Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

Module Identifier
MC22200
Module Title
WEBSITE DESIGN ISSUES
Academic Year
2009/2010
Co-ordinator
Dr Daniel G J Chandler
Semester
Semester 1 (Taught over 2 semesters)
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture 10 x 1 hour Lectures (5 per semester - fortnightly)
Practical 10 x 1 hour Workshops per semester (totalling 20 Hours)
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment 1 X 2,500 word written assignment  50%
Semester Assessment 1 x website  50%
Supplementary Assessment 1 x 2,500 word written assignment.  All failed or missing elements must be retaken or made good. In the case of the essay, students will be required to complete a different assignment question to the one originally submitted.   50%
Supplementary Assessment 1 x website  50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of major websites

2. Identify the extent to which form matches function in existing websites

3. Design a simple functional website appropriate to the puropses of a specific target user group

Brief description

The primary aims of this module are to encourage an awareness of effective website design, bearing in mind the key purposes of specific target audiences, and to develop practical approaches to such design. Most of the existing website design literature tends to offer 'universal' principles for effective web design but, as (for instance) market researchers will be quick to point out, what attracts and suits one audience will be quite inappropriate to another. Students will explore website design with a focus on this issue of matching sites to target audiences.

Aims

The change in level from MC3 to MC2 is in line with similar changes made to three other modules within the Media and Communication Scheme. This is to ensure clarity - so students can clearly see what they need to study in Year 2 and Year 3 respectively - and to make explicit the overall structure of the Scheme, promoting a sense of progression.This structure also echoes similar changes made in the Film and Television Studies Schemes within TFTS, enabling more effective cross-fertilization.

The requested change should be applied in time for provisional registration and fully implemented from September 2009-10. We do not wish to disrupt or compromise the available provision for our current cohort, so would like to 'roll-out' the structural changes gradually over the next 12 months.

Content

Lecture-workshops will focus on the following key topics:

  • Reviewing terrain (1): Deconstructing popular commercial sites
  • Reviewing terrain (2): Deconstructing popular information sites
  • Reviewing terrain (3): Deconstructing popular personal sites
  • Basic design principles and what makes a bad site
  • Matching form to function and users
  • Navigation models and input systems
  • Page layout, colour and typography
  • Use of graphics (still and animated)
  • Use of sound
  • Interactivity (in analysis of existing sites)

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number * Students will be given the opportunity to reflect upon basic statistical data (primarily presented in percentages), through encountering key research studies in the field.
Communication * Students' written communication skills will be developed (e.g. appropriate language and style, accuracy, precision and ability to be concise). * Opportunities will be given through interactive lecture-workshop sessions for students to develop confidence in using their speaking and listening skills when communicating their ideas.
Improving own Learning and Performance * Students will be able to develop their skills of information location and retrieval. * Students will be given opportunities to develop effective note-taking skills. * Students will develop their critical thinking skills. * Through group and whole class discussion students will be given opportunities to develop an awareness of the opinions of others and reconsider initial ideas if necessary.
Information Technology * Students will be given the opportunity to develop their authorial and note-taking skills when planning and preparing for the written assignments, and will be encouraged to develop theirnote-taking skills in lectures. * Students will be given opportunities to develop their skills using electronic search and retrieval of sources both on the web and on the AU LIS. * Students will develop their skills when referencing from the web and related sources, and will focus on the selection of materials appropriate to task. * E-mail and Blackboard will be the main forms of communication and information-sharing in this module, so students will be encouraged to actively engage in these processes.
Personal Development and Career planning * Students will be given the opportunity to evaluate current knowledge and skills and set targets for self-improvement. * Students will be encouraged to build upon the knowledge gained from lectures through developing skills in self study (supported by the general and specific reading lists and other resources distributed throughout the module). * Students will be encouraged to build upon the knowledge gained from lectures through developing skills in self study (supported by the general and specific reading lists and other resources distributed throughout the module).
Problem solving * Students should be able to identify tensions and debates in the field, and will be encouraged to critical reflect. * Students should gain experience in applying different approaches and materials to understand data and other patterns in research, as well as to develop a website.
Research skills * Students will be able to develop their skills of information location and retrieval. * Students will be given opportunities to develop effective note-taking skills. * Students will develop the ability to analyse, interpret, evaluate and integrate knowledge and understanding gained from a variety of sources whilst making links to accommodate new ideas.
Subject Specific Skills * Students will be given the opportunity to develop basic technical knowledge in the design, construction and testing of a small website.
Team work * Most sessions will involve group work where students will be able to collaborate through discussion.

Reading List

Recommended Text
Baggerman, Lisa (2001) Web Design That Works Rockport Primo search Brunisma, Max (2003) Deep Sites: Classic Principles of Cutting-Edge Web Design Thames & Hudson Primo search Forbes, Thom (2000) Webworks: Advertising - Not-So-Simple Basics for Web Designers Rockport Primo search Lynch, Patrick J. & Sarah Horton (2001) Web Style Guide Yale University Press Primo search Mumaw, Stefan (2002) Simple Web Design Rockport Primo search Nielsen, Jakob (2000) Designing Web Usability New Riders Primo search Nielsen, Jakob & Marie Tahir (2001) Homepage Usability: 55 Websites Deconstructed Prentice Hall Primo search Powell, Thomas (2000) Web Design: The Complete Reference Osborne/McGraw-Hill Primo search Veen, Jeffrey (2001) The Art and Science of Web Design New Riders Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5