Web Design; Information Architecture

Alright Web-Heads, here are your assignments for this week;

Remember that I post all of the assignments for this class on this site. Click on the "Web Design" link in my schedule on the right hand menu to see only posts for this class. You can always email me your assignments or questions if you have any at malloryt@boyer-valley.k12.ia.us

There will be a Quiz this Friday, Oct. 19. These are the terms you're responsible for (and where to find them in the book):

• Target Audience (p.50)
• End-user scenarios (p.54)
• Information architecture (p.56)
  
• Navigation system (p.56)
• Flowchart (p.57)
• Concept/Metaphor (pp.61-62)
• Hexadecimal color codes (p.63)

Here's the homework this week

• First we did these together in class for "Bob's Bait Shop"
• Second you'll have to do it for your Case Problem Sites
• Finally, you'll need to do it for your own site- this means that you'll need to turn in two sets of papers, one for your case problem and one for your own.

Create an end-user scenario 1-3 on p.55 (write at least one paragraph, using complete sentences) Please type this in Word and either print it out or email it to me.

Create an information category outline, follow 1-6 on p. 57 and turn in typed outline.

Create a flowchart, follow 1-6 p.58 and turn in your final flowchart/site map/graphic organizer.

Since you'll be gone Tuesday for the Government field trip, these three (really 6 since you each do them for two sites) will be due this Thursday, Oct. 18

Information Architecture Paper

Create at least two "End-User Scenarios."
This is the type of marketing report that you might have to present to a real-life client.

First- Review your site goals and your user profile. Create a character who might visit your website. Give the character a name and attributes such as age, gender, location, etc.

Place the character in a situation where he or she is accessing your web site. Write at least two paragraphs describing the user's surroundings and the user's experience with the site.


Second- Based on your site goals and end user scenarios, start an outline listing at least five categories, and several subcategories in hierarchical order. Break the subcategories into subcategories when necessary.

Finally- Create a flowchart based on your outline, taking into consideration your end user scenarios. The square on top should be your home page. Draw five squares in a horizontal row below your home page. These should represent you major sections, based on your site goals. Draw lines from each main category to your home page to connect them. Draw the subcategories below each main category.

Be prepared to present your marketing reports on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 18-19.
See pages 55-58 in your textbook for examples.

Check out 'Wild Art'

I just overhauled my art blog. When you visit it you can see;
1. My cartoons 2. My photographs & digital images 3. My paintings, drawings, and prints 4. Artworks or photos by some of my students 5. Some of my favorite paintings by famous artists and why I like them. And recently added... 6. Advice and links for elementary teachers who didn't major in Art, but want to teach it to their students. Please, click on the archives to look at more art.

http://malloryart.blogspot.com

Every week there's something new. This week, there's also a slick new look!

Happy October

One of the best websites I've found for Elementary Teachers who looking for ideas

The ArtsConnectEd Web site (www.artsconnected.org) puts you and your students in touch with images, information, and educational resources from the Walker Art Center and The Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
They'll suggest ways to make ArtsConnectEd a part of fun, student-centered learning.

Their "Tool Kit" is a great way to start learning about the elements and principles of design.
Artists use visual elements and principles like line, color and shape as tools to build works of art. Each title has three sections:

• Watch an animated demonstration
  
• Find examples of the concept in works of art from museums
  
• Create your own composition

Visit their Art tool kit at
http://www.artsconnected.org/toolkit/explore.cfm

Mallory's Milieu

You can see all of my cartoons (just MY cartoons) as well as all kinds of my artwork and photography. Not to mention book reviews, recommended links, and even some music and videos. All of it is at http://tmal.multiply.com

Digital Web Magazine - The Elements of Design

Digital Web Magazine - The Elements of Design
he elements of design are the basic components used as part of any composition. They are the objects to be arranged, the constituent parts used to create the composition itself. In most situations the elements of design build upon one another, the former element helping to create the latter, and the elements described in this column are arranged as such. We will be focusing on the elements of point, line, form (shape), texture and color.

Middle School Art; Anstract

Here is an old example by a student a few years ago of the assignment that 7th graders had to work on today. First, they had to find a photograph in a magazine then they had to draw it in 4 steps-

1. As realistically as they can manage
2. In a somewhat abstract manor; simplified and stylized
3. Finally as abstracted as possible- to the point that it appears to be non-objective.