IST600: Metadata

Fall 2007

Instructor: Jian Qin	Office: 235 Hinds Hall
Phone: 3-5642	Email: jqin@syr.edu

Course Description

Metadata has broad applications in many domains that deal with digital information management and services. This course introduces concepts, principles, and practices of metadata. Topics covered include the design of metadata schemes, data binding formats, interoperability, metadata administration, tools, vocabulary for metadata elements and values, and quality control and evaluation. Students will have opportunities to examine international metadata standards, activities, and projects through case studies. The course will discuss metadata’s role in digital information search and display, and provide extensive opportunities for hand-on experience with metadata management systems. Students’ performance will be assessed by a series of exercises and presentation as well as a final group project.

Course Objectives

At the end of this course, students are expected to be able to:

·        Have a good understanding of metadata concepts and the roles of metadata standards

·        Become familiar with various metadata schemas and standards

·        Design and implement a metadata scheme for an application domain by using standards or developing application profiles

·        Understand metadata interoperability and develop mechanisms for metadata transformation and communication between systems

·        Conceptually design the search and navigation architecture based on metadata elements

Statement on Academic Integrity

Graduate and doctoral students enrolled in IST courses are required to follow the guidelines for academic honesty described in the School of Information Studies Statement on Academic Integrity, available in any IST Student Handbook, on the Web at  http://istweb.syr.edu/design/academic/courses/administrative/integrity.html or on request at the IST Student Services Office in 4-206 Center for Science and Technology.

 

Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to plagiarism, cheating on examinations, unauthorized collaboration, multiple submission of work, misusing resources for teaching and learning, falsifying information, forgery, bribery, and any other acts that deceive others about one's academic work or record. Students should be aware that standards for documentation and intellectual contribution may depend on the course content and method of teaching, and should consult instructors for guidance.

Required readings:

Baca, Murtha. (Ed.) (2000). Introduction to Metadata, Pathway to Digital Information. Getty Information Institute. URL: http://www.getty.edu/research/conducting_research/standards/intrometadata/index.html

Caplan, P. (2000). International metadata initiatives: lessons in bibliographic control. Paper presented at: Conference on Bibliographic Control in the New Millennium, Library of Congress, November, 2000. URL: http://lcweb.loc.gov/catdir/bibcontrol/caplan_paper.html 

Duval, E., Hodgins, W., Sutton, S., Weibel, S. L. (2002). Metadata principles and practicalities. D-Lib Magazine 8(4) URL: http://www.dlib.org/dlib/april02/weibel/04weibel.html

Hodge, Gail (2001). Metadata Made Simpler. Bethesda, MD: NISO Press. ISBN: 1-880124-50-5. URL: http://www.niso.org/news/Metadata_simpler.pdf

Metadata Basics (2005). http://www.loc.gov/catworkshop/readings/metadatabasics/index.html

Assessment

The purpose of grading is to evaluate your performance and your ability to develop, utilize, and articulate your ideas concerning the topics covered in the course.

Individual work:

·        Practical assignments: 40% (5 x 8%)

·        Group Presentation (standards and/or cases): 10%

·        Final project: 30 % 

 

Class participation (20%) will be evaluated by: 

a.      evidence of having read assigned readings;

b.      asking meaningful and relevant questions;

c.      volunteering answers and ideas; and

d.      active involvement in group activities and in-class exercises.　

 

Schedule of Class Activities