SMGRP CMUN 237 (SSII2001)
Towards Building Accurate and Engaging Web Content:
Promoting the student Chapter of IABC
Jim Query, Ph.D.
The purpose of this page is to ID my expectations for the web development that we will be doing and the accompanying content. This document should be used in close conjunction with the Writing Standards Guide, APA guide within research papers, (see classes page), and the StyleWizard [link at the bottom of classes' page]. Handout. To ease your perusal, an outline format is employed.
OPTIONAL RISK-FREE PROSPECTI DUE DATE: JULY 18, 2001.
FINAL PROSPECTI DUE: JULY 26, 2001.
WEB FINAL REPORT & PAGES DUE: AUGUST 9, 2001.
POINT VALUE: 16 percent for prospectus, 8 percent for the final report, and 12 percent for final web page content.
PROSPECTUS AND FINAL PAPER LENGTH PARAMETERS:
While I do have reservations about specifiying an exact length, it is expected that a successful prospectus will span about 8-10 PP per person and the final paper will cover approximately 12-16 PP per person. Although you will share ideas and coordinate your activities with your group, you must author an idividual section addressing the parameters noted in this document. You must also be able to ID individual website contributions.
REQUIRED SOURCES:
At least 24 (across the group), including the text. You may also use two of teh current event articles discussed in class and four net citations. It is a "good" idea to use some of your sources in the risk-free version so I may ID a problem without penalizing you. It is required that at least half the 24 sources be used in the prospectus and all 24 in the final report.
FORMAT:
All papers should adhere to the standards specified in the writing standard guide, follow correct documentation procedures (APA), must be typed using double-spacing, have page numbers and section labels (see classes page). Assume also that you are writing to a SMGRP CMUN and scholarly journal neophyte. A neophyte is one who is new to an area, and thus, has much to discover.
OVERVIEW AND WARNING:
As your homestead (HS) invitation will indicate, this will be the fourth time I have integrated web development into one of my classes. I am still somewhat apprehensive, as I can imagine you are. We will undoubtedly experience some "speed bumps" and may struggle at various points. Together though---armed with patience, diligence, and commitment---we can push the envelope and make a difference in the lives of those who are contemplating participating in IABC, as well as hopefully enhance current members' identification and pride in the organization. The challenge is great but so too are the potential rewards and I thrive on such hurdles. Hope you do as well. *VBS*
WARNING: As the HS invitation also will clearly indicate, this is a professional learning opportunity with clear expectations of such behavior. Any attempt to create and disseminate content---offensive in nature or otherwise---without the prior approval of both Dr. Jim Query and the IABC leadership, primarily Dr. Kay Felkins and Mr. Tony Astran, will be swiftly addressed. Those penalties include failing the assignment, failing the course, and referral to student judiciaries.
ASSIGNMENT EXPLICATION:
Some of these may be slightly altered to better accommodate the organization's needs. You will of course be notified as that becomes necessary.
We will working with the leadership of the Student Chapter of IABC. Our broad goals will be to develop engaging visual, text, and links that will help increase the organizations's visibility, facilitiate communication among current and prospective members, enhance recruitment of new members, and increase the level of identification among among current members.
1). Based on your grp's working knowledge of similar student organizations, what information attributes should we address in developing specific content? [we will read key pieces that focus on web development; visit sample web sites; visit the Association's web site; and complete a net exercise]. ID and describe other websites promoting students chapters of IABC at other universities. Drawing from the parent organization's website, which features should we address and why? (See the IABC web site). Each of you should become fairly familiar with the nature of the student chapters of IABC and their missions, as well as its services. Specifically, what kinds of information should we gather and present to help the organization tailor their web site to better realize the objectives above? What is the rationale for your position? Are there any potential pitfalls that we should consider? (e.g., browser interfaces? That is, would one browser, such as Netscape or Internet Explorer, be better used by visitors? ADA concerns? Readability levels of content?) If so, explicate them in some detail. To what extent does access become an issue among certain population grps? If access is an issue, suggest some strategies to help the organization overcome this barrier.
2). Drawing from the organizational hierarchy, to what extent do we need to coordinate our efforts with various committees in the organization? Suggest some strategies for how this might be best accomplished and maintained over-time. Be sure to integrate a discussion of systems' theory in your explication and demonstrate its relevance. [This section will require a working knowledge of the organization's communication system with the various committees and some explication should be provided in your analysis]. ID and develop materials to help organizational members create content, edit, and regularly update the site once our class is over.
3). Drawing from other student Chapter websites, evaluate those sites in terms of the key features explicated in section one above. If some features, were not well-developed in section one, then fully address them here (e.g., relevancy and currency of links at the selected sites). To some extent, then, this section dovetails with section one. Building from your this evaluation, justify the features recommended to our client.
4). Drawing from the concept materials, construct some detailed, pilot material for consideration at the proposed organization's website. This content should address the key issues explicated above to a great degree. Your write-up should reveal how the proposed content addresses the key issues/concerns already explicated. Be sure to also indicate potentially useful web links as well. Each grp member must address this section as it comprises the web development component of the course.
Sections 1-3 can be covered by more than one grp member; however, recall that a clear division of content must be denoted by individual authorship. Each section is equally weighted and the writing standards guide (WSG) is initially weighted at ten percent. I reserve the right, however, to increase this weighting if pervasive mechanical errors are present. All grp members MUST complete section four.
Click on each link for additional information on web design and development.
