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Mini-project 1: Information Architecture Critique
Students need to choose three of following links listed below and, after reviewing the material found there, write a report which answers the questions below. Your report should be typed, proofread (mechanics count 20%), and printed with line spacing set at 1.5 lines. Your final copy can be turned into Tracy Crawford (IDS admin. asst.) by 5pm on 9/13/99 either as a paper copy (in PH 223E) or via attached e-mail (MS Word) to tracyc@andrew.cmu.edu.
I believe in the value of direct, non-verbose reports -- extra length does not win a person additional points in my book. At the same time, students need to write a report that is readable, coherent and thorough in its analysis. (Don't use the first sentence as an excuse to do subpar work.) I strongly suspect that most reports will be 4-6 pages long and that those exceeding 7 pages could be trimmed back without adversely affecting the report's content.
Questions to be answered:
1. A site's organization scheme involves the placement of content into categories. What is the organizational scheme used by each of the three sites you choose to evaluate? Is this scheme appropriate for the site's intended audience(s)? Why or why not?
2. The labels used for the groupings of content make a difference in a user's understanding of the site and their ability to navigate its content. Which labels stand out in your mind as particularly good ones? What makes them good? Which labels stand out in your mind as weak ones? Why?
3. Which site was easiest to navigate through and which was most difficult? What features enhanced navigation at the better site?
4. Overall, which architecture do you like best of these three sites? Why?
Sites to evaluate (choose three):
1. http://www.cmu.edu/
2. http://www.microsoft.com/
3. http://slashdot.org/
4. http://www.epic.org/
5. http://www.kli.org/
6. http://www.townonline.com/privacyjournal/
Mini-project 2: Web Site Development
For mini-assignment #2, students will develop a website using HTML and JavaScript. The content of the site can (and we expect will) vary between students; choose a topic or issue that personally interests you so that the task is pleasant and not drudgery. This is not a personal page per se, but an informative site which educates users on a particular subject you are interested in or passionate about. The only requirements for site content is that it cannot contain pornography of any sort and cannot advocate violence towards or hate for particular groups/individuals. (This should be taken as a given for the CMU community, but we state it so there is no misunderstanding.)
As for the format, all sites need to adhere to the following minimum standards:
1. Opening page to direct users to appropriate material.
2. At least two subsites connected to the main site.
3. An additional page which solicits user feedback or elicits data from the user. (note: we don't expect the form to be functional for server processing at this point)
4. A final page which explains to interested users (and faculty) the information architecture decisions you made in developing the site and provides reasons why you made these choices.
5. Pages should be formatted with tables and/or frames. (We're biased against frames, but won't penalize students who choose to use them.)
6. There is no sixth item.
7. Forms should be validated using JavaScript and JavaScript should be used in other areas as appropriate.
At a minimum, then, there will be five pages at this site, but please add more pages as you feel necessary to complete this assignment in a coherent and thorough manner.
Students can develop this either on their local machine or IDS1 server. In the end the site must be posted on the IDS1 server (location to be determined). Students will be locked out of the IDS1 server for several hours at 5pm on September 28, 1999, so all assignments must be complete by that point. Assignments not turned in at that point will be considered late and penalized accordingly.
In addition to the formal grading process, we are having a little competition with this project. After reviewing all the sites, we will hand out awards for the most informative site, most attractive pages/best layout, the best use of JavaScript, the most unusual site, and any special categories we deem appropriate after reviewing student sites. Winners will also have their site displayed for the entire class to review.
Finally, this is an individual level assignment and students should work on it accordingly (following the principles laid out in the course cheating policy).
These pages are relevant for the Fall 1999 semester.
Any questions or problems with these pages
should be sent to Professor H.
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