Catalog Course Description
Introduction to creating websites that incorporate participatory and interactive web services to support users in information organizations. Includes design, implementation, and evaluation of approaches such as wikis, blogs and social networking.  Students learn to establish websites that meet usability, accessibility and intellectual property standards, via composition of text and graphic files, and use of scripts for interactive application to support community information resource needs.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
Pre-requisite:  None.

Curriculum Role
INFO552 is a required course in the Digital Libraries and Library & Information Services concentration. It is a pre-requisite to INFO653 Digital libraries and INFO658 Information Architecture. It is an elective in the Youth Services concentration and complements INFO664 Library Automation.

Course Rationale
Web publishing is an increasingly essential skill for librarians and information professionals. The ability to navigate and author effectively within this environment has become a basic requirement for overall professional competency. INFO 552 provides the student with an entry-level introduction into website creation, design, and management; as such competencies apply to serving information and educational organizations.

Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:
•Demonstrate an understanding of basic web design using HTML, CSS, usability techniques, and standards-compliant web authoring products.
•Integrate Web 2.0 technologies (such as widgets, interactive maps, calendars, blogs and wikis) into a user-focused website.
•Evaluate web sites for information organization, content representation, and site navigation
•Evaluate and compare web development software and tools
 Apply the basic concepts, theories and practices of website development as they apply to information support in organizations.
•Justify the importance of web design literacy for information professionals

Course Content
Principal topics and the approximate number of weeks devoted to each are as follows.
-HTML/XHTML - throughout course
-Basic server space management - 1 week
-Web standards and cascading style sheets (CSS) – 1 week
-Tools for editing graphics and designing and managing web sites - 2 weeks
-Web design and layout - 1 week
-Web development software and tools – 1 week
-Web 2.0 tools (such as widgets, interactive maps, calendars, blogs and wikis) in information organizations -  1 week
-Usability, accessibility and intellectual property issues - 1 week
-Introduction to scripting - 1 week
-Multimedia - 1 week

Presentation
Note: Presentation method may vary from section to section.
Presentation methods include lectures, demonstrations, and online tutorials.

Assessment
Note: Assessment method may vary somewhat from section to section.
Evaluation is based on website evaluation reports; an electronic portfolio project; and a final website design project that focuses on integrating web technology with community information resource needs.