LIBR 202-05
LIBR 202-06
Information Retrieval
Fall 2008 Greensheet
Enid J. Irwin
E-mail
Office Location: online
Office Hours: Variable Elluminate sessions and e-mail
Course Links Greensheet Schedule (PDF) Handout #1 (PDF) Handout #2 (PDF) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Handout #3 (PDF) Part 1 Part 2 |
Video Welcome Captioned Uncaptioned |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials SLIS eBookstore LIBR 202 Resources Online Resource Supplemental Readings Inmagic Download |
Textbooks and Readings | Course Requirements
Students must self-enroll for the course on Blackboard from August 21 to 27. The required password access enrollment code is provided with the MySJSU Messaging system. Class starts on Blackboard Monday, August 25.
Course Description
Principles of information retrieval and their application to information systems and services. Emphasizing models of user information seeking behavior, human information processing and their relationship to retrieval models in information systems.
Course Prerequisites: Demonstrated computer literacy. Students need to know how to download software, zip and unzip files, work with folders, and elementary computer trouble shooting.
Course Objectives
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to design, query, and evaluate a database information retrieval system, using an appropriate user model.
- Students will be able to articulate fundamental concepts of information-seeking behavior and employ them in the design and evaluation of systems.
- Students will be able to define a set of terms reflecting fundamental concepts of information retrieval and use them in discussions of their projects for the class.
- Students will understand metadata, both structure and representation, and be aware of dominant models such as the MARC record, LC Classification, Dublin Core, and NISO 39-19.
- Students will understand principles of good interface design and be able to evaluate interfaces using those principles.
LIBR 202 supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:
- design, query and evaluate information retrieval systems;
- understand the system of standards and methods used to control and create information structures and apply basic principles involved in the organization and representation of knowledge;
- describe the fundamental concepts of information-seeking behaviors.
In addition, this section supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:
- Use the basic concepts and principles related to the creation, evaluation, selection, acquisition, preservation, and organization of specific items or collections of information
- Demonstrate proficiency in the use of current information and communication technologies, and other related technologies, as they affect the resources and uses of libraries and other types of information providing entities
- Use service concepts, principles and techniques that facilitate information access, relevance, and accuracy for individuals or groups of users;
- Demonstrate oral and written communication skills necessary for group work, collaborations and professional level presentations
http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/slis/competencies.htm
Textbooks and Readings
Required Texts
Please order the two textbooks from any online bookstore or directly from the publishers in time to have them by at least the second week of class. If you order from the School’s amazon.com site, http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/courses/books/index.php, the School receives a referral fee which we use for student scholarships and events.
- Meadow, Charles T., Boyce, Bert R., and Kraft, Donald H. (2000) Text Information Retrieval Systems, 2nd or 3rd ed. San Diego: Academic Press.
- Marchionini, Gary (1995). Information Seeking in Electronic Environments Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Supplemental Readings
"Supplemental Readings" on electronic reserve
Other articles mentioned in weekly lectures or on Blackboard Discussion Board
Course Requirements
Complete LIBR 203: Online Social Networking: Technology and Tools
This is a mandatory 1 unit course that introduces students to the various e-learning tools used in the SLIS program, including Blackboard, Elluminate and Second Life. This course must be completed by all new SLIS students within the first 4 weeks of their first semester. If you have questions about this course, e-mail Debbie Faires or Dale David.
For more information, see http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/classes/coursedesc.htm
Continuing Students
Students will be using Blackboard and Elluminate and need to run the tutorials or sign up for workshops that are available on Slisweb.
Class Materials Access - Blackboard
Scheduled by student (Asynchronous)
- The class week runs from Wednesday to Tuesday midnight.
- New lectures are posted on Wednesdays.
- Students are expected to login to Blackboard and check email at least 4 to 5 times a week.
- Note that on the first week, class starts on Monday, August 25. Lecture material and assignments will be posted then.
Elluminate Meetings
Information provided via MySJSU Messaging system and Blackboard emails
- Optional Office Hours at the beginning of the semester scheduled for Saturday 2/2 & 2/9 from 9-10am. Sessions will be recorded for later listening/viewing
- Pre-recorded explanations of assignment (when available)
- Team planning and strategy meetings (scheduled by teams)
Assignments
ASSIGNMENT |
POINTS |
% |
Skill |
Blackboard Participation & Postings |
180 |
36 |
|
Weekly Journals (10 at 10 points each) |
|
|
5,6,7 |
Short exercises & surveys (total: 90 points) |
|
|
pre 1&2 |
Assignment 1 – Database Design |
100 |
20 |
1,pre 2.7 |
Assignment 2 – Vocabulary Design |
150 |
30 |
1,2,3,4,7 |
Midterm |
35 |
7 |
5,6,7 |
Final |
35 |
7 |
6,7 |
TOTAL |
500 |
100 |
|
Late assignments: only accepted if prior arrangements are made with instructor.
Skills
Assignments are designed to provide the students to acquire and demonstrate the following skills:
- Create a user model, and based on the needs identified, design descriptive and subject metadata for a collection and create a database.
- Create a controlled vocabulary that adheres to a set of standards such as NISO Z39.19 and use it in creating records for a collection of scholarly articles.
- Search the databases created.
- Set performance criteria and, based on searches, evaluate the database.
- Evaluate one or more information retrieval interfaces.
- Describe fundamental concepts of information seeking behavior.
- Use information retrieval concepts in discussions.
Team/Individual Work
- Assignments 1 and 2 have major team components (approximately 40-45%).
- The Midterm and Final are coordinated within the teams (approximately 20%).
- Weekly journals, surveys, and some exercises are individual efforts.
- Approximately 5-10 points of individual Extra Credit are available.
Technology Components
Successful students must be able to:
- Send and receive email and attachments including zipped files
- Access the School’s website and Blackboard for course handouts and readings
- Download software from a web site and install it on a computer
- Use common web search engines and library article databases
- Learn a new database management system
Course Calendar
See Course Calendar. Please note - the Course Calendar is subject to change.
Grading Scale
The standard SJSU SLIS Grading Scale is utilized for all SLIS courses:
97-100 | A |
94-96 | A- |
91-93 | B+ |
88-90 | B |
85-87 | B- |
82-84 | C+ |
79-81 | C |
76-78 | C- |
73-75 | D+ |
70-72 | D |
67-69 | D- |
Below 67 | F |
In order to provide consistent guidelines for assessment for graduate level work in the School, these terms are applied to letter grades:
- C represents Adequate work; a grade of "C" counts for credit for the course;
- B represents Good work; a grade of "B" clearly meets the standards for graduate level work;
- A represents Exceptional work; a grade of "A" will be assigned for outstanding work only.
Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0.
Academic Integrity
Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San José State University, and the University's Academic Integrity Policy requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the Office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://sa.sjsu.edu/student_conduct.
Reasonable Accommodation of Disabilities
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability,
please e-mail me as soon as possible. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires
that students with disabilities register with the Disability Resource Center
(DRC) to establish record of their disability.
No matter where students reside, they should contact the SJSU DRC to register. The DRC Web site: http://www.drc.sjsu.edu/