LIBR 202-15
Information Retrieval
Spring 2008 Greensheet
Richard V. Jackson
E-mail
Phone: (562) 920-9450
Office hours: Online by appointment
| Greensheet Links Textbooks and Readings Course Requirements |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials SLIS e-Bookstore |
LIBR 202 Resources Online Resource Supplemental Readings Inmagic Download |
Students must self-enroll in the Blackboard site for this course between January 16 and January 23. An access code for enrolling in the class Blackboard site will be distributed through My.SJSU to students who are registered for the class. Class begins on Blackboard on Wednesday, January 23.
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.
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 the fundamental concepts of information retrieval and information-seeking behavior, and employ them in the design and evaluation of systems
- Students will understand the problems inherent in the representation of information in a retrieval system, and be aware of the dominant models used in information retrieval, such as MARC, AACR2, LC Classification, LCSH, and Dublin Core
- 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.
These additional SLIS Core Competencies are also supported by the course:
- 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 and Readings
- Meadow, C. T., Boyce, B. R., Kraft, D. H., et al. (2007). Text Information Retrieval Systems (3rd ed.). Publisher: Academic Press (ISBN: 0123694124)
- Morville, P. (2005). Ambient Findability. Publisher: Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly (ISBN: 0596007655)
- “Supplemental Readings” on electronic reserve (15 articles minimum)
Go to SLIS eBookstore.
Course Requirements
Complete the New Student Technology Workshop
This is a mandatory short, self-paced online workshop on Blackboard that must be completed by all new SLIS students before the first day of classes. The access code for this course will be sent to new students via MySJSU. If you have questions about this course, e-mail Debbie Faires or Dale David.
For more information, see http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/slis/blackboardintro.htm
Course format
This course is taught entirely online, with the exception of one face-to-face, onsite meeting on February 9. Attendance at the onsite meeting is required. Blackboard will be the central “meeting place” for the class, and lectures will be given using Elluminate (both prerecorded and live sessions). For more information on Elluminate, see http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/software/elluminate/students/
Blackboard Information
Blackboard will be used to disseminate information for the class, including course-related documents, assignments, tests, announcements, etc. It will also serve as a forum for ongoing class discussion among students, and communication between students and the instructor, and will be used to facilitate work in groups. Students are expected to monitor the Blackboard site frequently (at least 3-4 times a week, preferably daily). Students are responsible for ensuring that their Blackboard account has a correct e-mail address.
Assignments
The assignments are designed so that the students will 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 and use it in 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.
The assignments and tests for this course, and their corresponding point values, are:
| Exercise #1: Attribute Elicitation | 80 points |
| Assignment #1: Description and Database Design | 220 points |
| Midterm | 150 points |
| Exercise #2: Classification | 130 points |
| Assignment #2: Subject Analysis and Evaluation | 270 points |
| Final | 150 points |
| Total | 1,000 points |
Course Calendar
Please note that, although the onsite meeting occurs near the beginning of the semester, the class actually begins online on January 23. There are lectures, readings, and coursework to be completed prior to the onsite meeting.
The onsite meeting will be February 9 from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon at Cal State Fullerton PLS 68. Attendance at this meeting is required.
A detailed weekly schedule will be maintained on Blackboard. There will be one, sometimes two lecture sessions given each week using Elluminate. Some sessions will be recorded in advance, and some will be given as live sessions. The live sessions will also be recorded, so live participation, while strongly encouraged, is not required. The schedule for the live sessions will be determined following the February 9 meeting.
Grading
The total number of points received for the assignments and tests (see “Assignments” above) will be converted to a letter grade using the standard SJSU SLIS Grading Scale:
| 97-100% | 970-1000 points | A |
| 94-96% | 940-969 points | A- |
| 91-93% | 910-939 points | B+ |
| 88-90% | 880-909 points | B |
| 85-87% | 850-879 points | B- |
| 82-84% | 820-849 points | C+ |
| 79-81% | 790-819 points | C |
| 76-78% | 760-789 points | C- |
| 73-75% | 730-759 points | D+ |
| 70-72% | 700-729 points | D |
| 67-69% | 670-699 points | D- |
| Below 67% | (less than 670) | F |
Note that points will be deducted for any work turned in late.
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/
One Washington Square - San José, California USA, 95192-0029
Phone: 408-924-2490
Contact the webmaster
