LUWS Lesson Schedules

[gregwanderson]

I must say, the roll-out of the “New” LDS.org site was so huge and so well done that I expected the “missing pieces” to arrive relatively soon. Here we are, some 10 months after this thread was started, and we still don’t have the new modules for Lesson Schedules and News & Information. It’s a little difficult to understand why it’s taking so long, given how much was done all-at-once on the "new" church web site. Meanwhile, I’m inclined to find a way to add those things to the calendar because, to the average user, I think the need to log in a second time (to view the “Classic” ward web site) feels like a bug. And I don’t want people in my ward to conclude that the church web site is buggy. So I'll do what I can to keep them from having to go to anything "classic".

[aebrown]

I must say, the roll-out of the “New” LDS.org site was so huge and so well done that I expected the “missing pieces” to arrive relatively soon. Here we are, some 10 months after this thread was started, and we still don’t have the new modules for Lesson Schedules and News & Information. It’s a little difficult to understand why it’s taking so long, given how much was done all-at-once on the "new" church web site.

The Church doesn't have unlimited development resources. I'm guessing that the fact that it took longer to iron out the bugs in the Calendar than expected has delayed other modules. The fact that so much was done all at once is not inconsistent with this; much of the work that was done all at once was done by designers and content creators, not by web application developers (the primary skill set needed for Directory, Calendar, Lesson Schedules, and News & Information). So I'm not surprised at all.

Meanwhile, I’m inclined to find a way to add those things to the calendar because, to the average user, I think the need to log in a second time (to view the “Classic” ward web site) feels like a bug. And I don’t want people in my ward to conclude that the church web site is buggy. So I'll do what I can to keep them from having to go to anything "classic".

I guess I can understand how some people might feel that way, but it doesn't feel like a bug to me. The classic ward/stake web site simply feels a little old. It always required a separate login, so it hasn't changed in that regard. You're just getting spoiled by how slick the single sign on technology is on the new site.

You're welcome to add lessons schedules to the new calendar, but I wouldn't advise it. The lesson schedules module is only a small number of months (2-4) away from beta, and could be release pretty soon after that. I've even heard one suggestion (from someone who works at the Church) that it might be in beta before the end of this year. So you might be doing something that is a lot of work, for a very short term benefit. Although I understand that you don't like the new site, at least the classic lesson schedules module has links to the content. The new Calendar has no ability to provide hyperlinks, so in that regard, anything you do with the new Calendar will be inferior to the classic lesson schedules. But it's certainly your choice.

[gregwanderson]

I intend to add lessons to the calendar only about 6 weeks in advance rather than add the whole year all at once. I already adopted this approach in the "classic" web site because 1) You never know when something will disrupt the schedule and then you have to adjust every lesson after that and 2) You couldn't delete the lessons after they'd already been presented so, as the year went on, the user had to scroll past a lot of clutter to reach the more current lesson on the list. At least if I kept the list as short as possible it would be easier to find the lesson they would need to study that week.

[bschroader]

The Church doesn't have unlimited development resources. I'm guessing that the fact that it took longer to iron out the bugs in the Calendar than expected has delayed other modules. The fact that so much was done all at once is not inconsistent with this; much of the work that was done all at once was done by designers and content creators, not by web application developers (the primary skill set needed for Directory, Calendar, Lesson Schedules, and News & Information). So I'm not surprised at all.



I guess I can understand how some people might feel that way, but it doesn't feel like a bug to me. The classic ward/stake web site simply feels a little old. It always required a separate login, so it hasn't changed in that regard. You're just getting spoiled by how slick the single sign on technology is on the new site.

You're welcome to add lessons schedules to the new calendar, but I wouldn't advise it. The lesson schedules module is only a small number of months (2-4) away from beta, and could be release pretty soon after that. I've even heard one suggestion (from someone who works at the Church) that it might be in beta before the end of this year. So you might be doing something that is a lot of work, for a very short term benefit. Although I understand that you don't like the new site, at least the classic lesson schedules module has links to the content. The new Calendar has no ability to provide hyperlinks, so in that regard, anything you do with the new Calendar will be inferior to the classic lesson schedules. But it's certainly your choice.

I have our 2012 lesson schedule from the bishopric. Any chance this module will actually be completed before the end of the year?

[aebrown]

I have our 2012 lesson schedule from the bishopric. Any chance this module will actually be completed before the end of the year?

I'm sure it will done before the end of 2012. But I'm guessing you were hoping for the end of 2011.

No, it won't be done that quick. It's scheduled for beta in Q1 of 2012; I would guess that the release will be sometime in Q2. See here for details.

So it seems that other stakes and wards are doing one of two things:

• Use the Classic Stake and Ward Websites to enter lesson schedules as before (this is easy, and provides links to the G.A. Smith lessons automatically). This is the easiest solution, but some people are not looking at the Classic site much anymore.
• Create a calendar on the new Calendar system on lds.org that has an event each Sunday for the selected lesson. This doesn't allow for links to the lesson content, and is more work to set up, but will probably be more visible to ward and stake members.

Our stake has chosen the first option.

[bschroader]

LOL. I did think you were talking about the end of 2011!

Thanks for the update and the suggestions.

[rpyne]

Use the Classic Stake and Ward Websites to enter lesson schedules as before (this is easy, and provides links to the G.A. Smith lessons automatically). This is the easiest solution, but some people are not looking at the Classic site much anymore.

The problem is that it is hard enough to get members to use one church website, let alone two, and every time they "enhance" the look and feel of the lds.org site, they make it harder to find links to the old content. We have been forced to move to the lds.org site for the calendar and it is much better for ward leadership listings, so that is where we want people to go.

Quite frankly, the new lds.org ward and stake system should never have been made available until it included all of the functionality of the classic LUWS. Doing so was just plain poor management.

[atticusewig]

Quite frankly, the new lds.org ward and stake system should never have been made available until it included all of the functionality of the classic LUWS. Doing so was just plain poor management.

I agree. Rolling out the Directory and Calendar early has caused our
users to completeldy ignore the old site where we still house various
forms in the News/Information section.

Also, if a major change will be happening (building scheduling, for example),
it would be nice to get the info prior to the change. It's a bit unsettling
when users find out about features before administrators do.

[aebrown]

Quite frankly, the new lds.org ward and stake system should never have been made available until it included all of the functionality of the classic LUWS. Doing so was just plain poor management.

I disagree. Of course, you're welcome to your opinion, but it is only an opinion, even if you state it as fact.

I for one am grateful for all the new capabilities, and appreciate them being rolled out when they are available. When the last module for the new site is completed sometime in 2012, I would be frustrated if I then learned that the new Calendar and Directory could have been available 2 years earlier, but were held back until everything was complete, as you recommend.

There's a link to the classic ward and stake web sites right on the home page of lds.org. I agree that it's been a bit frustrating that the links to those sites have moved, but it's really easy to find. For those who don't see it right off, a bit of education and reminder will help them find the link. And once you are on the ward and stake web sites, there are links to the new calendar and directory from there.

[russellhltn]

I think what hurt was making the links to the new modules right of the main page. It made it easy to ignore the classic LUWS.