ITM30210 Information Architecture (Spring 2016)

The course is connected to the following study programs

Compulsory course in:

• Bachelor in Digital Media Production
• Bachelor in Digital Media

Elective course in other study programs.

The student's learning outcomes after completing the course

Knowledge:

On completion of the course, the student:

• has acquired a basic knowledge of information architecture
• has acquired in-depth knowledge of different methods of collecting information about a domain
• has in-depth knowledge of principles of user-friendliness and design
• is familiar with and understand how information in a website is organised in labelling systems, navigation systems, search systems and metadata
• has in-depth knowledge of different evaluation methods

Skills:

On completion of the course, the student can:

• analyse, plan, design, implement and evaluate large complex websites
• design websites that are user-friendly and functional
• work with users and involve them in the design process for the website
• use CMS to implement large websites

General competence:

On completion of the course, the student can:

• plan, implement and document a large development project
• work on development projects in a team

Content

• Evaluation methods
• Information architecture and categorisation
• Processes and methods for designing and developing large websites
• User-friendliness
• Use of CMS

Forms of teaching and learning

Lectures, group work, development of students' own concepts, preparation of competition entries, posters for conferences, and submissions to trade journals or magazines. Working methods will be practical, independent and collaborative.

Examination

Report and oral exam in groups

The report (minimum 40 pages) is assessed on the basis of pass or fail.

The oral exam in groups is linked to the report and syllabus. Duration: 20–30 minutes. Individual grades awarded, based on a letter grading scale A?F. No support materials permitted.

The report must be awarded a pass grade before students may take the oral exam. Students may appeal against a fail grade. If a fail grade is changed to a pass, the student may take the oral exam.

Students must take both exam components in the case of resit exams. Topics must be agreed with the course instructor in the case of resit exams or rescheduled exams. Resit exams and rescheduled exams can be undertaken in new groups or individually. This is decided by the course instructor on an individual basis.

Course evaluation

This course is evaluated as follows:

• Mid-semester evaluation (optional)
• Final evaluation (compulsory)

The course instructor prepares a course report on the basis of student feedback and on his/her own experiences of the course. Course reports are discussed with the Committee for Study Quality at the Faculty of Computer Sciences.

Literature

Rosenfeld, L & Morville, P (2007). Information architecture for the World Wide Web. Third edition. California: O'Reilly

- Steve Krug (2005). Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, Second Edition

Also recommended:

- Sharp, H., Rogers, Y. & Preece, J (2007). Interaction design: beyond human-computer interaction, Chichester: John Wiley.