In developing the PSU Institutional Portfolio, we have focused on using the features of the Web – menus, navigation systems, and sidebars - to allow users to make relevant connections between the wide varieties of information available on the site.

The two main routes into the PSU Portfolio, Themes and Tours, both have side menus that hyperlink to sub-sections and content pages. A variety of navigational aids and usability policies were developed to make the portfolio as user-friendly as possible. These features include “breadcrumb” text navigation on all pages, the choice of a graphical or text-only version of the website, sub-section navigation on section pages, sidebars with additional information and/or hyperlinks relating to page content, and pop-up windows for external websites and documents that require plug-ins (pdf, PowerPoint, etc.).

The PSU Portfolio also includes additional user resources to help with searching for and retrieving information. These include a site-wide search engine, a hyperlinked site map, and discussion boards to allow for ongoing, interactive discussion of various topics.

The following illustration highlights some of the features of the PSU Portfolio website: