Syllabus

Course Information

Information Architecture
ENG3790 D700, Spring 2023
Mondays, 2:30PM-5:50PM
N601B

Contact and Office Hours

Professor Ellis
Office Hours: Mondays 2:00pm-2:30pm, 7:40pm-8:10pm in Namm N520 or by appointment (in-person or Zoom).
Email: jellis@citytech.cuny.edu
Blog: https://dynamicsubspace.net

Course Description

This theory and practice-based course provides a theoretical overview of the concepts and practices of information architecture: organization, labeling, navigation, search, and metadata. Students develop practical skills through the study of human-computer interaction.

Learning Objectives and Prerequisites

ENG3790 Course Learning Outcomes

Expectations of Students

• As a rule of thumb, students should spend twice as much time per week as the credit hours of a class on assigned readings, homework, and projects. Since this is a four hour class, students should expect to spend eight hours per week on these things. Due to some projects being smaller and others larger, these six hours per week can be thought of as on average–sometimes you might need to spend less than six hours per week and other times you might need to spend more.
• Each student should be meeting deadlines on assignments and following through on all team-based responsibilities volunteered or delegated. But, in the event that you can’t follow through on something, you should email Prof. Ellis and your teammates about the situation. While all situations don’t have to be explained (e.g., a personal emergency), each communication about not fulfilling a responsibility should include concrete and specific asks–may I have this much extra time, may I deliver this file to you by this date and time, etc. Politeness (e.g., please and thank you) and professionalism (being collegial, respectful, clear, etc.) can go a long way!
• No one should suffer in silence in our class. Put another way: communication is key to your success in the class. Students should email Prof. Ellis or visit weekly office hours to discuss the class, assignments, and teamwork. Especially considering the collaborative work, it is imperative that each team keep Prof. Ellis in the loop about any challenges or problems within a team so that he can arrange an intervention. Additionally, maintain communication with your teammates about your availability, completing tasks, asking questions, etc.

Required Texts

• Hagedorn, K. (2000). Information Architecture Glossary. Argus Associates. Retrieved from http://argus-acia.com/white_papers/iaglossary.html
• Heitman, S. (2018). Twenty-One Aspects of Information Architecture. Retrieved from https://stevenheitman-ia.com/pdfs/pdfs2/SHeitman_white_paper_IA_21_aspects.pdf.
• McMurrey, D. (2017). Online Technical Writing: Free Online Textbook for Technical Writing. Retrieved from https://mcmassociates.io/textbook/
• Purdue Online Writing Lab. APA Formatting and Style Guide. Retrieved from https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html
• Purdue Online Writing Lab. Professional, Technical Writing. Retrieved from https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/professional_technical_writing/professional_technical_writing_introduction.html
• LinkedIn Learning via the New York Public Library. Retrieved from https://www.nypl.org/research/collections/articles-databases/linkedin-learning-lynda
• Job Search Advice. Retrieved from https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/job-search-advice/
• Other readings are linked from online and City Tech Library Database sources on the schedule below. Readings should be completed before the day on which they are assigned for discussion.

Required Resources

• A notebook for writing notes about your readings and taking notes during each class. Never leave home without it!
• Computer access, word processing software, and a means of saving your work securely.
• A thumb drive/USB flash drive for some in-class assignments.
• Access to a printer.
• Access to your City Tech email, which is checked daily.
• Access and accounts at https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu and other designated web sites.
• Cloud-based storage for saving a backup of all your work.
• Google Drive/Gmail account for assignments and collaborative writing.
• Other communication software or services that are freely available and decided on by each team (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Discord, Slack, text messaging, phone calls, etc.).

Grade Distribution

Participation, 10%

Students are expected to participate in class discussions, assignments, and group work. Sustained and regular contributions to the activity of the class earns a student the full participation grade, but less engagement on a sustained basis yields a lesser grade. Participation includes working individually, speaking during discussion, giving extemporaneous responses about your work, working with others in pairs or groups, and contributing to peer review. Regular and on-time arrival to class is encouraged as this gives you more chance of participation. Please note that there isn’t any hiding in our class–I am always observing and making notes even if I don’t call out an individual’s lack of contributions.

Weekly Reading Reports, 30%

At the beginning of each class, students will have about 20 minutes to write about that week’s readings. The aim is to report on what was read, how it relates to technical and professional writing, and what utility some of its ideas might have to the individual student’s academic and professional work. The minimal word count for these assignments is 250 words. The expectation over time is to exceed regularly that low word-count bar. A grade is assigned based on the report’s responding to the readings and the best effort applied towards the word count.

Weekly Homework Assignments, 30%

Each week, students will have a take-home assignment that involves research, analysis, and writing. The deliverable will be between 250-750 words in length inclusive of citations. Some will also require students to sketch or . Some assignments will be repetitive (giving students more than once to practice a concept) and others will be unique. These will be introduced in class and posted to our OpenLab Course Site.

Final Team Project, 30%

The final team project gives students an opportunity to apply what they have learned about IA by writing and publishing a 2,500-word report online that proposes a complex website or document and includes explanations/reflections about why and what purpose each component of their report serves in terms of IA. The report will be written and published using Google Docs. The report requires at least 10 quoted and cited library-based sources (class readings that were drawn from the library are acceptable to use). Additional sources from external sources are permitted, but these sources need to be contextualized more rigorously than library vetted sources. On the last day of class, each team will email a link to their project to Prof. Ellis and give a short 5-10 minute presentation in class anchored by a slidedeck that provides an overview of their report.

Attendance and Lateness Policy

The expectation for successful and respectful college students is to arrive on time and attend all classes. Following City Tech’s policy, attendance is recorded and reported for each class meeting. Attendance and class participation are essential and excessive absences may affect the final grade. Students who simply stop attending will receive a grade of “WU” (unofficial withdrawal – attended at least once).

Policy for Late Work

Due dates for weekly assignments and major projects are provided on the schedule below. Assignments submitted late will incur a 10-point grade reduction for each day they are late. No assignments are accepted after the last day of class. Students are encouraged to talk with Prof. Ellis should anything interfere with their ability to complete work in a timely manner.

Required Format for Papers

All formal writing and citations should follow APA guidelines (see the Purdue OWL APA section for more information: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html). Remember in your research paper that quoting is far more persuasive than paraphrasing, and in either case, your use of others ideas or writing must be properly cited to give credit where credit is due and to maintain your own academic integrity.

Accessibility Statement

City Tech is committed to supporting the educational goals of enrolled students with disabilities in the areas of enrollment, academic advisement, tutoring, assistive technologies and testing accommodations. If you have or think you may have a disability, you may be eligible for reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments as provided under applicable federal, state and city laws. You may also request services for temporary conditions or medical issues under certain circumstances. If you have questions about your eligibility or would like to seek accommodation services or academic adjustments, you can leave a voicemail at 718 260 5143, send an email to Accessibility@citytech.cuny.edu or visit the Center’s website at http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/accessibility/ for more information.

College Policy on Academic Integrity

Students who work with information, ideas, and texts owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited in CUNY and at New York City College of Technology, and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion. The complete text of the College policy on Academic Integrity may be found in the Academic Catalog here.

Diversity and Inclusive Education Statement

This course welcomes students from all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. In accordance with the City Tech and CUNY missions, this course intends to provide an atmosphere of inclusion, respect, and the mutual appreciation of differences so that together we can create an environment in which all students can flourish. It is the instructor’s goal to provide materials and activities that are welcoming and accommodating of diversity in all of its forms, including race, gender identity and presentation, ethnicity, national origin, religion, cultural identity, socioeconomic background, sexuality and sexual orientation, ability, neurodivergence, age, and etc. Your instructor is committed to equity and actively seeks ways to challenge institutional racism, sexism, ableism and other forms of prejudice. Your input is encouraged and appreciated. If a dynamic that you observe or experience in the course concerns you, you may respectfully inform your instructor without fear of how your concerns will affect your grade.  Let your instructor know how to improve the effectiveness of the course for you personally, or for other students or student groups. We acknowledge that NYCCT is located on the traditional homelands of the Canarsie and Lenape peoples.

Tentative Schedule

Week 1, Monday, Jan. 30

Discuss syllabus, assignments, and schedule.

Set expectations for students and professor.

Make introductions.

Perform close reading of Wikipedia entry on Information Architecture.

Week 2, Monday, Feb. 6

This week’s focus: What is IA, what are important learning theories, and discuss the weekly Website Analysis Report.

This week’s readings (to be completed before coming to class):

Bélanger, P. (2011). Three Main Learning Theories. In Theories in Adult Learning and Education (1st ed., pp. 17–34). Verlag Barbara Budrich. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvbkjx77.6 [Download from: https://www-jstor-org.citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu/stable/j.ctvbkjx77.6#metadata_info_tab_contents]

Dillon, A. & Turnbull, D. (2006). Information Architecture. Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science, 2006 Edition. Taylor & Francis. [Download from https://repository.arizona.edu/handle/10150/105971].

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NB: No class on Monday, Feb. 13 or Monday, Feb. 20, but there will be class on Tuesday, Feb. 21, which follows a Monday schedule.

Week 3, Tuesday, Feb. 21

Post homework assignment to our OpenLab Course Site before class.

Complete beginning of class writing assignment when class starts.

This week’s readings:

Bélanger, P. (2011). Adult Learning-related Learning Theories. In Theories in Adult Learning and Education (1st ed., pp. 35–48). Verlag Barbara Budrich. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvbkjx77.7 [Download from: https://www-jstor-org.citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu/stable/j.ctvbkjx77.7#metadata_info_tab_contents]

Farnum, C. (2002). Information Architecture: Five Things Information Managers Need to Know. Information Management Journal, 36(5), 33-40. [Download from https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A92798463/AONE?u=cuny_nytc&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=d213b4ef]

Haller, T. (2010), What is information architecture?: Practical definitions and useful principles for our second decade of study and work. Bul. Am. Soc. Info. Sci. Tech., 36: 13-15. https://doi.org/10.1002/bult.2010.1720360605

Week 4, Monday, Feb. 27

Post homework assignment to our OpenLab Course Site before class.

Complete beginning of class writing assignment when class starts.

This week’s readings:

Dillon, A. (2002), Information architecture in JASIST: Just where did we come from?. J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci., 53: 821-823. https://doi-org.citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu/10.1002/asi.10090

Heilesen, S. (2007). A Short History of Designing for Communication on the Web. In S. B. Heilesen & S. S. Jensen (Eds.), Designing for Networked Communications: Strategies and Development (pp. 118-136). Idea Group Publishing. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX2657100012/GVRL?u=cuny_centraloff&sid=bookmark-GVRL&xid=23c94360

Resmini, A. and Rosati, L. (2011) A Brief History of Information Architecture. Journal of Information Architecture. Vol. 03. Iss. 02. Pp. 33–46. http://journalofia.org/volume3/issue2/03-resmini/.

Week 5, Monday, Mar. 6

Post homework assignment to our OpenLab Course Site before class.

Complete beginning of class writing assignment when class starts.

This week’s readings:

Benyon, D. (2007). Information Architecture and Navigation Design for Web Sites. In P. Zaphiris & S. Kurniawan (Eds.), Human Computer Interaction Research in Web Design and Evaluation (pp. 165-184). Idea Group Publishing. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX2557600017/GVRL?u=cuny_centraloff&sid=bookmark-GVRL&xid=8d5d738f [Download from: https://go-gale-com.citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu/ps/retrieve.do?resultListType=RELATED_DOCUMENT&userGroupName=cuny_centraloff&inPS=true&contentSegment=&prodId=GVRL&isETOC=true&docId=GALE|CX2557600017]

Brown, D. (2010), Eight principles of information architecture. Bul. Am. Soc. Info. Sci. Tech., 36: 30-34. https://doi.org/10.1002/bult.2010.1720360609

Whysel, N. (2015). Information Architecture in Wikipedia. Bul. Am. Soc. Info. Sci. Tech., 41: 26-33. https://doi.org/10.1002/bult.2015.1720410508

Week 6, Monday, Mar. 13

Post homework assignment to our OpenLab Course Site before class.

Complete beginning of class writing assignment when class starts.

This week’s readings:

Dade-Robertson, M. (2012), The Architecture of information. Bul. Am. Soc. Info. Sci. Tech., 39: 14-16. https://doi.org/10.1002/bult.2012.1720390105

Haverty, M. (2002), Information architecture without internal theory: An inductive design process. J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci., 53: 839-845. https://doi-org.citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu/10.1002/asi.10096

Morville, P. (2011) The System of Information Architecture – Editorial. Journal of Information Architecture. Vol. 03. Iss. 02. Pp. 1–8. http://journalofia.org/volume3/issue2/01-morville/

Toms, E.G. (2002), Information interaction: Providing a framework for information architecture. J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci., 53: 855-862. https://doi-org.citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu/10.1002/asi.10094

Week 7, Monday, Mar. 20

Post homework assignment to our OpenLab Course Site before class.

Complete beginning of class writing assignment when class starts.

This week’s readings:

Haller, T. (2012). A conversation with Eric Reiss, author of usable usability: Simple steps for making stuff better. Bul. Am. Soc. Info. Sci. Tech., 39: 24-26. https://doi.org/10.1002/bult.2012.1720390109

McDaniel, R. (2009). Making the Most of Interactivity Online Version 2.0: Technical Communication as Procedural Architecture. Technical Communication, 56(4), 370–386. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43094158 [Download: https://www-jstor-org.citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu/stable/43094158]

Walczyk, D. and Kovacev, C. (2009) Mediation as Message – Design and the Media Ecology of Information. Journal of Information Architecture. Vol. 01. Iss. 02. Pp. 53–68. http://journalofia.org/volume1/issue2/04-walczyk/

Week 8, Monday, Mar. 27

Post homework assignment to our OpenLab Course Site before class.

Complete beginning of class writing assignment when class starts.

This week’s readings:

Davis, N. (2011), From tsunami to rising tide: How to plan for a successful information architecture strategy. Bul. Am. Soc. Info. Sci. Tech., 37: 29-33. https://doi.org/10.1002/bult.2011.1720370610

Downey, L. and Banerjee, S. (2010) Building an Information Architecture
Checklist – Encouraging and Enabling IA from Infrastructure to the User Interface Architecture. Journal of Information Architecture. Vol. 02. Iss. 02. Pp. 25-42. http://journalofia.org/volume2/issue2/03-downey/

Koltay, T. (2011), Information overload, information architecture and digital literacy. Bul. Am. Soc. Info. Sci. Tech., 38: 33-35. https://doi.org/10.1002/bult.2011.1720380111

Week 9, Monday, Apr. 3

Post homework assignment to our OpenLab Course Site before class.

Complete beginning of class writing assignment when class starts.

This week’s readings:

Priestley, M., Hargis, G., & Carpenter, S. (2001). DITA: An XML based Technical Documentation Authoring and Publishing Architecture. Technical Communication, 48(3), 352–367. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43090451 [Download from https://www-jstor-org.citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu/stable/43090451]

Rockley, A. and Gollner, J. (2011). An intelligent content strategy for the enterprise. Bul. Am. Soc. Info. Sci. Tech., 37: 33-39. https://doi.org/10.1002/bult.2011.1720370211

Wikipedia contributors. (2022, December 20). Darwin Information Typing Architecture. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 00:52, January 17, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Darwin_Information_Typing_Architecture&oldid=1128574508

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NB: No class on Monday, April 10 due to Spring Recess.

Week 10, Monday, Apr. 17

This week’s focus: Begin Team Projects.

Post homework assignment to our OpenLab Course Site before class.

Complete beginning of class writing assignment when class starts.

This week’s readings:

Ames, A. L., & Corbin, M. (2007). Introduction: Information Architecture: Contributing Strategically to the Success of Our Customers and Our Businesses. Technical Communication, 54(1), 11–15. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43089464 [Download: https://www-jstor-org.citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu/stable/43089464#metadata_info_tab_contents]

Day, D., Priestley, M., & Schell, D. (2005). Introduction to the Darwin Information Typing Architecture: Toward Portable Technical Information. IBM Developer Works. https://people.cs.vt.edu/~kafura/CS6604/Papers/Darwin-Information-Typing-Architecture.pdf

Mott, R. K., & Ford, J. D. (2007). The Convergence of Technical Communication and Information Architecture: Managing Single-source Objects for Contemporary Media. Technical Communication, 54(1), 27–45. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43089466 [Download from https://www-jstor-org.citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu/stable/43089466?sid=primo#metadata_info_tab_contents]

Week 11, Monday, Apr. 24

Complete beginning of class writing assignment when class starts.

Continue Team Project.

This week’s readings:

Burford, S. (2011), Complexity and the practice of web information architecture. J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci., 62: 2024-2037. https://doi-org.citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu/10.1002/asi.21582

de Solà-Morales, P. (2012). Information, Architecture, Complexity. Nexus Netw J 14, 17–24 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s00004-011-0094-0 [Download from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00004-011-0094-0]

Resmini, A. (2012), Information architecture in the age of complexity. Bul. Am. Soc. Info. Sci. Tech., 39: 9-13. https://doi.org/10.1002/bult.2012.1720390104 [Download from https://asistdl.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/bult.2012.1720390104]

Week 12, Monday, May 1

Complete beginning of class writing assignment when class starts.

Continue Team Project.

This week’s readings:

Cunliffe, D., Jones, H., Jarvis, M., Egan, K., Huws, R. and Munro, S. (2002), Information architecture for bilingual Web sites. J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci., 53: 866-873. https://doi-org.citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu/10.1002/asi.10091

Faiola, A., & Matei, S. A. (2007). Cultural Cognitive Style and the Web: Toward a Theory and Practice of Web Design for International Users. In K. St. Amant (Ed.), Linguistic and Cultural Online Communication Issues in the Global Age (pp. 143-159). Information Science Reference. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX2863000021/GVRL?u=cuny_centraloff&sid=bookmark-GVRL&xid=4a6e2e85 [Download from https://go-gale-com.citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu/ps/retrieve.do?resultListType=RELATED_DOCUMENT&userGroupName=cuny_centraloff&inPS=true&contentSegment=&prodId=GVRL&isETOC=true&docId=GALE|CX2863000021]

Week 13, Monday, May 8

Complete beginning of class writing assignment when class starts.

Continue Team Project.

This week’s readings:

Kennedy, K. (2016). Textual curation. Computers and Composition 40: 175-189. [Download from https://www-sciencedirect-com.citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu/science/article/pii/S8755461516300263/pdfft?md5=58305e567e5a12e7ac5c5ddc04b8ed3c&pid=1-s2.0-S8755461516300263-main.pdf]

Kalbach, J. (2009) On Uncertainty in Information Architecture. Journal of
Information Architecture. Vol. 01. Iss. 01. Pp. 59–68. http://journalofia.org/
volume1/issue1/05-kalbach/

Week 14, Monday, May 15

Complete beginning of class writing assignment when class starts.

Continue Team Project.

This week’s readings:

Hobbs, J., Fenn, T., and A. Resmini (2010) Maturing a Practice. Journal of
Information Architecture. Vol. 02. Iss. 01. Pp. 37-54. http://journalofia.org/
volume2/issue1/04-hobbs/

Pflughoeft, K. A., Soofi, E. S., & Soyer, R. (2022). Information Architecture for Data Disclosure. Entropy, 24(5), 670. MDPI AG. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/e24050670

Truscello, M. (2003). The Architecture of Information: Open Source Software and Tactical Poststructuralist Anarchism. Postmodern Culture13(3), doi:10.1353/pmc.2003.0026. [Download from: https://muse-jhu-edu.citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu/pub/1/article/44986]

Week 15, Monday, May 22

Complete beginning of class writing assignment when class starts.

Team Project is due today. Have one team member email me a link to your publicly shared Google Doc and cc’ all other team members on that email. During class, your team will give a 5-10 presentation summarizing your report–both in terms of your design and your rationalization behind it.