IST553 Information Architecture for Internet Services Syllabus Summer 2013 Instructor: Patrick W. Fitzgibbons, Ph.D. Telephone: 315-797-4062 e-mail: pwfitzgi@syr.edu Blackboard: Learning Management System: The ischool uses the Syracuse University BlackBoard learning management system To access your Summer 2013 courses: URL: http://blackboard.syr.edu Account: Please log in with your NetID ID and password Access: Click "Summer" for access to your Summer 2013 courses Assistance: Please contact the ilms administrators if you need assistance. Sarah Helson, telephone number is: 315-443-8144, she can be reached at ilms@syr.edu. Peggy Brown can be reached at pbrown01@syr.edu or 315-443- 9370. Schedule: This is an on-line course. Meetings and discussions are asynchronous in nature. Online sessions begin on Monday s starting May 20, 2013. Weekly materials are organized as learning modules these include all session materials, along with assignments and discussion conferences are activated the day before (eg. on Sunday s). Course Description Building and management of Internet information services, including information organization, information management, and information dissemination. Understanding of the use of Internet technologies within an organizational context. Practice with current technologies. Information architecture (IA) encompasses the organization, indexing, search, and navigation systems in Web sites. These systems must support usability for a Web site to be successful. The information architecture of a site ensures that the information conveys its intended meaning to the user of a site while making it easy and efficient for them to find what they need. Course Objectives Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: o organize, design and prototype content-rich Web sites that are easy to navigate and search o assess the usability of online information services and suggest specific strategies for improvement o conduct user research and usability testing o analyze a wide range of Web strategies and models o create a report that includes information architecture strategies and recommendations tailored to a specific client Textbooks Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, 3rd Edition
Authors: Peter Morville & Louis Rosenfeld Publisher: O'Reilly Media Inc. ISBN: 978-0-596-52734-1 Don t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 2nd Edition Author: Steve Krug Publisher: New Riders ISBN: 0-321-34475-8 Software Diagramming software any you would like to use. For example you can use Microsoft PowerPoint or Publisher) or some Web site prototyping software (Dreamweaver, SharePoint Designer, JumpChart, etc.) Assignments & Evaluation Assignments will include readings, critiques and exercises, participation, a research paper, a mid-term project, and a final project. Except for the midterm and final project, all the assignments will be due by the next session (unless otherwise noted). Readings In addition to chapters in the textbooks, there will be readings assigned from a range of other sources. These readings are intended to enhance our in-class discussions and will be made available throughout the semester at appropriate times. Critiques and Exercises Small problem-solving assignments will be given that provide a practical understanding of information architecture principles, including information design, usability analysis, navigational layout, and searching and indexing strategies. These assignments will include, but not be limited to, critiques of existing sites and creation of information architecture deliverables. Participation It is expected that all students participate including discussion topics, readings and other assignments. Class homework exercises will also be used to reinforce specific topics. Research Paper Each student will be responsible for researching and writing a paper on a current topic of interest in the field of Information Architecture. Midterm Project: Competitive/Comparative Website Structural Analysis This assignment will include the analysis and critique of an assigned group of sites (TBD), and documentation of both unique and universal structural elements. You will suggest ideas for improvement of the information architecture elements of the site. Visual deliverables will include blueprints and wireframes. Additional instructions will be provided when the midterm project is assigned. Final Project: IA Strategy Report You will be required to conduct Web site research for a specific client, and develop an information architecture strategy and prototype Web site. Your project will include the organization, navigation, content, search and additional features of the site. You will demonstrate your ability to present ideas both within the framework of
information architecture and your client's specific Web site goals. Additional instructions will be given when the final project is assigned. Final Grade: Your final grade for the course will be based on the following: Final Project 30% Mid-Term Project 20% Critiques and Exercises 25% Research Paper 15% Participation 10% Academic Integrity The academic community of Syracuse University and of the School of Information Studies requires the highest standards of professional ethics and personal integrity from all members of the community. Violations of these standards are violations of a mutual obligation characterized by trust, honesty, and personal honor. As a community, we commit ourselves to standards of academic conduct, impose sanctions against those who violate these standards, and keep appropriate records of violations. The academic integrity statement can be found at http://supolicies.syr.edu/ethics/acad_integrity.htm Student with Disabilities In compliance with section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Syracuse University is committed to ensure that no otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall, solely by reason of disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity If you feel that you are a student who may need academic accommodations due to a disability, you should immediately register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at 804 University Avenue, Room 308 3rd Floor, 315.443.4498 or 315.443.1371 (TTD only). ODS is the Syracuse University office that authorizes special accommodations for students with disabilities. Ownership of Student Work In compliance with the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, works in all media produced by students as part of their course participation at Syracuse University may be used for educational purposes, provided that the course syllabus makes clear that such use may occur. It is understood that registration for and continued enrollment in a course where such use of student works is announced constitutes permission by the student. After such a course has been completed, any further use of student works will meet one of the following conditions: (1) the work will be rendered anonymous through the removal of all personal identification of the work s creator/originator(s); or (2) the creator/originator(s) written permission will be secured. As generally accepted practice, honors theses, graduate theses, graduate research projects, dissertations, or other exit projects submitted in partial fulfillment of degree requirements are placed in the library, University Archives, or academic departments for public reference.
Tentative Course Schedule (subject to change) Week 1: May 20, 2013 o Course overview o Introduction to Information Architecture o Readings: Morville/Rosenfeld: Ch 1 Krug: Ch 1 Week 2: May 27, 2013 o User needs and behavior o Usability from the user s perspective o Readings: Morville/Rosenfeld: Ch 2, 3, 4 Krug: Ch 2, 3, 4, 5 Week 3: June 3, 2013 o Organization, navigation and search systems o Designing the home page o Readings: Morville/Rosenfeld: Ch 5, 6, 7, 8 Krug: Ch 6, 7 Week 4: June 10, 2013 o Search systems (con t), controlled vocabularies, metadata o Readings: Morville/Rosenfeld: Ch 8 (con t), 9 Week 5: June 17, 2013 o Information Architecture design and documentation o User research o Usability testing o Readings: Morville/Rosenfeld: Ch 8 (con t), 9, 12 Week 6: June 24, 2013 o Midterm Project Assigned Week 7: July 1, 2013 o Information Architecture strategies o Moving from research to strategy
o Readings: Morville/Rosenfeld: Ch 11 Krug: Ch 8, 9 Mditerm Project DUE Week 8: July 8, 2012 o Information Architecture in practice o Building an Information Architecture team o Readings: Morville/Rosenfeld: Ch 13, 15, 16 Week 9: July 15, 2013 o Information Architecture in the organization o Business strategies o Readings: Morville/Rosenfeld: Ch 17, 18 Krug: Ch 10, 11, 12 RESEARCH PAPER DUE Week 10: July 22, 2013 o Information Architecture for the enterprise o Analyzing specific Information Architecture strategies o Tailoring a strategy to organizational and community needs o Readings: Morville/Rosenfeld: Ch 19, 20,21 Week 11: July 29, 2013 o Accessibility o Ethical considerations o Readings: Morville/Rosenfeld: Ch 14 Week 12: August 5, 2013 o The future of Information Architecture Final Projects are due Friday, August 9, 2013 (by 11:59 P.M. EST)