Course Syllabus

MCOM 492 (D01, D02) Online

Information Architecture (3 credit hours)

Dakota State University, Madison SD

Academic Term, Year: Fall 2008

Course Meeting Time and Location: Online through Desire 2 Learn (D2L) course management system: https://d2l.sdbor.edu/index.asp.

Course Description

Catalog description: A study of the structure, organization, and presentation of written and graphic information based on form, content, and user analysis.
 

 Course specific description: This course provides an introduction to the fundamental issues of information architecture, with an emphasis on the architecture of websites. Students will analyze and describe, in professional terms, the organizational structures, labeling schemes, navigation elements, and search features of large, information-rich websites and solve problems concerning the flow of information on such sites.

Course Prerequisites

 None.

Description of Instructional Methods
A variety of online learning approaches will be used, including online instructional materials posted through D2L; class discussions using D2L Discussions and/or D2L Chat functions, as well as electronic submission and return of assignments. Students will be responsible for accessing all online materials and participating in weekly class discussions as well as completing reading, research, and writing assignments. 

Disability Policy
If you have a documented disability and/or anticipate needing accommodations (e.g., non-standard note taking, test modifications) in this course, please contact the instructor. You should also contact Dakota State University’s ADA coordinator, Keith Bundy (keith.bundy@dsu.edu). The DSU website containing additional information, along with the form to request accommodations is http://www.departments.dsu.edu/disability_services/. You will need to provide documentation of your disability, as the ADA coordinator must confirm the need for accommodations before officially authorizing them.  

Course Requirements

Technology requirements: Students must have a D2L account and daily access to a computer and a web browser. In addition, you will need Microsoft Word, online connection to DSU D2L, as well as ability and software to create electronic presentations (e.g. MS Producer, Photostory, or web authoring software.

Textbook: Rosenfield, L. & Morville, P. Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, 3rd ed. ISBN:0-596-52734-9, available from the DSU online bookstore.

Writing handbook: The Prentice-Hall Reference Guide by Muriel Harris, has been customized for DSU and is available from the DSU online bookstore. If you are not majoring in a program at DSU, you may ask permission to use a different handbook; good writers consult a handbook on a regular basis for answers to punctuation, mechanics, usage,  style, and documentation questions.

File backup: a folder on personal computers for storing course-related materials, assignments, and returned assignments. Multiple back-up copies of important information and assignments should be maintained.

Course Policies

Attendance: Students are required to attend or log into the course D2L site a minimum of 3 times a week to participate in online discussions, post reading logs as required, and submit assignments.  If you are unable to complete this requirement due to illness or other emergency, contact your instructor via Mail in D2L to make other arrangements.

Cheating and plagiarism policy: Students must do their own work. The intentional or unintentional use without attribution of another’s intellectual property (plagiarism) will result in a failing grade for the assignment in which it appears and may result in failure in the course. In addition, you may be subject to disciplinary action by the University. When in doubt, contact your instructor for guidelines about how to avoid plagiarism.

Academic dishonesty policy: In addition to plagiarism, academic dishonesty includes copying answers or work done by another student; turning in work done for another course without obtaining written permission from both instructors; using notes or other restricted aids during an exam; and allowing another student to copy from your work. Academic dishonesty carries the same penalties as plagiarism; to learn more about DSU's policy on academic dishonesty, consult the Trojan Handbook.
 

Freedom of Learning: Students are responsible for learning the content of any course of study in which they are enrolled. Under Board of Regents and University policy, student  academic performance shall be evaluated solely on an academic basis  and students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views  offered in any course of study.  It has always been the policy of Dakota State  University to allow students to appeal the decisions of faculty, administrative,  and staff members and the decisions of institutional committees.  Students who  believe that an academic evaluation is unrelated to academic standards but is  related instead to judgment of their personal opinion or conduct should  contact the dean of the college which offers the class to initiate a review of the evaluation.

Workload: The workload for a 3 credit course offered in traditional classroom format is based on an expectation of 12 hours (3 hours of class and 6-9 hours of homework) per week. Plan accordingly.
 

Late Papers: Late submissions will not be accepted without prior approval. If you expect to have trouble meeting a deadline, e-mail your instructor to make other arrangements. Late submissions, with prior approval, may result in deduction of one letter grade.

Grammar & Mechanics: The work turned in for this course should be free of mechanical errors and conform to the conventions of standard written English. I expect that you will use

• your writing handbook

• spell-check and a college-level dictionary

• someone to help you proofread your work.

If you know you have trouble with some aspect of writing mechanics, make use of the DSU Online Writing Lab (OWL) or SmartThinking.

Course Goals
 

1. Writing Intensive Goal: Students will refine their understanding and practice of reading and writing as integral parts of researching, learning, discussing, and presenting academic material. 

     Learning Objectives:  By the end of the course, you should be able to

• read extensively and  respond critically in written discourse, e.g. do significant outside reading with corresponding writing assignments.
• use writing to learn course content by practicing writing as an integral, ongoing part of the course and applying appropriate style manuals

2. Develop professional and technical writing skills and practices appropriate to the development of the information architecture of an information rich website
 Learning Objectives:  By the end of the course, you should be able to

• analyze and describe, in professional terms, the organizational structures, labeling schemes, navigation elements, and search features of large, information-rich websites.  
• recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, organize, critically evaluate, and effectively use information from a variety of sources with intellectual integrity.
• identify and suggest solutions for problems with the flow of information on large, information-rich websites.
• complete multidisciplinary team activities using effective communication skills and strategies, including both synchronous and asynchronous computer-supported communication technologies.

Assessment Criteria:

Performance standards/grading policy: Grades will be based on points accumulated from

·      Critiques: 25%

·      Final Website Redesign & supporting Documents: 40%

·      Research & Book Reports: 10%

·      Study Guides, Quizzes & Exams: 10%

·      Class/Team Participation: 15%

Final grades in the course will be assigned according to the following scale: