Publication Date

12-6-2021

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Education for Information

Editor

Drahomira Cupar and Tatjana Aparac-Jelušić

Volume

37

Issue

4

DOI

10.3233/EFI-211558

First Page

485

Last Page

500

Abstract

Learning the essential concepts and skills of information architecture (IA) has the potential to not only significantly extend the abilities of practicing library and information science (LIS) professionals, but also to evolve their professional identities and envisioned career opportunities. An online course on IA was designed around: the principles of threshold concepts, practical knowledge for the workplace, and professional ‘soft’ skills, such as collaboration and basic project management. The primary objective for the course was creating experiences for students in which they could discover and engage with critical concepts in IA and to collaborate with their peers to design content-rich and user-centred websites. The learning experiences of two sections of the course (n= 32) were studied, through questionnaires and reflective writings, and analysed thematically. The outcome was that, in learning information architecture concepts, and acquiring and applying the concepts and tools to do information architecture work, the students did more than acquire new professional skillsets; they also evolved in their professional identities.

Keywords

Identity shift, information architects, librarians, professional identity, threshold concepts

Comments

This is a post-peer-review, pre-copy edit version of an article published in Education for Information, Volume 37, Number 4, 2021. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-211558.

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Department

Information

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