LIBR 287
Seminar in Information Science
Topic: Designing Information Products for a Global Audience
Fall 2003

Dr. Linda Main
lmain@wahoo.sjsu.edu

COURSE DESRIPTION

This is not a technical course.

People use or manipulate an information product such as a database or a Web site in order to accomplish a particular goal. Perception of a product or Web site however is affected by cultural differences associated with, for example, design layout, use of color and animation, and information content. Different cultures look for different data to make decisions.

This course is designed to expand the student's awareness of both the cognitive knowledge and the skill necessary to effectively evaluate and /or design information products for culturally diverse populations within the United States and beyond.

By the end of the course the student should be able to:

• Define what is meant by "culture"
• Understand models of cultural competence
• Understand the impact of culture on practice
• Apply the above in designing cultural blueprints for specific groups

Modules

The course will be taught in a totally online environment as a series of modules. Each module will consist of a Real Audio lecture (you will need the RealOne player); a handout summarizing the issues discussed in the lecture; and an assignment consisting of questions arising from the lecture and the handout. The student will upload answers to the questions to a Web server (detailed instructions provided)

Module One (Week One)
Terminology

Module Two (Weeks Two, Three, and Four)
Cultural Models

Hofstede
Hall
Others

Module Three (Weeks Five and Six)
Subjective Cultural Considerations

Module Four (Weeks Seven and Eight)
Objective Cultural Considerations

Module Five (Weeks Nine and Ten)
Understanding Writing Systems

Module Six (Week Eleven)
Considering Navigation Issues

Module Seven (Week Twelve)
The failure of usability studies

Assignments

A. Seven assignments associated with the modules – each assignment due after the end of the modules listed above.

B. Mid-term project (due by the end of Week Eight).

The mid-term project will consist of the preparation of two cultural profiles of two populations as follows:

One population group should be selected from within the United States from the following:

Native Americans; African-Americans; Jewish Americans; Latinos (Mexican-American; Puerto Rican; or Cuban American); Arab Americans; Asian-Americans (Japanese; Chinese; Filipino; Korean; Vietnamese; Cambodian; Indian; or Hmong)

The second population group should be selected from a country in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, or Eastern Europe.

Your profile should address:

Political life

Educational realities

Social, religious, and family life

Economic realities

Cultural taboos

A detailed list of what is expected will be provided.

C. Final project (due by the end of the semester):

I will assign each student a country. You will come up with characteristics – a blueprint if you will -that must be considered before an information product should be designed for that culture.

You will apply the culture models and all the issues discussed in the lectures. A detailed handout of expectations will be provided. Summaries of final projects will be placed on a class bulletin board (instructions will be provided).