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ILS 656

INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE

COURSE DESCRIPTION

An in depth study of the concepts and practices of information architecture (IA). Students will read the existing literature related to IA and build complex web sites to address issues specific to information and library science based on current best practices.


COURSE OBJECTIVES/STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this course students will to able to:

  • Create web pages, and design web sites
  • Appraise the mission of a web site within the context of the organization it serves
  • Apply research methods to better understand the environment within which a website will be created or revised
  • Develop navigation systems, labeling systems, and taxonomies for web sites
  • Characterize and apply the principles of information architecture
  • Coherently examine the meaning of the term, "information architecture"
  • Apply the principles of information architecture to a real situation
  • Create a report describing and making recommendations for web site design. 

 

COURSE OUTLINE

       I.  Overview and Introductory Concepts

      II.  Structured Documents and Metadata

     III.  Basics of Information Architecture

      IV.  Definitions, User Studies, Tasks, Tools

       V.  Organizing, Navigation, and Labeling

      VI.  Searching, Controlled Vocabulary & Thesauri, and Classification

     VII.  Analysis Process

    VIII.  Research Strategy, Content, and Context

      IX.  Concept/Content/Context/Process Mapping

        X.  Design Process

       XI.  Blueprints, Wireframes, Site Responsibility

      XII.  Teams, Documentation

     XIII.  Content Management Systems

      XIV.  Usability Testing

       XV.  Testing Content

      XVI.  Branding


COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Each team of students will have a client for which a website will be designed or re-designed. Initial tasks include: 1) Identify mission and goals, 2) Identify the client's vision, 3) Define the audience, 4) Create a content inventory, 5) Identify the server environment, 6) Create site maps, 7) Create content maps, 8) Design page schematics, and 9) Define constructive processes. A working mock-up of the designed site will be created and tested for usability.


SUGGESTED TEXTS / TEXTS USED IN THE PAST

Rosenfeld, L. &, Morville, P. (2007). Information Architecture for the World Wide Web: Designing Large-Scale Web Sites (3rd ed.). O'Reilly & Associates.

 

Approved by the ILS Department Curriculum Committee and Faculty, Spring 2009.