This unit provides a broad introduction to the rapidly-expanding field of information architecture (IA). IA is a major area of concern for any organisation which has a business need to store and manage large and varied collections of data. The unit explains the nature and purpose of IA as a field of study and examines typical IA needs of large organisations. It examines a variety of approaches to the task of IA development and the techniques commonly associated with them. Particular emphasis is given to developing practical skills in techniques for developing architectures and to applying a range of popular IA tools and techniques commonly used in IA projects.
2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs studios/wk
You are expected to spend 12 hours per week on various activities including reading, communication with other students and unit lecturers, and preparation for learning tasks and formal assessments.
FIT1037 and either FIT1036 or FIT1003
Frada Burstein
Frada Burstein
Consultation hours: weekly Monday after the lecture and 4-7pm, or via email: frada.burstein@monash.edu
Tom Denison
Consultation hours: weekly Monday after the tutorial, or via email
Frada Burstein
Tom Denison
Examination (3 hours): 50%; In-semester assessment: 50%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| On-line quiz | 10% | Sunday, April 29, 2012, 6pm |
| Practical assignment and presentation | 30% (20% report, 10% presentation) | Report due: Friday, May 11, 2012, 6pm |
| Participation | 10% | by week 11 |
| Examination 1 | 50% | To be advised |
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Christina Wodtke and Austin Govella . (2009). Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web. (2nd) New Riders (ISBN: -10: 0321600800).
Peter Morville and Louis Rosenfeld. (2007). Information architecture for the World Wide Web. (3rd ed. ) Sebastopol, CA : O'Reilly,.
| Week | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No formal activities are undertaken in week 0 | No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0 |
| 1 | Introduction - the need for Information Architecture (IA) | 27 Feb, Semester starts, no tutorials in week 1, Unit Forum is open for comments/questions |
| 2 | First principles + major stages for IA development | tutorial work start |
| 3 | Guest lecture 1 - Helen Smith, Information architect and content specialist at ui3 | Assignment specifications become available |
| 4 | Stage 1 of IA development- Research | paper presentations and discussion |
| 5 | Stage 2 of IA development- Strategy | paper presentations and discussion |
| 6 | Guest lecture 2 - TBC | |
| 7 | Stage 3a of IA development- Design | Quiz becomes available |
| 8 | Stage 3a of IA development- User centered and User sensitive design | Complete and submit on-line quiz |
| 9 | Guest lecture 3 -TBC | |
| 10 | Stage 4 and 5 - Implementation and administration | Assignment is due the end of this week |
| 11 | Architecting social spaces | Assignment presentations |
| 12 | Review and conclusions | |
| SWOT VAC | No formal assessment is undertaken SWOT VAC | |
| Examination period | LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/ academic/education/assessment/ assessment-in-coursework-policy.html |
*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your MUSO (Blackboard or Moodle) learning system.
Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/unit-assessment-hurdles.html)
Tutorial participation will be assessed at 10% of the total mark.
This will require leading the discussion on one paper during the semester (can be performed in a group of 2 for longer papers). In addition, your can improve your mark by contributing to the discussion of other papers.
Sample of correct answers will be provided after the submission due date
The level of understanding of the concept of information architecture and its role for improving user's experiences with online system will be the major criteria for assessing this assignment.
If work is performed in a group (two people maximum), then students will have to provide a statement of contribution of each individual student to the project and assess each others performance on a set of criteria, which will be supplied by the tutor.
A set of criteria for assessment will be provided. This will also include students assessing each other's performance and contribution
It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an online quiz).
Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.
You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html.
Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University's academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them.
You can find Monash's Education Policies at:
http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html
Key educational policies include:
The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students. For Sunway see http://www.monash.edu.my/Student-services, and for South Africa see http://www.monash.ac.za/current/
The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. At Sunway, visit the Library and Learning Commons at http://www.lib.monash.edu.my/. At South Africa visit http://www.lib.monash.ac.za/.
Academic support services may be available for students who have a disability or medical condition. Registration with the Disability Liaison Unit is required. Further information is available as follows:
A list of papers will be made available on Moodle site, and these can be accessed electronically.
Useful resources for learning this unit can be found at: