Design: Web: Information

Once you've explored the spectrum of web projects and done some brainstorming about the content, you're ready to start collecting and organizing the information for your web project.

Ideas

Are the ideas, materials, and products being posted generated by librarians, teachers, students, customers, patrons, or community members? The more users are involved in the design of the web contents, the more they will take ownership of the project. Encourage users such as students and volunteers to become involved in decision making at all levels, from the color of the background to the order of the index. For example, consider using a teen advisory board for your entry page design.

• Who will be involved with idea generation?
  
• Where will ideas be posted?
  
• How will you decide which ideas to use?

Information

What sources of information will be used? There's no reason to reinvent the wheel. If the information has been posted at another location, it's easier to link to it than to retype it. In some cases you'll need permission to link to a website. For example, some websites don't allow "deep linking" which means linking beyond the first level.

Go to eGovernment Resource Center - Issues in Deep Linking. Skim at least three articles related to this topic. What are the issues? How will you handle links to off-site web resources?

What unique perspective can you provide on the information? Do you have primary source materials such as letters, diaries, stories, editorials, debates, or reports that your local families or students have created that could be posted?

Be careful when using already published information from your textbook, trade books, or other sources. Review the copyright law before using materials from any source other than your own creations. Will students or patrons be creating original content for the project such as research reports, fictional stories, or drawings? As you collect information for your project, address the following questions.

• What kinds of information will be created?
  
• How will you decide what information gets posted?
  
• Who will read the information you present?
  
• Will users be able to comment on the information?
  
• Will users be able to add to the information?

Links

Will your pages link to other pages within your organization, school or library, or will you connect to external resources around the world? Linking is a powerful tool and an important new skill. Students need to evaluate the quality of information at other sites and decide whether the information is important enough to be linked to their site. If available, use primary source documents in your web pages.

• What will the links look like?
  
• Will you use text links or an image map?
  
• Will the links be in a list or a paragraph?
  
• Who will check the links on a regular basis?

Activities

What will people do with your site? The web provides an opportunity for a very active learning environment where students can explore information, share ideas, and solve problems. It providess library patrons a place to share ideas and connect with new friends.

You may wish to develop activities that make use of the information at other sites. On the other hand, your activity may not need external information to be successful. For example, if you're posting a short story you might not need external links.

• Who will be involved with the activity?
  
• Will you interact with other schools and students?
  
• What will you and your students be doing?

Projects

If it's an educational site, consider classroom projects. How is your web page connected to other projects or local community activities? You may find that some activities require computer use. However, you may be able to print out the web page and distribute a printed version as an alternative for people without web access.

• How much hardware and software is required?
  
• How many Internet connections are needed?
  
• Can the project be printed or downloaded?
  
• Are there materials that all participants will need?
  
• What's the timeline for the project?

Lesson Plans

If it's an educational site, consider lesson plans. Will teacher information be provided? There may be teachers who would like to learn more about your project. As a result, you may wish to develop lesson plans that will go with the web pages being developed by and for students. Again consider your audience. Do you envision students, teachers, or both using your pages? Develop lesson plans.

• Will all participants be the same age or grade level?
  
• What's the size of the class and the project?
  
• What student and teacher materials are needed?
  
• What's the expected learner outcome?
  
• Where does this project fit into the curriculum?
  
• What instructional strategies will be used?
  
• What's your plan for classroom management?

Services

Examine your mission statement. Think about what services you offer now and what services could be provided in the web-based environment. How does the web allow you to reach beyond the walls of you library, school, or organization?

• What's the best way to provide services using the web-based environment?
  
• How will you let people know about these services?
  
• How is your website an expansion and enhancement of your existing information services?

Formats

What's the best way to communicate information about your project? Text, tables, graphics, videos, audio, animation and many other media can be integrated into web projects. Consider the multiple intelligences of your children. How do they communicate best? Where do they need practice? The web is a great way to explore alternative communications.

• Will print materials be used?
  
• Who will develop the web pages?
  
• How will text and graphics be integrated?
  
• Will audio, video, or animation be used?

As you plan your projects, consider the following elements:

• Ideas
  
• Information
  
• Links
  
• Activities
  
• Projects
  
• Lesson Plans
  
• Services
  
• Formats

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