Course Description
Schedule
Readings
Assignments

Spring Semester 2006 Day and Time: Monday, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Class Location: Marist Hall Room 208

Instructor: Joan Weeks, MLIS, M.Ed., MA Int. Rel.

Office: Marist Hall Room 131 Hrs. T-Th 6:30-9:00

Phone: (d) 202-707-3657 (e) 202-319-6129

Email: weeks@cua.edu

Course Description

This course is designed for students interested in becoming skilled searchers of Internet resources and creative designers of web sites. It covers:

  • Internet search tools, search engine architecture, search techniques and strategies
  • Evaluation of information resources as well as the strengths and limitations of search tools
  • Analysis of web sites, and application of information architecture to web site design and the principles of user-centered Web design
  • Hands-on practice in web site creation using HTML and Dynamic HTML
  • Use of HTML editors such as Front Page and Dreamweaver and image tools such as Photoshop and Fireworks to add banners, icons and photos to web sites.
  • Use of XML in web applications


Objectives

Students completing the course will::

  • Use a wide range of Internet search engines and analyze their strengths and weaknesses.
  • Become skilled searchers on the Web.
  • Evaluate Web resources for a wide range of library functions.
  • Understand information architecture and its applications, including web site analysis and design.
  • Apply techniques to serve users with disabilities.
  • Create web sites with HTML and Dynamic HTML.
  • Become competent users of HTML editing tools such as Front Page and Dreamweaver.
  • Create banners, icons and quality images for the Web.
  • Understand server technology and load web files to include images, sound, graphics, and databases.
  • Understand challenges posed by the changing information environment to information professionals.

Schedule

Date
 Topics
Assignments Due
1/9
 Course introduction
Internet, users, and information professionals
Hands-on exercise with search engines
1/17
 Research process
Framework for search tool analysis
Search engines: Google, Yahoo, Teoma, Dogpile, AskJeeves etc.
Assignment 1 distributed & discussed (due 1/30)
1/23 Search engine architecture & search strategies
Subject guides, portals, databases, OPACs, digital libraries
Metaengines and specialized engines

 
1/30
 HTML Basics using Front Page, writing for the web.
Project 1 distributed & discussed (due 2/20) 		Assignment 1 Search engine evaluation due in class
2/6 Layout design with templates and Style sheets
Exercises with Dreamweaver
Practice in using Forms and JavaScripts 		Project 1 Research topic due in class
2/13
 Images, image editing, image maps, animated images
Practice with Fireworks, Photoshop and GIF construction Kit


  
2/20
 Evaluation of Web resources: content and structure;
Information architecture
Principles of information organization & IA components
Principles and application in Web site design
Web site analysis Information architecture
Design consideration & examples
Usability testing
Assignment 2 distributed & discussed (due 3/6) 		Project 1
Position paper due 2/20 in BB by 11:59 p.m.
2/27
 Spring Break - No Class
3/6 Virtual class via Blackboard - Pushing search results to users. Evaluation and Discussion of best web design practices.

 Assignment 2 Usability and architecture evaluation due in BB by 11:59 p.m.
3/13 Storyboard construction use and purpose
XML & XHTM ,CGI and JavaScript applications
Assignment 3 distributed & discussed (due 3/20)
3/20
 Putting content from storyboards into Dreamweaver and organizing web site.

Assignment 4 distributed & discussed (due 3/27) &
Project 2 distributed & discussed (due 4/10) 		Assignment 3
Storyboards due in class
3/27 Special topics: making a sound file, small Flash movie to play in web site. Assignment 4
XML exercise due in class
4/3
 Server organization and technology.

Project 3 distributed & discussed (due 4/24)		  
4/10

Testing and troubleshooting web site

Assignment 5 distributed & discussed (due 4/24)

 Project 2
Website due loaded on the server by the end of class
4/17

 Easter Break - no class

  
4/24 Presentation of web site in class

Project 3
Web site presentation
&
Assignment 5 usability test due in class
5/1

 Final exam in class

  


Readings by Date

1/9 Course introduction, information professionals and user Internet information seeking behavior

Ardito, Stephanie. "The Internet: Beginning or end of organized information?" Searcher, Jan98, Vol. 6 Issue 1, p52-59. (Full text in ALADIN)

Bissonnette, Susan Travis. "Smothering Free Speech: Filtering the World Wide Web." Journal of Library Administration, 2003, Vol. 39 iss:2/3 p87-105. (Full text in ALADIN)

Crespo, Javier. "Training the Health Information Seeker: Quality Issues in Health Information Web Sites." Library Trends, Fall2004, Vol. 53 Issue 2, p360-374, 15p; (Full text in ALADIN)

Hargittai, Eszter. "Second-level digital divide: Differences in people's online skills."First Monday 2002, 7, no. 4. URL = http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue7_4/hargittai/index.html

1/17 Research process Framework for search tool analysis & Search engines: Google, Yahoo, Teoma, Dogpile, AskJeeves etc.

Price, Gary. 2001. "Web search engines FAQs: Questions, answers, and issues." URL =
http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/oct01/price.htm

Notess, Greg. 2005. "Search engine showdown: The Users' Guide to Web Searching." URL = http://www.notess.com/search/

"Search Engine Watch Site Map." 2005. URL = http://www.searchenginewatch.com/sitemap/article.php/2148801

1/23 Search engine architecture & search strategies, subject guides, portals, databases, OPACs, digital libraries, metaengines and specialized engines

How to choose a search engine or directory." (University of Albany Libraries). 2003. URL = http://library.albany.edu/internet/choose.html

Jackson, Mary E. 2002. "The advent of PORTALS." Library Journal 127, no. 5: 36-9. Also available online, URL = http://libraryjournal.reviewsnews.com/index.asp?layout=articlePrint&articleID=CA242296

Luther, Judy. "Trumping Google? Metasearching's Promise" Library Journal. 10/1/2003 http://www.libraryjournal.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA322627&publication=libraryjournal

Xie, Hong (Iris). "Online IR system evaluation: online databases versus Web search engines." Online Information Review 2004 Vol. 28 (3): 211-219. (Available via ALADIN)

1/30 HTML Basics using Front Page, writing for the web.

Castro, Elizabeth. 2003. HTML for the World Wide Web. 5th ed. Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press.Chapters 1, 3, 4 (Available on course reserve in Mullen Library)

Fichter, Darlene. "Ten Ways to Foster Better Online Writing." Online, May/Jun2005, Vol. 29 Issue 3, p51-53. (Available via ALADIN).

Gregory, Judy. "Writing for the Web Versus Writing for Print: Are They Really So Different?"
Technical Communication. Washington: May 2004. Vol. 51, Iss. 2; p. 276 (Available via ALADIN)

NCSA 2001. "Beginner's guide to HTML." URL =
http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/General/Internet/WWW/HTMLPrimer.html

Webmonkey. 2003. "HTML Tutorial." URL = http://www.hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/teachingtool/index.html


2/6 Layout design with templates and style sheets, exercises with Dreamweaver using forms

Castro, Elizabeth. 2003. HTML for the World Wide Web. 5th ed. Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press.
Chapters 8, 16.

Fichter, Darlene. "Designing a BETTER SUBJECT PAGE to Make Users' Searches More Successful." Computers in Libraries, Oct2005, Vol. 25 Issue 9, p6-56 (Available via ALADIN)

Roberts, Gary. "Include Your Patrons in Web Design." Computers in Libraries, Oct2005, Vol. 25 Issue 9, p30-33,


2/13 Images, image editing image maps, animated images.

Canter, Sheryl. "Protecting Web Images." PC Magazine, 6/30/2003, Vol. 22 Issue 11, p70. (Available via ALADIN)

Castro, Elizabeth. 2003. HTML for the World Wide Web. 5th ed. Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press. Chapter 6, 7. (Available on course reserve in Mullen Library)

Cutts, Dominique. "Tips for Digitizing Web Images." NetGuide., April 1, 1997, Vol. 4, Issue 4, p. 75 (Available via ALADIN)

2/20 Evaluation of web resources: content and structure; information architecture; usability testing.

Auer, Nicole. 1998. "Bibliography on evaluating Internet resources." URL = http://www.lib.vt.edu/help/instruct/evaluate/evalbiblio.html

Ballas, Janet L. "Does Your Library's Web Site Pass the Usability Test?" Computers in Libraries, Oct2005, Vol. 25 Issue 9, p36-39. (Available via ALADIN).

Rosenfeld, L., and Peter Morville. 2002. Information Architecture for the World Wide Web. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly. Chapters 1, 4-6, 9 (Available via course reserve in Mullen Library)

2/27 Spring Break

3/6 Evaluation and discussion of best web practices via Blackboard

Lynch, Patrick J. and Sarah Horton. 1999. Web Style Guide: Basic Design Principles for Creating Web Sites, Second Edition. Yale University Press. New Haven, CT (Available via URL www.webstyleguide.com/).

Smith, A. 1997. "Criteria for evaluation of Internet information resources." URL = http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~agsmith/evaln/index.htm

3/13 Storyboard construction use and purpose; XML & XHTM, and CGI and Java Script

Castro, Elizabeth. 2003. HTML for the World Wide Web. 5th ed. Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press. Chapter 18. (Available on course reserve in Mullen Library)

Java Script Tutorial: URL = http://www.javascriptmall.com/learn/contents.htm

Miller, Dick R. "XML: Libraries' Strategic Opportunity." Library Journal, Summer2000 Net Connect, Vol. 125 Issue 10, p18. (Available via ALADIN)

3/20 Putting content from storyboards into Dreamweaver and organizing web sites.

Eveland, William P. "How Web Site Organization Influences Free Recall, Factual Knowledge, and Knowledge Structure Density." Human Communication Research. Apr 2004. Vol. 30, Iss. 2; p. 208. (Available via ALADIN)

Guenther, Kim. "Web Site Redesign: Knowing When It's Time."
Online. Medford: Jul/Aug 2005. Vol. 29, Iss. 4; p. 58 (Available via ALADIN)

Minkel, Walter. "Remaking Your Web Site in Seven Easy Steps." School Library Journal, May2002, Vol. 48 Issue 5, p46. (Available via ALADIN)

3/27 Special topics: making a sound file, small Flash Movie to play in web site.

Castro, Elizabeth. 2003. HTML for the World Wide Web. 5th ed. Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press. Chapter 17. (Available on course reserve in Mullen Library)

Markey, Karen, Annie Armstrong, Sandy De Groote, Michael Fosmire, et al. "Testing the Effectiveness of Interactive Multimedia for Library-User Education." Portal : Libraries and the Academy. Oct 2005.Vol.5, Iss. 4; pg. 527. (Available via ALADIN)

4/3 Server organization, content management systems, web site management

Guenther, Kim. "Protecting Your Web Site, Protecting Your Users." Online, May/Jun2003, Vol. 27 Issue 3, p63.
(Available via ALADIN)

Mescan, Suzanne. "Why Content Management Should Be Part of Every Organization's Global Strategy." Information Management Journal, Jul/Aug2004, Vol. 38 Issue 4, p54-57.(Available via ALADIN)

Ryan, Susan M. "Library Web Site Administration: A Strategic Planning Model for the Smaller Academic Library." Journal of Academic Librarianship, Jul2003, Vol. 29 Issue 4, p207-218. (Available via ALADIN)

4/10 Testing and troubleshooting web site

Castro, Elizabeth. 2003. HTML for the World Wide Web. 5th ed. Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press. Chapter 24. (Available on course reserve in Mullen Library)

Genuis, Shelagh. "Web Site Usability Testing: A Critical Tool for Libraries." Feliciter, 2004, Vol. 50 Issue 4, p161-164. (Available via ALADIN)

Guenther, Kim. "Assessing Web Site Usability." Online, Mar/Apr2003, Vol. 27 Issue 2, p65. (Available via ALADIN).

4/17 Easter Break

4/24 Presentation of web site in class with usability testing

5/1 Final exam in class

Assignments, Projects and Grading

The following assignments and presentations are due on the dates indicated on the syllabus and will count for 85 points out of 100 for your final grade. The final essay exam will count for 15 points.
1. Search engine evaluation project 10
2. Evaluation of library web resourses, architecture & usability 10
3. Position paper on Internet usage issue 15
4. Storyboards for website 10
5. XML File Assignment 5
6. Usability test for your website 5
7. Website for a library setting loaded on the server. 20
8. Presentation of your website to class 10


Grading

Grading Scale Points
A (100-94)
A- (93-90)
B+ (89-85)
B (84-82)
B- (81-79)

Course Policies:

ACADEMIC HONESTY: You'll find Academic Affairs policies on “Academic Dishonesty” and on "Unethical Practices" in the University Policies and Procedures web page at http://policies.cua.edu/ . You are held responsible for adhering to these policies. Incidences of academic dishonesty, defined by the University as “failure to observe rules of fairness in taking exams or writing papers, plagiarism, fabrication, and cheating” will result in a grade of F (0 points) on the project or exam in question, and will be reported to the Dean for possible further action (including failure in the course). Talk with your instructor if you have questions about what is involved in such offenses. Plagiarism, which includes "[1] intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one's own in any academic exercise; [2] failure to attribute any of the following: quotations, paraphrases, or borrowed information from print sources or websites; [3] buying completed papers from other to use as one's own work", will not be tolerated. For more on what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it, see the guide on the Purdue Online Writing Lab web site at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_plagiar.html .

ADA ACCOMODATION: Students with disabilities requiring accomodation under federal regulations must present a written accommodation request to the instructor by the second class meeting . It is strongly recommended that the student contact the Office of Disability Support Services , Suite 207, Pryzbyla Center (202-319-5211; email cua-disabilityservices@cua.edu, web http://disabilitysupport.cua.edu/). This is the University office responsible for disability accommodation and services, and its staff can answer questions about services and requirements regarding documentation. Special accommodations or other arrangements cannot be made without documentation approved by this office.

TIMELY SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS. Assignments are due on the dates indicated in the syllabus and each assignment handout. Late assignments will be penalized with loss of one point per day.