LIBR 202-08
Information Retrieval
Spring 2008 Greensheet
Jennifer Lang
E-mail
Office hours: Virtual: through email, Blackboard, and instant messenger.
| Greensheet Links Textbooks and Readings Course Requirements Course Schedule |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials SLIS eBookstore |
LIBR 202 Resources Online Resource Supplemental Readings Inmagic Download |
Acknowledgement: I would like to thank Dr. Judy Weedman and Enid Irwin allowing me to use some of their course materials this semester.
Students should enroll in this course in Blackboard between January 16, 2008, and January 25, 2008. The required access code will be sent via MySJSU by January 15, 2008.
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: Computer literacy is assumed, including the ability 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 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 behavior
In addition, LIBR 202 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
Textbooks and Readings
Required Textbooks and Readings
- Meadow, C.T., Boyce, B.R., Kraft, D.H., & Barry, C.L. (2007). Text Information Retrieval Systems. (3rd ed.). San Diego: Academic Press.
- Marchionini, G. (1995). Information Seeking in Electronic Environments. Retrieved January 2, 2008, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science Web site: http://www.ils.unc.edu/%7Emarch/isee_book/web_page.html
- “Supplemental Readings” on electronic reserve
Go to SLIS eBookstore.
Note: Marchionini text (entire) and some supplemental readings are available online at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/courses/202/welcome202.html.
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 is an online course taught using Blackboard.
Course Calendar
A complete calendar for this course will be posted in Blackboard. Class begins Jan. 23. Course calendar may be subject to change with fair notice.
Assignments
The assignments are designed to help students acquire the skills necessary to:
- Create a user model, and based on the needs identified, design descriptive and subject metadata for a collection.
- Create a controlled vocabulary that adheres to a set of standards such as NISO Z39.19
- Search the database.
- 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.
- The three exercises, assignment 3, and the two exams will be completed individually.
- The team assignments will be done using the text-based database management system called DB/TextWorks (Inmagic).
- All students are expected to participate in online discussions via Blackboard on a weekly basis adding thoughtful, substantive comments or questions that relate to the readings or other assignments.
| Assignment | Points |
| IR system design exercises | |
| Attribute elicitation exercise | 50 points |
| Classification exercise | 50 points |
| Vocabulary design exercise | 50 points |
| Assignment 1 (team; descriptive metadata) | 200 points |
| Assignment 2 (team; vocabulary design and evaluation) | 200 points |
| Assignment 3 (individual; evaluation of IR interfaces) | 200 points |
| Midterm exam | 100 points |
| Final exam | 100 points |
| Blackboard participation, online discussion, etc. | 50 points |
| Total | 1000 points |
Late Assignments
Late assignments are only accepted if prior arrangements are made with instructor.
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/
Course Schedule
*subject to change with fair notice
| Week | Topic |
| Week 1: Jan. 23-Jan. 29 |
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| Week 2: Jan. 30-Feb. 5 |
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| Week 3: Feb. 6-Feb. 12 |
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| Week 4: Feb. 13-Feb. 19 |
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| Week 5: Feb. 20-Feb. 26 |
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| Week 6: Feb 27-Mar. 4 |
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| Week 7: Mar. 5-Mar.11 |
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| Week 8: Mar. 12-Mar. 18 |
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| Week 9: Mar. 19-Mar. 25 |
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| Week 10: Mar. 26-Apr. 1 |
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| Week 11: Apr. 2-Apr. 8 |
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| Week 12: Apr. 9-Apr. 15 |
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| Week 13: Apr. 16-Apr. 22 |
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| Week 14: Apr. 23-Apr. 29 |
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| Week 15: Apr. 30-May 6 |
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| Week 16: May 7-May 13 |
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