This document outlines 10 steps for a successful technology scholarly project: 1. Plan the mission and how it will be carried out. 2. Choose a technology platform like an ebook, app, or web platform. 3. Define a consistent style template. 4. Define metadata standards. 5. Design an information architecture using a framework like LATCH. 6. Create content in a disciplined manner with a schedule. 7. Install analytics and search tools. 8. Gather usage data through installed tools and app/site statistics. 9. Promote the project through social media, directories, and announcements. 10. Ongoingly maintain,

1. 10 Steps For a Successful
Technology Scholarly Project
Donna M. D'Alessandro, M.D.
donna-dalessandro@uiowa.edu
Educational Informatics
www.educationalinformatics.org
www.slideshare.net/donnadalessandro
Stead Family Department of Pediatrics
University of Iowa Children's Hospital

2. 10 Steps
• All of these steps may
not be appropriate for
your project
• Specific commercial
applications are ones we
have used in various
projects. There are
certainly others and new
ones being developed all
the time.
• Please look at options
and talk with people
about your specific
project and its needs.

3. 1. Planning
• Mission - Most important part
• Educational construct
• How you will carry out mission (2nd
most
important)
• Metrics for success

4. 2. Choose a Technology

5. 2. Choose a Technology
• B. Ebook - easy
• Choose platform / format
• Kindle [.mobi /.azw /.kf8] (All)
• EPUB [.epub] (Android, iOS),
• iBooks2 [.ibooks] (iOS)
• PDF [.pdf] (All)
• Choose authoring tool
• Sigil (ePub)
• Calibre (convert ePub to Kindle)
• iBooks Author (iOS)
• C. App – not for the faint of heart
• Choose platform – Android vs. iOS
• Choose authoring tool – cross platform HTML5 app vs. dedicated app

6. 3. Define a Style
• Template should include:
• Project name
• Graphic use – don’t overdue
it
• Author of content, affiliation,
credentials
• References
• Disclosure of site ownership
and sponsorship
• Currency of content
• Contact information
• Copyright information
• URL (address)
• Disclaimer
• Privacy policy
http://cloudx18.deviantart.com/art/Ubuntu-Blogger-
Template-213069745

7. 4. Define Metadata Style
• Dublin Core vs. Search Engine Optimization
<title></title>
<meta name="keywords" content="list out a few">
<meta name="description" content="A short description">
<title>GeneralPediatrics.com: The General Pediatrician's View of the
Internet - General Pediatrics | Pediatrics | Paediatrics | Pediatric
Education | Paediatric Education | Free Pediatric Books</title>
<meta name="keywords" content="general pediatrics, pediatrician,
pediatrics, paediatrics, pediatric education, general paediatrics,
paediatrician, free pediatric books, pediatric books">
<meta name="description" content="The General Pediatrician's View of the
Internet”>

8. 5. Define Information
Architecture
• LATCH
• Location
• Alphabetica
l
• Time
• Category
• Hierarchy

9. 6. How to Create Content in a
Disciplined Manner
• Create a schedule and
rigorously follow it
• You have to just keep showing
up
• Intellectual property licensing -
Creative Commons -
www.creativecommons.org

10. 7. Installing a Search Engine
Google Custom Search Engine
www.google.com/cse/

11. 8. Instrumenting Your Project
to Gather Data
• Installing a Web statistics package for Web site
• SiteMeter - www.sitemeter.com
• Google Analytics - www.google.com/analytics
• Utilizing preexisting App Store statistics packages for Ebook / App
• Amazon Kindle / Apple iTunes / Google Play
• Installing a comment / feedback form (users comments = true peer
review)
• This is part of your Metrics for Success (see Step 1)
• Remember you are going to need this to improve your work
• Document its value to others

12. 9. Publicity and Marketing
• Instrument your website/project to take advantage of social media
• Feed content to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.
• RSS feed
• Submit Web site to
• (Consider creating marketing Web site for Ebook / App)
• Search engines - google.com, www.bing.com
• Internet Archive - www.archive.org
• Internet directories - www.dmoz.org
• Health sciences directories - www.martindalecenter.com
• Health on the Net - www.hon.ch
• Add links to related articles in Wikis
• www.wikipedia.org, www.wikibooks.org

13. 9. Publicity and Marketing
• Index in Open Education Resources repositories
• AAMC MedPortal, www.curriki.org, www.e-booksdirectory.com,
www.lemill.net, www.merlot.org, www.oercommons.org,
textbookrevolution.org, wlh.webhost.utexas.edu
• Send announcement
• groups.google.com (misc.education.medical), groups.yahoo.com,
www.medscape.com, www.sermo.com, Facebook groups, Twitter, society
mailing lists, friends / colleagues
• Check search engines for top 100 hits for related terms / keywords
• Ask these sites to trade links
• Send e-mails to journal reviewers
• Professional meetings ~ hand out flyers ~ teach workshops
• News Alerts to track your progress - www.google.com/alerts

14. 10. Maintenance, Evaluation
and CQI
• Usually most neglected step ~ Why most fail
• Evaluation is key - listen to your users
• Take the long view - commit to 10 years
• Keep it simple stupid! - in terms of design + technology
• Always have a backup of the Web site / Ebook / App
• Keep a diary from day one
• Yearly Maintenance, Evaluation and Quality Improvement
• Reconfirm Step 1 - your mission / audience / goals / metrics
• Check - links / HTML / accessibility / software compatability
• Preserve - archive, print, screen shot
• Measure evolving metrics - inbound links, Web statistics,
downloads
• Measure Altmetrics - ImpactStory.org
• Search for reviews - LexisNexis, Google News Archive, Google
Scholar, Amazon 'Search Inside Books', Google Books

15. References
• Michael Lesk. Understanding Digital Libraries, 2nd Edition. 2004
• Patrick Lynch, Sarah Horton. Web Style Guide, 2nd Edition, 2001
(www.webstyleguide.com)
• Louis Rosenfeld, Peter Morville. Information Architecture for the World
Wide Web, 3rd Edition. 2006
• Jakob Nielsen. Designing Web Usability: The Practice of Simplicity.
1999 (www.useit.com)
• Jakob Nielsen. Homepage Usability: 50 Web sites Deconstructed. 2001
• Jay Conrad Levinson. Guerilla Marketing
• Silberg WM, Lundberg GD, Musacchio RA. Assessing, controlling, and
assuring the quality of medical information on the Internet: caveant
lector et viewor-let the reader and viewer beware. JAMA.
1997;277:1244-1245.
• Stanford Guidelines for Web Credibility
(credibility.stanford.edu/guidelines)
• Modern Language Association Guidelines for Authors of Digital
Resources
(http://www.mla.org/resources/documents/rep_it/web_guidelines)
For project examples and these slides:
www.educationalinformatics.org
www.slideshare.net/donnadalessandro

16. Peer Critique
(modified Step-Back Review)
• Get into groups of 3
• Each person works on their own project
worksheet for 5 minutes
• 3 rounds of peer critique
• 2 minutes - project presentation by 1st
person
• May end with ? – social media integration, spec
or general question
• 4 minutes – peer critique while 1st person
iistens and says nothing and takes notes
• Answer question, provide comments, questions
to consider
st