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iupuiS532:
Information Architecture for the Web

Indiana University at Indianapolis
School of Library and Information Science

During the past decade, the Internet has become an integral part of schools, libraries, and most other organizations. As we design systems for accessing and applying the vast resources available, skills in information architecture have become critical for librarians, educators and anyone interested in meeting the information needs of people in today's digital world.

This page was designed for a graduate course at IUPUI. If you've stumbled upon the course and want to learn more about it, email Dr. Annette Lamb or Dr. Larry Johnson for more information.

Instructor Contact Information

Name - Larry Johnson, Ph.D.
Mail Forwarding Address - 238 Rainbow Drive #13839 Livington TX 77399-2038
Dr. Johnson travels throughout the semester, so mail is forwarded from the Texas address. Email him for the latest direct address.
Email - larrjoh@gmail.com or ljohnso@iupui.edu
Voice Mail or Fax through Vision to Action - 620 343 7989

Online Course Materials

Course Materials - http://eduscapes.com/arch
Syllabus - http://eduscapes.com/arch/course/syllabus.htm
Requirements - http://eduscapes.com/arch/course/require.htm
Checklist - http://eduscapes.com/arch/course/checklist.htm
Course Guide - http://eduscapes.com/arch/course/courseguide.htm
Archives - http://eduscapes.com/arch/course/archives.htm
Resources - http://eduscapes.com/arch/course/resources.htm

Required Course Textbooks

Castro, Elizabeth (2007). HTML, XHTML & CSS. 6th Edition. Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press. ISBN 0-321-43084-0

Rosenfeld, Louis & Morville, Peter (2007). Information Architecture for the World Wide Web. 3rd Edition. Sebastopol: Ca: O'Reilly & Associates. ISBN 0-596-52734-9
For those that plan professional careers in information architecture, this book is essential!

Software Requirement

You must choose between using the commercial software Adobe Macromedia Dreamweaver and the Open Source software Nvu. The student purchase program on Dreamweaver is now expensive, so we're providing an open source alternative. If you plan to do professional level work with web design, we highly recommend purchasing Adobe Creative Suite 3 (Contains the Dreamweaver software and also has Adobe Fireworks for image optimization). If you plan to take the Flash course, make sure that you purchase a suite with Adobe Flash Pro CS3 included.

IUPUI Bookstore - Best Price through IUPUI

Academic Superstore

Open Source Alternative

Optional Learning Guide

If you use Dreamweaver and are planning to do lots of web-development work or just need additional information and help with the software, you might consider purchasing:

McFarland, David (2007). Dreamweaver CS3: The Missing Manual. Pogue Press. ISBN 978-0596510435

Optional Information Architecture Texts

Craver, Kathleen W. (2002). Creating Cyber Libraries: An Instructional Guide for School Library Media Specialists. Libraries Unlimited. ISBN 978-0313320804

Nielsen, Jakob & Loranger, Hoa (2000). Designing Web Usability. Indianapolis, IN: New Riders Publishing. ISBN 1-56205-810-X
For those that plan professional careers in web usability, this book is essential!

Nielsen, Jakob (2006). Prioritizing Web Usability. New Riders Press. ISBN 978-0321350312

Norlin, Elaina & Winters, CM. (2002). Usability Testing for Library Web Sites: A Hands-On Guide. Chicago: IL: American Library Association. ISBN 0-8389-3511-7

Wilson, A. Paula (2004). Library Web Sites: Creating Online Collections and Services. Chicago: IL: American Library Association. ISBN 0-8389-0872-1

Course Assumptions

Completion of the L401 course is the only requirement. However, I've found that some people have taken different versions of the L401 course and have different experiences. You should come into the course with an understanding of basic HTML coding and how to upload to a web server such as your IUPUI account or other web space. I will provide review materials for basic XHTML and uploading procedures, so if it's been a long time you'll have a chance to review. We will NOT be using Microsoft FrontPage unless you have specific professional reasons to use this program.

The following entry skills are required for this course:

Course Description

This course focuses on planning, designing, developing, managing, and evaluating web resources. Learners evaluate the content and technical aspects of existing informational, instructional, and promotional websites designed for libraries, schools, museums, and other organizations. They also create web sites using raw HTML, as well as web development tools. Issues such as web accessibility, website management, and copyright will also be discussed. Finally, students design a plan for managing, sustaining, and/or expanding their website.

This course will expand your thinking about the integral role of information architecture in libraries and schools. This course will be taught entirely online including web-based readings and resources, threaded discussions, plus online presentations and activities. Choices allow graduate students with varied backgrounds and interests to select activities that meet their professional needs.

Course Goals

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

Course Requirements

For a complete description of the requirements, go to the Course Requirements page.

For a nice checklist of the course activities, check out Course Checklist.

Course Grades

The points awarded for each activity are indicated on the Course Requirements ppage. High expectations have been set for this course. Please notice that outstanding achievement will require careful attention to course criteria and exceptional quality in course assignments.

Final grades are based on the following range within the total 100 points possible:

A 98-100
A- 95-97
B+ 92-94
B 89-91
B- 86-88
C 80-85
D 75-79
F below 75

The meaning of the letter grades follows the SLIS Grading Policy:

A: Outstanding achievement. Student performance demonstrates full command of the course materials and evinces a high level of originality and/or creativity that far surpasses course expectations. The grade of A+ is not granted in SLIS, except in very exceptional cases.
A-: Excellent achievement. Student performance demonstrates thorough knowledge of the course materials and exceeds course expectations by completing all requirements in a superior manner.
B+: Very good work. Student performance demonstrates above-average comprehension of the course materials and exceeds course expectations on all tasks defined in the course syllabus.
B: Good work. Student performance meets designated course expectations, demonstrates understanding of the course materials, and has performed at an acceptable level.
B-: Marginal work. Student performance demonstrates incomplete understanding of course materials.
C+, C, C-: Unsatisfactory work and inadequate understanding of course materials.
D+, D, D-: Unacceptable work; course work completed at this level will not count toward the MLS degree.
F: Failing. May result in an overall grade point average below 3.0 and possible removal from the program.

A final grade of "I" or "Incomplete" will NOT be given except in extreme situations. Please let me know if you're having difficulty completing the requirements of this course.

Accommodations

Students needing accommodations because of disability must register with Adaptive Educational Services and complete the appropriate form before accommodations will be given.  The AES office is located in Cavanaugh Hall 001E, 425 University Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46202-5140 and may be reached by phone 317/274-3241 or 317/278-2050 TTD/TTY; by fax 317/274-2051; or by email aes@iupui.edu   

For more information go to http://www.life.iupui.edu/Who/Adaptive/

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