Libraries, Repositories and Metadata. Lara Whitelaw, Metadata Development Manager, The Open University. 22 Oct 2003

Transcription

1 Libraries, Repositories and Metadata Lara Whitelaw, Metadata Development Manager, The Open University. 22 Oct 2003

2 Libraries Libraries are the traditional realm of metadata Use well defined standards and share records from union catalogues Classification and controlled vocabularies Have systems capable of federated searches across distributed environments Records created and catalogued by information professionals

3 Libraries Libraries are a rich source of digital resources. Academic libraries house e-journals, databases, e- books and thesis Compartmentalised, uncoordinated, frequently standalone Focused on what resource is not what it could be used for or who the user is Model for resources is one dimensional, format based and modelled on traditional books Focus is towards published materials

4 Repositories Repositories are being designed to house digital resources of all formats and type including e-prints, assessment banks and multimedia. A collection of digital assets and/or meta-data accessible by resource utilizers via a network without prior knowledge of the digital repository's structure IMS Digital Repositories Interoperability A managed collection of digital resources. The mission of a repository is to provide reliable, long-term access to managed digital resources to a designated community Trusted Digital Repositories: Attributes and Responsibilities, an RLG/OCLC Report published in May 2002.

5 Repositories Institutional - archival Learning Objects transient Simple catergorisation and very few instances of controlled vocabulary Author created metadata

6 Learning Objects Proliferation of definitions a learning object is defined as any entity, digital or non-digital, that may be used for learning, education, and training IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee "any digital resource that can be reused to support learning" David A. Wiley a digital piece of learning material that addresses a clearly identifiable topic or learning outcome and has the potential to be reused in different contexts Professor Robin Mason, The Open University

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11 Purposes of metadata Finding resources Searching Browsing Interoperability Sustainability

12 Common goals By coordinating effort and mapping standards digital repositories and libraries can interoperate. Portals for the federated searching of catalogues, databases and repositories User profiles to aid accessibility, personalisation and rights management Supporting the efforts of CETIS in the attempt to explore the level of metadata sufficient for use with learning environments Shared vocabulary

13 The future Coordinating library and educational technology interoperability standard strategies with emerging specifications such as IMS Learning Design to create new tools and focus on the use of the resources within a pedagogical framework Balancing roles and responsibilities for the generation of metadata Continuing debate and research on the purpose and usefulness of secondary usage metadata

14 Conclusions Purpose should always come first: Metadata should not be an exercise in itself, it should serve specific purposes identified by the community Engage in a dialogue with the standards community only then can better schemas and therefore tools be developed to support pedagogical practice

15 References Wiley, D. A. The Instructional User of Learning Objects Learning Commons Merlot: Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching SMETE: science, mathematics, engineering and technology open federation Philip, R. & Dalziel, J. Implications of COLIS for course development: the need for secondary usage metadata pdf