LIBR 202-16
Information Retrieval
Fall 2008 Greensheet
Leanne Strum, Ph.D.
E-mail
Phone: (757) 226-4172
Fax: (757) 226-4167
Office location: Online
Office hours: IM, Email, or Telephone (Office hours: 9-4 M-F (EST))
| Greensheet Links Textbooks and Readings Course Requirements Course Calendar |
Resources Blackboard Blackboard Tutorials SLIS eBookstore |
LIBR 202 Resources Online Resource Supplemental Readings Inmagic Download |
Students must self-enroll for the course on Blackboard between August 24 and September 7, 2008. The required password access enrollment code will be provided with the MySJSU Messaging system. Class starts on Blackboard August 25, 2008. Materials for class week 1 will be available starting August 24, 2008. Review the materials, but do not start the class until August 25, 2008.
See instructions here: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/blackboard/course_comm/class/mysjsu.htm.
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.
These additional SLIS Core Competencies are also supported by this section:
- 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.
See: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/slis/competencies.htm
Textbooks and Readings
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.
- Chowdhury, G. G. (2004). Introduction to Modern Information Retrieval. 2nd ed. London: Facet Publishing. (1st edition not accepted)
- “Supplemental Readings” on electronic reserve -- http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/courses/202/welcome202.html
Note: If books are purchased from Amazon via a SLIS referral (http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/courses/books/), SLIS scholarship funds get a 6% referral bonus!
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
Class Materials Access
Scheduled by student (Asynchronous)
- The class week runs from Monday to Sunday midnight.
- Course materials will be made available on the Monday prior to the beginning of the specific class week.
- Blackboard is generally down for backups from 1 am to 4 am, M-F.
- Students are expected to login to Blackboard at least 4 to 5 times a week.
Elluminate Meetings
Optional Elluminate sessions will be scheduled for this class. Date and time to be announced. These will be primarily question and answer sessions. Sessions will be recorded and made available afterward. (An updated schedule will be posted on Blackboard.)
You are required to complete an orientation session with Debbie Faires prior to participating in the first Elluminate session. For a list of training times and other helpful information, see the SLIS Student Guide to Elluminate at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/software/elluminate/students/index.htm
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
Skills
The 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.
- 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.
Graded Assignments
| Assignment | Skill | Date Due | Points | % of Grade (est.) |
| Course Participation | 15 | 2% | ||
| Discussion Forum Posting (10 Postings @ 10 Points Each) |
7 | Weekly (as scheduled) | 100 | 15% |
| Surveys: | ||||
|
8/31 | 5 | 1% | |
|
10/19 | 5 | 1% | |
|
12/7 | 5 | 1% | |
| Exercises | ||||
|
9/14 | 10 | 2.5% | |
|
2 | 11/9 | 10 | 2.5% |
| Assignments: | ||||
|
1,pre-2,3,4,7 | A1A: 10/19 A1B: 10/26 |
200 | 30% |
|
5,6 | 11.16 | 100 | 15% |
|
1,pre-2,34,7 | A3A: 12/7 A3B: 12/10 |
200 | 30% |
| Total | 650 | 100% |
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.
Points Earned |
Numeric Grade |
Letter Grade |
628-650 |
97-100% |
A |
608-627 |
94-96% |
A- |
589-607 |
91-93% |
B+ |
569-588 |
88-90% |
B |
550-568 |
85-87% |
B- |
530-549 |
82-84% |
C+ |
511-529 |
79-81% |
C |
491-510 |
76-78% |
C- |
472-490 |
73-75% |
D+ |
452-471 |
70-72% |
D |
433-451 |
67-69% |
D- |
less than 433 |
Below 67% |
F |
No Incompletes will be granted. |
||
The class GPA for LIBR 202 usually runs between 91% and 93% (B+). University policy states that competent graduate level work is B.
Late assignments are only accepted with instructor’s approval and if prior arrangements are made with instructor.
Assignments 1 has a major team component (approximately 40-45%). Discussion postings, participation, and assignment 2 are individual efforts.
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 Calendar
Subject to change with notification.
| Class Week | Date | Topic | Readings | Chapter Titles | Assignment(s) | Date Due |
| 1 | 8/25 - 8/31 Available: 8/24 |
The Basics! | Chowdhury, Ch. 1 & 2 Supplemental Readings – posted on BB* |
1: Basic Concepts of Information Retrieval Systems 2: Database Technology |
Install DB/ TextWorks Discussion Forum Posting -- Week 1 My Story: Biographical Sketch Complete Preview Survey – Week 1 |
8/31
|
| 2 | 9/1 - 9/7 Available: 8/31 |
Words, Words, Words | Chowdhury, Ch. 4 Supplemental Readings – posted on BB* |
4: Cataloging and Metadata | Discussion Forum Posting - Week 2 | 9/7 |
| 3 | 9/8 - 9/14 Available: 9/7 |
What is the Right Word to Use? | Chowdhury, Ch. 5 & 6 Supplemental Readings – posted on BB* |
5: Subject Analysis and Representation 6: Automatic Indexing and File Organization |
Attribute Elicitation Exercise Discussion Forum Posting - Week 3 |
9/14 9/14 |
| 4 | 9/15 - 9/21 Available: 9/14 |
Controlled vs Natural | Chowdhury, Ch. 7 Supplemental Readings – posted on BB* |
7: Vocabulary Control | Discussion Forum Posting - Week 4 | 9/21 |
| 5 | 9/22 - 9/28 Available: 9/21 |
The Hunt! I Found it! |
Chowdhury, Ch. 9 Supplemental Readings – posted on BB* |
9: Searching and Retrieval | Discussion Forum Posting - Week 5 | 9/28 |
| 6 | 9/29 - 10/5 Available: 9/28 |
Review Week | Please take this time to catch up on your readings, assignments, etc. |
|||
| 7 | 10/6 - 10/12 Available: 10/5 |
Profile the User to Come up with the Right Interface | Chowdhury, Ch. 10 & 12 Supplemental Readings – posted on BB* |
10: Users of Information Retrieval
12: User Interfaces |
Discussion Forum Posting - Week 7 | 10/12 |
| 8 | 10/13 - 10/19 Available: 10/12 |
User-Centered | Chowdury, Ch. 11 Supplemental Readings - posted on BB* |
11: User-centered Models of Information Retrieval |
Assignment 1- Part A Assignment 1 Survey |
10/19 10/19 |
| 9 | 10/20 - 10/26 Available: 10/19 |
Evaluating the Systems | Chowdhury Ch. 13 & 14 Supplemental Readings - posted on BB* |
13: Evaluation of Information Retrieval Systems 14: Evaluation Experiments |
Assignment 1- Part B | 10/26 |
| 10 | 10/27 - 11/2 Available: 10/26 |
Searching the Web | Chowdhury, Ch. 18 Supplemental Readings – posted on BB* |
18: Web Information Retrieval | Discussion Forum Posting - Week 10 | 11/2 |
| 11 | 11/3 - 11/9 Available: 11/2 |
Understanding Natural Language | Chowdhury, Ch. 20 & 21 Supplemental Readings – posted on BB* |
20: Natural Language Processing and Information 21: Natural Language Processing Systems |
Classification Exercise Discussion Forum Posting - Week 11 |
11/9 11/9 |
| 12 | 11/10 - 11/16 Available: 11/9 |
The Digital Library | Chowdhury, Ch. 22 Supplemental Readings – posted on BB* |
22: Information Retrieval in Digital Libraries | Discussion Forum Posting - Week 12 Assignment 2: Essay |
11/16 11/16 |
| 13 | 11/17 - 11/23 Available: 11/16 |
Trends, Trends, Trends | Chowdhury, Ch. 23 Supplemental Readings – posted on BB* |
23: Trends in Information Retrieval | Discussion Forum Posting - Week 13 | 11/23 |
| 14 | 11/24 - 11/30 Available: 11/23 |
Review Week | Course Review of Topics |
|||
| 15 | 12/1 - 12/7 Available: 11/30 |
Review Week | Please take this time to catch up on your readings, assignments, etc. |
Assignment 3- Part A Assignment 3- Survey |
12/7 12/7 |
|
| 16 | 12/7 - 12/10 Available: 12/6 |
Final Week | Finishing the course! |
Assignment 3- Part B | 12/10 | |
* Occasionally, there will be supplemental readings posted under the lecture on BB. These readings can be found at: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/courses/202/welcome202.htm
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