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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.