 | |||
Attendee profiles | 3 | |||
Print tickets | 3 | |||
Manage service | ||||
Secure credit card processing | 2 | |||
Integrate with PayPal and Google Checkout | 2 | |||
Excel and CSV export of attendee data | 8 | |||
Embed event widget in external site | 5 | |||
Other potential future services | ||||
Job listings | ||||
Online payment gateway(s) |