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Role and use of metadata

Jenny Slater

CETIS Metadata Special InterestGroup Co-ordinator

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Overview

What is metadata? Metadata standards and specifications

Metadata Issues

Using metadata How to get involved

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What is metadata?

data about data

A structured description ofcharacteristics such as the meaning,

content, structure & purpose of a

resource

To improve resource discovery by

enabling field-based searches

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Where can you find

metadata?

Within the coding for a resource itself.

In a database of descriptions/repository

of resources

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Elements and schemas

Metadata elements are used to provide

structure to the description

e.g. title, description, keywords, author, educational

level, version, location, language

Further structure is provided by ametadata schema.

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Dublin Core: Example schema

Element: Title

Name: Title

Identifier: Title

Definition: A name given to the resource.

Comment: Typically, a Title will be aname by which the

resource is formally known.

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About Dublin Core

A set of 15 elements

All elements are optional and

repeatable

Elements can be refined using qualifiers

Any syntax may be used to record the

metadata

Favours text-based resources

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Other standards and

specifications IEEE Draft Standard for Learning Object

Metadata

SCORM - Sharable Content Object

Reference Model

Other bodies involved: Prometeus &

CEN/ISSS, ISO, BSI

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About IMS Learning Resource

Meta-data 1: Introduction

One of a number of specifications

Consists of:

i) Information Model

ii) Binding Specificationiii) Best Practice & Implementation

Guide.

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About IMS Learning Resource

Meta-data 2: Conformancei) The metadata record must contain one or more LOM

element(s)

ii) Values for the metadata record must be structured asdefined by the LOM specification, with structuralinformation carried within the record, or:

iii) Bindings must carry equivalent information about themeta-data so that conversions between bindings do

not induce loss of information as defined within thespecification

iv) If the instance contains extensions to the LOMstructure, then extension elements do not replaceelements in the LOM structure.

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Metadata Issues 1: Controlled

Vocabularies Controlled vocabularies list terms that

can serve as values for elements

No standards to apply to all

communities of interest

The standards which exist are often not

applicable in the UK

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Metadata issues 2: The RDF

The Resource Description Framework

(RDF)

Uses XML (EXtensible Markup

Language)

Recommended by W3C.

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Metadata issues 3: Application

profiles & registries

For implementor to declare how

standard schemas are being used

Refers to namespaces

Specify permitted schemes and values

Registries contain such declarations:

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Metadata Issues 4: Who

creates metadata?

Resource creator

A tool

A specialist cataloguer

A resource user

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Using metadata 1: Identify

needs a) Define the set of characteristics you

want to describe

b) Ascertain what you can realistically

cope with

c) Decide on what you really must

describe (and consider how to do it!)

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Using metadata 1: Create

schema & guidelinesAny standards used: make sure you are

conforming

Define and describe your own elements

for your own purposes

Choose appropriate taxonomies/

vocabularies

Then implement it!

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How to get involved

GROUPS

MEG CETIS Metadata SIG

DC Education working group.