gutierrez ia plan

8/7/2019 Gutierrez IA Plan

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MME PEARSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MEP InformationArchitecture Plan

Breanna Gutierrez

[email protected]

23 November 2009

www.mepearson.schools.kckps.org

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Project Description

ContextContentUsers

IA Strategies and RecommendationsOrganizationLabelingNavigationSearch

DiagramsTaxonomyWireframes

Closing Recommendations

Resources


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MEP Information Architecture Plan

Project Description and Background

ME Pearson Elementary School is part of the largest school district in Kansas City,KS. The district homepage links to each individual schools website. Many of theschools have chosen not to create an individual webpage, due to the lack ofaccessibility for many of their users. In 2007, ME Pearson made the decision to takea chance and create an individual website for their staff, students, parents, andcommunity members. The website has grown since then and seen many changes,including a change in software.

The current website has only been viewed 3709 times according to the counter.According to the current web designer, there are problems with the navigationsystem, labeling, organization, and language barriers.

Why do this project?

To create a consistent labeling system throughout the website.

To improve the visual look of the website by reducing clutter. To provide equal access of the website for all of its users, by providing an En

Espanol link and picture icons.

To attract more users with helpful and organized links.

To train more individuals so that the website can continue to be updated in thelikely chance of the current web designer leaving.

What happens if we dont?

The current labeling system will continue to confuse users and cause them tofind another outlet of information from the school.

Without a translation link, the website is unusable for over 80% percent of theusers.

The current school secretaries and parent liaison will continue to spendunnecessary time translating information for parents over the phone or in personwhen they could be fulfilling other important duties, which cause the school tolose money.

The website will remain static and the same without other trained personnel.Why do it now?

The school will save money by deleting printing obligations due to currentdistrict budget cuts.

The community is currently showing an increased desire to use technology.

Context

The context includes business goals, funding, characteristics of the community,technology and resources.

Business Goals

Create and maintain a trusted website for ME Pearson and the surroundingcommunity.

Communicate information for all users of the website.

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Provide a central outlet for collaboration between staff, parents, students andcommunity members.

FundingThere is no written in budget for the school website. With current rumors of budget

cuts of up to six million dollars for the school district, there is likely to be no fundingin the near future. The website is currently funded by the current web designersown money. The school will be advised to look into a free secure website in thefuture.

Characteristics of the CommunityME Pearson is located in downtown Kansas City, KS. Nearly all of the students arefrom a low social economic status and are on free/reduced lunch benefits. Thereare approximately 580 students with over twenty-nine classrooms. The school isprimarily Hispanic with a very high English Language Learner population. Many ofthe students speak English at school, but speak Spanish at home in the community.

Many of the parents have a background education of a high school diploma orlower. The parents are very supportive of the staff and their children and are veryinterested in improving their lives and their families. Several lack access to theinternet in their homes; however, they are willing to use the community library andcommunity center. Parents and students will benefit by having access to parentingtips, educational websites, school photo galleries, staff contact information,calendar/events, and the school handbook.

The staff at ME Pearson consists of a balance of new educators and more seasonedprofessionals. There are many willing and technology embracing individuals andfew hesitant users of technology. With a well designed website staff will be able toaccess lesson planning websites and everyday links such as COMPASS, SILK andGroupWise email.

Technology and ResourcesThe school website is currently generated through Adobe Dreamweaver CS3. Thewebsite is designed and updated by one individual. The designer is the schoolcustodian who recently earned his degree in CIS/ Web Design ApplicationManagement There is a technology instructor and several teachers interested intechnology.

Content

Document Types and FormatWebsite Links

Photo Galleries

Calendar Events (text)

Staff Directory (text)

Ownership

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oLearn ability: How easily can users establish proficiency at using the sitefrom one section to another?

oEfficiency: How quickly can users perform tasks?oErrors: How many errors do users make, how severe are the errors, and how

easily can they recover?oSatisfaction: How pleasant is it to use the design?

Information on user growth will be calculated by the current counter track system._____________________________________________________________________________________

IA Strategies and Recommendations

Currently, the websites primary problems involve organization, labeling andnavigation. Due to the small content on the website and the small community ofusers, a Search feature is unnecessary for this website. All of the navigation needscan be met through links and tabs. The following are the beginningrecommendations that will improve the website for its users.

OrganizationThere are several ways to organize web content in information architecture. Hereare a few examples of ways the website could be organized:

Alphabetical: The website could be organized in an alphabetical fashion. TheQuick Links along the side of the page could be in an A-Z format. This wouldallow users to search in alphabetical order. Also, the staff directory could havethe option of being displayed alphabetically by name so users could find contactinformation easily by name.

Chronological: The calendar, lunch menu, and newsletters should be organized

by months. The current month will be displayed when visiting the page. Thephoto gallery could also be organized by most recently added in order to allowusers to see current photos first.

Geographical: The website provides information for one location, the school.There is no need for geographical map organization technique. There will be amap with directions to the school, but no geographical organization strategy.

Topic: Internal school communities are often organized by topics and groups. Thefollowing are suggested topics/groups for organization of content:

oOur Staff

Grade Level

Departments

oPhoto Gallery Grade Level

Departments

Special EventsoResources

Students, Parents, Staff

Websites by Subject Area

Parenting Tips

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Staff tools

Compass

GroupWise Email

SILK

Task: Users search a website for a specific task in mind. Many websites offer task

based links such as, I am trying to find out how to help my child withhomework? Due to the small content of this website Task organization is notnecessary. This information can be found through other ways.

Audience: There are several different viewers of the website. Visitors to thewebsite can find helpful information for their needs by using the audienceorganization:

oParentsoStaffoStudentsoPTO

Metaphorical: The website will be used by many users with different languageneeds, parents with low reading skills, and young children in the emergent

reading category. Icons, such as a camera next to the photo gallery, would bevery beneficial to help users navigate the page. There will also be a link that willtranslate the website into Spanish for the users.

LabelingLabeling is very important to prevent user frustration and confusion. Labelingshould be consistent and in user friendly terms throughout the entire website. Thecurrent ME Pearson website lacks a consistent labeling system. Each page isdesigned differently with several names for the same link.

The following are the current labels with their synonym labels.

Contact Us; ME Pearson StaffOur Staff

oKindergartenoFirst GradeoSecond GradeoThird GradeoFourth GradeoFifth GradeoSTEPSoESLoKALLoArtoMusicoPhysical EducationoSLCoSpeechoComputer LaboGifted ProgramoCircle of Friends

Our Office; ME Pearson Office Staff

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oParent HandbookoManual de los PadresoStaff Recognition

Photos; ME Pearson Photo Gallery

Calendar; Event Calendar

Web Resources; ResourcesKCKPS

It is recommended to combine labels and create new useful labels for users. Withthe new labeling system every page will have the same links and a commonlabeling system for each page. The following are the recommended new labelingsystem.

Across the bottom of the page:

Home

Contact UsoStaff Directory

CalendaroJanuaryoFebruaryoMarchoApriloMayoJuneoJulyoAugustoSeptemberoOctober

oNovemberoDecember

En Espanol

District Website

Along the left hand side of the page:Quick Links

Home

Our StaffoStaff DirectoryoStaff Photos

Labeled by Grade Level seen above. However, KALL, SLC andGifted Program will be deleted. ESL and STEPS will be written outso that users can understand the abbreviated version.

NewsletteroLabeled by Month

Calendar (this is included twice because it is used often)oLabeled by Month

Lunch MenuoLabeled by Month

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Photo GalleryoLabeled by grade levels: Kindergarten-Fifth GradeoSpecial Events throughout the year. For example, School Carnival. This will

be updated regularly.

Parent Teacher Organization

ResourcesoStudents

Websites by subjects: Reading, Math, Social Studies, Science, Art,Music, Physical Education, Writing, Just for Fun!

Photo Gallery (this will be included twice because it is a popularcontent area)

oParents

Parenting Tips

School Handbook

Websites by Subjects (as seen in student section)oStaff

Compass

SILK

GroupWise Email

Websites by Subjects (as seen above)

Map/DirectionsThe labels will be tested out on the small groups and will need to be updated andadded to as needs change.

NavigationEmbedded navigation systems and supplemental navigation systems are the twotypes of website navigation systems. Embedded systems consist of major

template structures and Supplemental systems include site maps, indexes andguides.

Navigation recommendations for ME Pearson:A two-column embedded navigation system is recommended for the website. Themain navigational links will be located along the footer of the website. Along theleft hand side users will be able to access Quick Links and important pages. Thesite will also use sub-menu navigations. This will allow users to scroll over thecurrent links and see the sub-links. Some of the more popular pages, such as photogallery and calendar, will be in both columns.

The website will also use a supplemental navigation feature to enhance the

embedded navigation. This site will use breadcrumbs so that the user knows wherethey are in the website.For example: Home > Photo Gallery > First Grade.

SearchAs stated earlier, due to the small amount of content this website will not beutilizing a search option at this time._____________________________________________________________________________________

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Diagrams

TaxonomyThis is an example of a high-level taxonomy for the ME Pearson school website:http://www.gliffy.com/publish/1903405/

WireframesThe following are examples of a home page wireframe and two second levelwireframes:http://www.gliffy.com/publish/1903315/http://www.gliffy.com/publish/1903364/http://www.gliffy.com/publish/1903397/_____________________________________________________________________________________

Closing RecommendationsThe above recommendations are suggestions to improve the website. It isimportant to allow the users help shape the final decisions. It is also highlyrecommended that the school invests time into training more staff members to helpin the construction of the website. Also, it is important that the school looks into aprogram that is of a reasonable price. In the event that the current web designerwould leave the school, they would need to find another route in constructing thewebsite._____________________________________________________________________________________

ResourcesText:Morville, P., & Rosenfeld, L. (1996). Information Architecture for the world wideweb, Third Edition: OReilly Media, Inc.

Websites:www.gliffy.comwww.mepearson.schools.kcksps.org

23 November 2009
http://www.gliffy.com/publish/1903405/http://www.gliffy.com/publish/1903315/http://www.gliffy.com/publish/1903364/http://www.gliffy.com/publish/1903397/http://www.gliffy.com/http://www.mepearson.schools.kcksps.org/http://www.gliffy.com/publish/1903405/http://www.gliffy.com/publish/1903315/http://www.gliffy.com/publish/1903364/http://www.gliffy.com/publish/1903397/http://www.gliffy.com/http://www.mepearson.schools.kcksps.org/

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