S532 Information Architecture for the Web
Time: Thursdays, 5:45-8:30 PM, Jan 14 – May 6, 2010
Place: Li002 (SLIS Mac lab), Indiana University, Bloomington
Instructor: Jonathan Warren
- Office: Wells Library, room 034 (main SLIS hallway, across from 031)
- Office hours: Tuesdays 1-2pm, and Fridays 11:30am-12:30pm
(schedule an appointment)
Objectives
- Publish linked documents on the Web using HTML/XHTML, Cascading Style Sheets, Perl/PHP, and Javascript/DHTML
- Identify basic principles of webpage layout and website design
- Understand applications of information architecture for the organization and presentation of Web-based digital information
- Understand relationships between the practice of information architecture and organizational, social, and technical contexts of website design, implementation, and maintenance
- Discuss knowledgeably what information architecture is and what information architects do
Prerequisites
S401 is the only prerequisite for this course. The course is open to both MLS and MIS students.
S532 is a hands-on, introductory, survey course of Web markup and programming languages, information architecture, and project management. Students who already have some experience in these areas may be better served by more focused or advanced related courses, such as S503, S511-S512, S515-517, S551-553, S556, S561, S604, S643, S652, S656, and S662, as well the A500-level courses in Computer Science (especially A548).
Texts
All required course materials will be made available to class members in digital form. For the students' convenience, citations are given throughout the syllabus to several popular reference guides (Castro and Teague, citations below). Other specialized books can be recommended as students feel the need for them.
Castro, Elizabeth. (2006). HTML for the World Wide Web with XHTML and CSS: Visual QuickStart Guide. Sixth Edition. Berkeley, CA : Peachpit Press.
- highly recommended for most students
- available in the IU bookstore (online may be cheaper)
- the same volume has been recommended before for S401 (so you may already own it)
Teague, Jason C. (2006). CSS, DHTML, and Ajax: Visual QuickStart Guide. Fourth Edition. Berkeley, CA : Peachpit Press.
- for those wanting to go more deeply into DHTML (CSS manipulated by Javascript), and the document object model towards the end of the course
- available from the usual commercial outlets
