> Hi Michael (and others)
> Noticed on your webdesign google group you are doing ia next week. I
> just trialled a new lesson technique that worked really well.
> - I split the students into small groups (3 per group)
> - gave them a pile of cards with page content (60 cards)
> - asked them to do an open card sort
> - each group writes on the board the major categories they came up with
> - students from other groups are asked to tell me where they would find
> certain pages within a groups categories (really interesting and
> exposed a lot of common mistake making for some great talking points)
> - they then create a site map into an excel spreadsheet to reveal
> levels and content types.

> I am now getting them to create a graphic sitemap in illustrator based
> on the Garrett visual vocab.
> next lesson they will be creating wireframes for their major site
> sections.

> In the past I have taught the ia stuff in a more theoretical way, but
> this has been great for extending their thinking and getting some
> practical experience. It was also a good team building exercise.

> maybe some of these things are of use to you - i will post the content
> inventory spreadsheet and the powerpoint content (print them out in
> slide view 6 to a page and cut them up) if it will help anyone.

> Cheers
> James