Metadata Standards Anita Coleman, Asst. Prof. School of Information Resources & Library Science, University of Arizona, Tucson

ECURE 2002Oct. 11, 2002 (Coleman)2 Outline Metadata The Invisible Work of Metadata Creation Metadata Communities The Benefits of Metadata Standards Focus on Learning Objects Metadata for Education The Future of Metadata Standards

ECURE 2002Oct. 11, 2002 (Coleman)3 Metadata - A Dictionary Definition meta-, prefix programming languages. metadata n., a set of data that describes and gives information about other data. 9 disciplinary uses: Medicine (resulting from), Geology (metamorphism), Botany & Zoology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Zoology, Science, Computing, Logic & Linguistics Source: OED Online, New Edition: draft entry Dec. 2001

ECURE 2002Oct. 11, 2002 (Coleman)4 What Is Metadata? Descriptive information Subject information Other types of information based on community or user needs; for example, provenance, spatial coverage More than ‘about’ it is ‘beyond, above, at a higher level’ – ‘fits the intellectual access goal’

ECURE 2002Oct. 11, 2002 (Coleman)5 Another Definition Database management (Information Systems) perspective Data about data. Metadata describes how and when and by whom a particular set of data was collected, and how the data is formatted. Metadata is essential for understanding information stored in data warehouses. Data Source: Webopedia, URL:

ECURE 2002Oct. 11, 2002 (Coleman)6 Process of Metadata Creation Metadata framework Metadata Record Content standard – Conceptual (elements of description) Encoding standard – Container (markup or container scheme) Elements of description – embedded, associated, or external Levels of Data – Controlled vocabularies or free-text Rules governing metadata elements, Inputting Guidelines,

ECURE 2002Oct. 11, 2002 (Coleman)7 Invisible Work Metadata process Creation of metadata = Cataloging In both processes, there is a record that is the resulting product – surrogate record, bibliographic record, metadata record Metadata may be either embedded with the data it describes (meta tags), be associated (FGDC CSDGM records) or external (catalog records)

ECURE 2002Oct. 11, 2002 (Coleman)8 Metadata Standards/Frameworks ISBD; MARC (used in conjunction with AACR2R) Dublin Core (DC) – Z39.85 Global Information Locator Service (GILS) Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Content Standard Digital GeoSpatial Metadata (CSDGM) - FGDC Learning Object Metadata (LOM) – IEEE (IMS) Core Categories for Visual Resources (CDWA)

ECURE 2002Oct. 11, 2002 (Coleman)9 Communities Librarians, Data managers, Software developers ISO/DIS Metadata Standard ISO/TC 211 (Geographic Information) How metadata standards are constructed Based on FGDC CSDGM Incorporates DC Data/Resources to be described are varied: datasets, research reports, instructional materials

ECURE 2002Oct. 11, 2002 (Coleman)10 Benefits of Metadata Interoperability Discovery Sharing Identification Management Integration and Repackaging

ECURE 2002Oct. 11, 2002 (Coleman)11 Focus on Learning Objects Instructional resources Syllabi, modules, interactive multimedia presentations Created in educational and commercial settings Digital Assets Any electronic resource (no learning objective) Stakeholder (suppliers and users) needs for metadata is now extended to Reuse, Repackaging, Preservation, Context of Use-Associated Features (Annotations, Grade & Comments)

ECURE 2002Oct. 11, 2002 (Coleman)12 Metadata for Education Initiatives NSF Initiative to build digital libraries that support learning NSDL (National Science, Mathematics, Technology Education Digital Library); DLI-2; International DLI Initiatives - Joint Information Systems Committee (UK) & European Union (EU) – NSDL; ARIADNE; EdNANSDLEdNA GEM – funded by US Dept. of Education – MERLOT – CSU founded but now a consortium of higher education institutions

ECURE 2002Oct. 11, 2002 (Coleman)13 Metadata Used for Learning Trends in Learning Technologies Describing Resources: Use of educational metadata with Dublin Core (Qualified or Unqualified); Augmented with IEEE LOM; IEEE & DCMI have a Joint MOU to develop the educational categories (cataloging resources) Describing Learners: Learner and ‘learning’ profiles Curriculum Mapping – as prerequisites Interoperability: instructional management systems and digital libraries = Managed Learning Environments

ECURE 2002Oct. 11, 2002 (Coleman)14 Future of Metadata Standards Everybody agrees on the need for standards. Problem is getting metadata created according to the standards and ‘conflicting’ stakeholders’ needs. Illustrate with GROW (NSDL Project I am involved in at the University of Arizona, Tucson). Do you know what your institutions are doing for metadata of instructional materials and records?

ECURE 2002Oct. 11, 2002 (Coleman)15 References Shabajee, Paul. Primary Multimedia Objects and ‘Educational Metadata’: A Fundamental Dilemma for Developers of Multimedia Archives. D-Lib Magazine, June URL: Learning Technology Standards: An Overview. URL: Organizations FERL (UK) – FERLhttp://ferl.becta.uk/ IMS (International) – IMShttp:// IEEE LTSC – IEEE LTSC

ECURE 2002Oct. 11, 2002 (Coleman)16 That’s It Folks! Thanks!!!! Anita Coleman