MME PEARSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MEP Information
Architecture Plan
Breanna Gutierrez
Bgutierr@emporia.edu
23 November 2009
www.mepearson.schools.kckps.org

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Project Description
Context
Content
Users
IA Strategies and Recommendations
Organization
Labeling
Navigation
Search
Diagrams
Taxonomy
Wireframes
Closing Recommendations
Resources
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 school’s website. Many of the
schools have chosen not to create an individual webpage, due to the lack of
accessibility for many of their users. In 2007, ME Pearson made the decision to take
a chance and create an individual website for their staff, students, parents, and
community 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 navigation
system, 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 the
likely chance of the current web designer leaving.
What happens if we don’t?
• The current labeling system will continue to confuse users and cause them to
find another outlet of information from the school.
• Without a translation link, the website is unusable for over 80% percent of the
users.
• The current school secretaries and parent liaison will continue to spend
unnecessary time translating information for parents over the phone or in person
when they could be fulfilling other important duties, which cause the school to
lose 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 current
district 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 surrounding
community.
• Communicate information for all users of the website.

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• Provide a central outlet for collaboration between staff, parents, students and
community members.

Funding
There 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 funding
in the near future. The website is currently funded by the current web designers
own money. The school will be advised to look into a free secure website in the
future.

Characteristics of the Community

ME Pearson is located in downtown Kansas City, KS. Nearly all of the students are
from a low social economic status and are on free/reduced lunch benefits. There
are approximately 580 students with over twenty-nine classrooms. The school is
primarily Hispanic with a very high English Language Learner population. Many of
the 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 or

lower. The parents are very supportive of the staff and their children and are very
interested in improving their lives and their families. Several lack access to the
internet in their homes; however, they are willing to use the community library and
community center. Parents and students will benefit by having access to parenting
tips, 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 seasoned
professionals. There are many willing and technology embracing individuals and
few hesitant users of technology. With a well designed website staff will be able to
access lesson planning websites and everyday links such as COMPASS, SILK and
GroupWise email.

Technology and Resources

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

Content
Document Types and Format
•Website Links
•Photo Galleries
•Calendar Events (text)
•Staff Directory (text)

Ownership

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MEP Information Architecture Plan

The website is managed by the school custodian. All of the information is entered
by him. He has bought rights to use the CS3 software.

Metadata
The school staff contribute the majority of the data added to the website and then
one individual uploads and organizes the information to the website. The following
is a chart for some of the current metadata.

CURRENT
METADATA
Contact Us
Individual Names
Positions
Room Numbers
Email
Our Staff
Department
Photos
Names
Individual
Websites
Our Office
Parent Handbook
Staff Recognition
Photos
Event Title
Event Calendar
Month/Date
Web Resources
Web Link
Website
Description

Volume
The ME Pearson website is a very small website.

Dynamism
With a younger generation of teachers, the website will see growth in the future.
Currently approximately five teachers have added links of their own to the website
and the PTO has shown a great interest in becoming a part of the website. The
website can expect to see growth in the future.

Users
The website is used by a very diverse population. In order to meet each groups
needs, different approaches will be taken.
•Focus groups including: students, staff, parents, and the PTO
•School survey that will scope the following information:
oUtility: Is the site functional?

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oLearn ability: How easily can users establish proficiency at using the site
from 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.
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IA Strategies and Recommendations

Currently, the website’s primary problems involve organization, labeling and
navigation. Due to the small content on the website and the small community of
users, a Search feature is unnecessary for this website. All of the navigation needs
can be met through links and tabs. The following are the beginning
recommendations that will improve the website for its users.

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

•Alphabetical: The website could be organized in an alphabetical fashion. The

Quick Links along the side of the page could be in an A-Z format. This would
allow users to search in alphabetical order. Also, the staff directory could have
the option of being displayed alphabetically by name so users could find contact
information 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. The
photo gallery could also be organized by most recently added in order to allow
users 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 a
map with directions to the school, but no geographical organization strategy.
•Topic: Internal school communities are often organized by topics and groups. The
following are suggested topics/groups for organization of content:
oOur Staff
 Grade Level
 Departments
oPhoto Gallery
 Grade Level
 Departments
 Special Events
oResources
 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 with
homework?” Due to the small content of this website Task organization is not
necessary. This information can be found through other ways.
•Audience: There are several different viewers of the website. Visitors to the
website can find helpful information for their needs by using the audience
organization:
oParents
oStaff
oStudents
oPTO
•Metaphorical: The website will be used by many users with different language
needs, parents with low reading skills, and young children in the emergent
reading category. Icons, such as a camera next to the photo gallery, would be
very beneficial to help users navigate the page. There will also be a link that will
translate the website into Spanish for the users.

Labeling
Labeling is very important to prevent user frustration and confusion. Labeling
should be consistent and in user friendly terms throughout the entire website. The
current ME Pearson website lacks a consistent labeling system. Each page is
designed differently with several names for the same link.

The following are the current labels with their synonym labels.
•Contact Us; ME Pearson Staff
•Our Staff
oKindergarten
oFirst Grade
oSecond Grade
oThird Grade
oFourth Grade
oFifth Grade
oSTEPS
oESL
oKALL
oArt
oMusic
oPhysical Education
oSLC
oSpeech
oComputer Lab
oGifted Program
oCircle of Friends
•Our Office; ME Pearson Office Staff

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oParent Handbook
oManual de los Padres
oStaff Recognition
•Photos; ME Pearson Photo Gallery
•Calendar; Event Calendar
•Web Resources; Resources
•KCKPS

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

Across the bottom of the page:

•Home
•Contact Us
oStaff Directory
•Calendar
oJanuary
oFebruary
oMarch
oApril
oMay
oJune
oJuly
oAugust
oSeptember
oOctober
oNovember
oDecember
•En Espanol
•District Website

Along the left hand side of the page:

Quick Links
•Home
•Our Staff
oStaff Directory
oStaff Photos
 Labeled by Grade Level seen above. However, KALL, SLC and
Gifted Program will be deleted. ESL and STEPS will be written out
so that users can understand the abbreviated version.
•Newsletter
oLabeled by Month
•Calendar (this is included twice because it is used often)
oLabeled by Month
•Lunch Menu
oLabeled by Month

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MEP Information Architecture Plan

•Photo Gallery
oLabeled by grade levels: Kindergarten-Fifth Grade
oSpecial Events throughout the year. For example, School Carnival. This will
be updated regularly.
•Parent Teacher Organization
•Resources
oStudents
 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 popular
content 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/Directions

The labels will be tested out on the small groups and will need to be updated and
added to as needs change.

Navigation
Embedded navigation systems and supplemental navigation systems are the two
types of website navigation systems. Embedded systems consist of major
template structures and Supplemental systems include site maps, indexes and
guides.

Navigation recommendations for ME Pearson:

A two-column embedded navigation system is recommended for the website. The
main navigational links will be located along the footer of the website. Along the
left hand side users will be able to access Quick Links and important pages. The
site will also use sub-menu navigations. This will allow users to scroll over the
current links and see the sub-links. Some of the more popular pages, such as photo
gallery 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 where
they are in the website.
For example: Home > Photo Gallery > First Grade.

Search
As stated earlier, due to the small amount of content this website will not be
utilizing a search option at this time.
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MEP Information Architecture Plan

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

Wireframes
The following are examples of a home page wireframe and two second level
wireframes:
http://www.gliffy.com/publish/1903315/
http://www.gliffy.com/publish/1903364/
http://www.gliffy.com/publish/1903397/
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Closing Recommendations
The above recommendations are suggestions to improve the website. It is
important to allow the users help shape the final decisions. It is also highly
recommended that the school invests time into training more staff members to help
in the construction of the website. Also, it is important that the school looks into a
program that is of a reasonable price. In the event that the current web designer
would leave the school, they would need to find another route in constructing the
website.
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Resources
Text:
Morville, P., & Rosenfeld, L. (1996). Information Architecture for the world wide
web, Third Edition: O’Reilly Media, Inc.

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

23 November 2009