Course Title: Develop web site information architecture
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2011
Course Code: COSC5293C
Course Title: Develop web site information architecture
School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6068 - Advanced Diploma of Computer Science
Course Contact: Christina Norwood
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4931
Course Contact Email: christina.norwood@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Nominal Hours: 30
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
Co-requisites
COSC 5290C Design dynamic websites
COSC 5291C Build a document using extensible mark-up language
COSC 5292C Create dynamic web pages
Course Description
This course explores the components of Information Architecture as it applies to web sites – categorization, labelling, navigation, and search. It explores the different schemes available for categorizing information, possible site structures, and various forms of navigation available on web sites.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
ICAITAD146A Develop web site information architecture |
Element: |
Develop navigation system |
Performance Criteria: |
|
Element: |
Identify content needs |
Performance Criteria: |
|
Element: |
Plan content structure |
Performance Criteria: |
|
Element: |
Test and sign off |
Performance Criteria: |
|
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
Students will participate in classes in which the teacher expounds and explains basic concepts and processes, with closely integrated practical exercises. Students will undertake several case studies of the information architecture of a range of sites on the web. Additionally students will develop the information architecture for a medium scale website as part of a design and development project involving several related courses.
Teaching Schedule
Week | Topic |
1 | Introduction to Information Architecture |
2 | Systems and components of an information system |
3 | Organisation systems |
4 | Approaches to organising content |
5 | Assessment - Practical task 1 |
6 | Navigation systems |
7 | Assessment - Practical task 2 |
8 | Assessment - Practical task 2 |
9 | Case study 1 |
10 | Case study 2 |
11 | Case study 3 |
12 | Case study 4 |
13 | Project |
14 | Project |
15 | Project |
16 | Assessment - Project due |
17 - 18 | Assessment - Final exam |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Rosenfeld, L. and Morville, P. Information Architecture for the World Wide Web 2nd Edition, O'Reilly, Sebastopol CA, 2002 |
0596000359 |
Batley, S. Information Architecture for Information Professionals, Chandos Publishing, Oxford, 2007 |
1843342324 |
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
The student must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of the competency to be deemed competent.
Assessment will incorporate a variety of methods including skills tests, extended assignment work, and a final written theory exam
Assessment Tasks
Practical task 1 - organise content (10%)
Practical task 2 - develop navigation system (10%)
Project - develop Information arcitecture for a medium scale website (40%)
Exam (40%)
The student must achieve an overall mark of at least 50%, and a mark of at least 50% on the final exam to pass the course and be deemed competent.
Assessment Matrix
Prac 1 | Prac 2 | Project | Exam | |
Identify content needs | N | Y | Y | Y |
Plan content structure | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Develop navigation system | N | Y | Y | Y |
Test and sign off | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Course Overview: Access Course Overview