Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Reed College of Media

Department

Reed College of Media

Committee Chair

Bob Britten

Committee Co-Chair

Jeff Jackson

Committee Member

Mary Kay McFarland

Committee Member

John Temple

Abstract

The purpose of this case study is to examine possibilities for improving upon hypermedia design in regards to readers and their varied levels of prior knowledge. By creating a hypermedia website that looks at the development of rock climbing at Coopers Rock State Forest, I will explore the possibility of using prompts intended to help prepare readers with low levels of subject (rock climbing) knowledge to understand and make sense of the content. However, at the same time, it is important to allow readers with high levels of subject knowledge to bypass these prompts because of their ability to limit a high knowledge reader's tendency to engage in active processing. This project will provide a model to act as a means of comparison and critique for future hypermedia designs.

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