OUR WEB SITE: PROGRESS REPORT

One year ago OSPA joined a growing group of state school psychological associations with a presence on the World Wide Web. Today there are more than 35+ state school psychological associations using the WWW as a means of sharing information about their people and programs.

OSPA first began to formally consider the development of a web page in 1997 and included this item in the Strategic Plan for 1998-99. Charles Simon, a former contributing editor to OSPA Today on the use of computer technology in our profession, began to gather information for the entry of OSPA to the WWW. However, it was July , 1998, before OSPA actually "got their feet wet" on the WWW through an arrangement with Oklahoma State University with the address being http://coetechnology.okstate.edu/ospa/ospahome.htm . This site consisted of an OSPA Home Page, Executive Board Directory, Membership and Job Opportunities. Dan Koonce, our OSU Student Representative to the OSPA Executive Board, was designated as web master and designed our first home page. However, due to problems with the server at OSU, by November of 1998, the OSPA Home page was not accessible. Dan then researched independent internet providers to compare rates and services. However, he notified the Executive Board that he would be leaving at the end of the spring semester.

In February, 1999, the OSPA Executive Board voted to hire Michael Kerr, Ph.D. , Microsolve, to create a website and maintain it. By March, 1999, the OSPA website was open for visiting. The official home of OSPA on the web is http://ospaweb.org. The design and content was upgraded to include areas such as the Home Page with the OSPA mission, profile, beliefs and address/phone number of the OSPA office; the calendar of events; selected newsletter articles; and Executive Board Directory; links to other sites with such topics as School Violence Prevention; FBA; IDEA regulations; and Home Page for NASP, APA, OSDE; Spring Conference information and registration blank and a Site Search will allows the search for any text, such as names, dates, on the OSPA Web Site.

With feedback and assistance from many people, improvements in design, function and speed have continuously enhanced your web site. Our goal is that constant review and adjustment of content, based on input from users, keeps the site current with the needs of the users.

If you have suggestions on how to improve this site please share them so that everyone will benefit from an even better OSPA World WideWeb site. We want our home page to bridge the communication gap with our members and other interested professionals. Thanks for your support. Visit us at http://ospaweb.org.

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