NewsU Next

Yes, we are STILL very quiet about the new NewsU site. It isn't that we haven't had much to say. We have. However, taken out of context, our posts wouldn't made much sense to folks outside the project.

So, what have we been doing since the item I wrote about "Now the fun begins"? [See below.]

Beyond the conference calls -- lots of them -- and the lists of things to do, our developers [http://www.atendesign.com] and the NewsU Crew have been working on three major aspects of the project:

1. Getting all of our data moved from our old system to the new. That means moving a ton of SQL stuff. Very technical. However, the good news: User accounts moved over very nicely.
2. Moving existing course modules to the new site architecture [which is Drupal] and helping us apply some new structure to each of those training elements. Very important as we will be adding search to the site. There are more than 100 training elements to move. So far, most of the self-directed modules have made the journey. Next: Online Group Seminars and Webinars
3. Building the unique UI [user interface] elements that will knit together the various Drupal modules. One of the reasons I'm excited about using Drupal are all of the "already built" modules, like Ubercart, that we can use as part of the new site. Just like that iPhone commercial where the announcer says "there's an app for that" we get to hear "there's a module for that."

What's next?

Private beta in November. Public beta in December. Soft launch in January.

We are sharing one of our course details page mockups. Thought you might like to see what we are thinking.