a primer on metadata standards

A Primer on Metadata StandardsFrom Dublin Core to IEEE LOM

Julia InnesRory McGrealToni RobertsTeleEducation NB

TeleCampusTeleCampus

I never met a meta metadata I ever really liked. (Dorman, 1999)

Like any early inception of any Like any early inception of any standard, just understanding standard, just understanding the landscape is difficult. the landscape is difficult. (Luh, 1999)(Luh, 1999)


What is METADATAWhat is METADATA??

datadata about about datadata

Example: Example: January 31, January 31, 20012001

31 janvier 31 janvier 20012001

2001-01-312001-01-3101-31-200001-31-20003101200031012000

Metadata standards are agreed-on Metadata standards are agreed-on criteria for describing data to support criteria for describing data to support interoperabilityinteroperability


What is METADATAWhat is METADATA??

Author: Author: B

anathy,B.H.

Year: 1973

Title: Developing a Systems View of Education: The

Systems-Model Approach

Publisher: Lear Siegleer, Inc./Fearon Publishers

Description:

A system needs to be adaptive If it fails to deliver

expected outcomes: 1. it adjusts 2. expectations

adjust 3. it terminates

Call Number: H#X


Why METADATAWhy METADATA??• Facilitate information sharingFacilitate information sharing• Enable search engines on the Enable search engines on the InternetInternet• Support intelligent agents & PushSupport intelligent agents & Push• Minimises data lossMinimises data loss• Metadata describes Metadata describes learning objectslearning objectsNo one can sift 100 million docs

Every day


Learning objectsLearning objects

• Discoverable

• Modular

• Interoperable

any entities, digital or non-digital, which any entities, digital or non-digital, which can be used or referenced in technology-can be used or referenced in technology-supported learningsupported learning


Learning objectsLearning objects

1.1.SegmentSegment2.2.LessonLesson3.3.TopicTopic4.4.CourseCourse5.5.ProgrammeProgramme


Why learning objects?Why learning objects?• COST: 1000s of colleges have common course topics

• large numbers of courses are going online

• World does not need 1000s of similar learning topics

• World needs only about a dozen

•Expensive to develop so sharing is essential

(From Downes, 2000)

Design courses as a

collection of learning

objects NOT HTML


Who inputs METADATAWho inputs METADATA?? Two Camps:Two Camps:

• Internal referencedInternal referenced - Users - Users input their own metadatainput their own metadata• External referencedExternal referenced – – Professionals input metadataProfessionals input metadata

• number of electronic objects is growing rapidlynumber of electronic objects is growing rapidly• metadata required is too much for third-party metadata required is too much for third-party indexersindexers


METADATA characteristicsMETADATA characteristics

1.1. a data dictionary of commonly defined a data dictionary of commonly defined elements;elements;

2.2. a method for manipulating and a method for manipulating and communicating elements communicating elements electronically;electronically;

3.3. rules for identifying and extracting rules for identifying and extracting content;content;

4.4. an official standards body;an official standards body;5.5. tools for creating, transmitting, and tools for creating, transmitting, and

storing.storing.Ahronheim (1998) Ahronheim (1998)


METADATA conditionsMETADATA conditions

• Mandatory fields (small Mandatory fields (small subset)subset)

• Optional fieldsOptional fields• ExtensibleExtensible• International interoperabilityInternational interoperability

Adapted from Griffin and Wason Adapted from Griffin and Wason

(1997)(1997)


METADATA challengesMETADATA challengesToo much concern with Too much concern with FIELDS FIELDS NOTNOT enough with enough with TERMSTERMS • Fields need a common terminologyFields need a common terminology

• DDescribed by a content expert BUTescribed by a content expert BUT• TERMS must fit into a universe of knowledgeTERMS must fit into a universe of knowledgeAND AND • Not be only useful to content expertsNot be only useful to content experts

• Cross-searching requires compatible Cross-searching requires compatible vocabulariesvocabularies


What is RDF?What is RDF?((RResource esource DDescription escription FFramework)ramework)

RDF is an infrastructure that RDF is an infrastructure that enables the encoding, enables the encoding, exchange, and reuse of exchange, and reuse of structured metadata structured metadata (Bearman et (Bearman et

al., 1999)al., 1999) RDF is syntax independent, and RDF is syntax independent, and can be expressed in both XML and can be expressed in both XML and HTML. HTML. -- World Wide Web -- World Wide Web

ConsortiumConsortium


What is RDF?What is RDF?

• a generalised format for a generalised format for online resources online resources •expresses all vocabularies expresses all vocabularies with one model and syntax with one model and syntax • schema can work in XMLschema can work in XML

Warning: RDF does not solve Warning: RDF does not solve interoperability problems with legacy interoperability problems with legacy metadata AND a variety of RDF metadata AND a variety of RDF description schemas are possibledescription schemas are possible


Start designing as a knowlege base not HTML

see autonomy.com

Online Community Why? Improved learning; Sense of commitment; Learning beyond the content; Reduced workload; Administration; Content; Interaction


What is XMLWhat is XML??(e(eXXtended tended MMarkup arkup LLanguage)anguage)

• Extends HTML without complexities of Extends HTML without complexities of SGMLSGML• XML is the underlying syntax for the XML is the underlying syntax for the transport of informationtransport of information for exchanging for exchanging structured datastructured data

SStandardtandardGGeneraleneralMMarkup arkup LLanguageanguage

HTMLHTML

XMLXMLSGMLSGML


What is XMLWhat is XML??

• any level of complexityany level of complexity• functions without the serverfunctions without the server• vendor independentvendor independent• user extensibleuser extensible• validation & human readabilityvalidation & human readability

Warning: possible Warning: possible Pandora's box Pandora's box of incompatible metatagsof incompatible metatags


Why XMLWhy XML??

• standardized • uses schemas • machine-readable • two entities can use the same data


Metadata and RDF/XMLMetadata and RDF/XML

Metadata =Metadata =semantics & resourcessemantics & resources

RDF = structureRDF = structure

XML = syntaxXML = syntax


METADATA standardsMETADATA standards• Dublin CoreDublin Core• Warwick Warwick FrameworkFramework• IMSIMS• ARIADNEARIADNE• IEEE LOMIEEE LOM• AICCAICC• ADL SCORMADL SCORM• Merlot?Merlot?


Dublin CoreDublin Core. . . the HTML of Web metadata . . . the HTML of Web metadata

(Bearman et al., 1999)(Bearman et al., 1999) . . . lingua franca for metadata, . . . at a . . . lingua franca for metadata, . . . at a

basic level basic level (Milstead & Feldman, (Milstead & Feldman, 1999)1999)

. . . the most broadly based consensus . . . the most broadly based consensus on resource description on the Web"on resource description on the Web" (Weibel, 1999)(Weibel, 1999)

http://purl.oclc.org/dc/http://purl.oclc.org/dc/


Dublin CoreDublin Core

• coexists with other metadata setscoexists with other metadata sets • all elements are optionalall elements are optional • all elements are syntax-all elements are syntax-independentindependent

• tagged in HTML, raw XML, or tagged in HTML, raw XML, or RDF/XML RDF/XML


Dublin Core FieldsDublin Core Fields

Title Creator SubjectDescription Publisher ContributorDate Type FormatIdentifier Source LanguageRelation Coverage Rights

All fields are All fields are optional, none are optional, none are mandatorymandatory


Warwick FrameworkWarwick Framework

• a higher-level context for the Dublin a higher-level context for the Dublin CoreCore• modularization of metadatamodularization of metadata• facilitates interoperabilityfacilitates interoperability• permits selective access & permits selective access & manipulation of datamanipulation of data

WARNING: It can create complexity WARNING: It can create complexity that is not needed.that is not needed. (Lagoze, 1996)(Lagoze, 1996)

http://www.dlib.org/dlib/july96/lagoze/07lagoze.htmlhttp://www.dlib.org/dlib/july96/lagoze/07lagoze.html


IMSIMSEducause: IEducause: Instructional nstructional MManagement anagement SSystemystem

1.1. catalyst for development of catalyst for development of instructional software instructional software

2.2. creation of an online management creation of an online management infrastructure for learning infrastructure for learning

3.3. facilitation of collaborative learning facilitation of collaborative learning activitiesactivities

4.4. certificationcertification

MANDATEMANDATE

Members:Members: Apple, Cisco,ETS, IBM, Apple, Cisco,ETS, IBM, Indust.Canada, Microsoft, Oracle, Sun, US Indust.Canada, Microsoft, Oracle, Sun, US Defense,etc.Defense,etc.

Partners: Partners: ARIADNE (Europe), NIST ARIADNE (Europe), NIST LOM,LOM,


IMS Metadata SchemaIMS Metadata Schema

• incorporates & extends Dublin Coreincorporates & extends Dublin Core• mandatory fieldsmandatory fields• simple controlled vocabularysimple controlled vocabulary• sets dictionary values sets dictionary values • reference schemas reference schemas • domain-specific taxonomiesdomain-specific taxonomies• RDF/XML RDF/XML

NOT just a metadata schemaNOT just a metadata schema

http://imsproject.comhttp://imsproject.com


ARIADNEARIADNEAAlliance of lliance of RRemote emote IInstructional nstructional AAuthoring uthoring and and DDistribution istribution NNetworks for etworks for EEuropeurope

• fosters the sharing and reuse of electronic fosters the sharing and reuse of electronic pedagogical material, by universities and pedagogical material, by universities and corporations.corporations.• a Europe-wide repository for pedagogical a Europe-wide repository for pedagogical documents (Knowledge Pool System)documents (Knowledge Pool System)• co-author of IMS Metadata structureco-author of IMS Metadata structure

http://ariadne.unil.ch/http://ariadne.unil.ch/


IEEE LOM P1484.12IEEE LOM P1484.12

• To enable learners or instructors to search, evaluate, acquire, and use Learning Objects

• focus on the minimal set of properties focus on the minimal set of properties neededneeded

IInstitute for nstitute for EElectrical and lectrical and EElectronics lectronics EEngineersngineersLLearning earning OObject bject MManagement anagement PProtocolrotocol

MANDATEMANDATE

http://ltsc.ieee.org/http://ltsc.ieee.org/index.htmlindex.html


AICCAICC

Provides guidelines for Provides guidelines for interoperability for systems to interoperability for systems to share data onlineshare data online

http://aicc.org/http://aicc.org/

AAviation viation IIndustry ndustry CCBT (Computer-Based Training) BT (Computer-Based Training) CCommitteeommittee

AICC Guidelines & Recommendations (AGR)


ADL SCORMADL SCORM

a set of interrelated technical a set of interrelated technical specifications built upon the work of specifications built upon the work of the AICC, IMS and IEEE to create one the AICC, IMS and IEEE to create one unified content modelunified content model

http://www.adlnet.org/Scorm/http://www.adlnet.org/Scorm/

SSharable harable CCourseware ourseware OObject bject RReference eference MModel odel Advanced Distributed Learning NetworkAdvanced Distributed Learning Network


MerlotMerlotMMultimedia ultimedia EEducational ducational RResource for esource for LLearning and earning and OOnline nline TTeachingeachingCalifornia State University system’s Distributed Learning and California State University system’s Distributed Learning and Teaching Initiative & Multimedia Repository InitiativeTeaching Initiative & Multimedia Repository Initiative• a collection of high quality interactive online a collection of high quality interactive online learning materials & peoplelearning materials & people• an example of a learning object repositoryan example of a learning object repository• does not adhere to universal metadata does not adhere to universal metadata standards standards

http://www.merlot.orghttp://www.merlot.org


International Metadata International Metadata Standard for Learning Standard for Learning ObjectsObjects

Dublin CoreDublin Core

IMS/ARIADNEIMS/ARIADNE

IEEE LOM P1484.12IEEE LOM P1484.12

Expressed through RDF> Expressed through RDF> XML/SGMLXML/SGML


POOLPOOL

a customizable, a customizable, intelligent, learning intelligent, learning object repository object repository

Portal for Objects Oriented to LearningPortal for Objects Oriented to Learning


System Administration and SupportSystem Administration and Support

Instructor/AuthorContent ProviderResearcherContent editorStudent

Link to WAN

WEB Delivery

Content Hosting and ManagementContent Hosting and Management

Raw ContentUnsanctioned

ApprovedLearning Objects

Best Of BreedContent Pool

National DLCourse Pool

Learning Tools Pooland Forum

MIDDLEWAREObject Search Engines,Custom views, by user typeIntelligent Agent,Content Adaptation Model,Rights Management, Work FlowEducational Content, Classification Schema

Learning SolutionsIdea Factory

Learning Tools Pooland Forum

POOLPOOL


POOL Metadata ProjectPOOL Metadata Project

Specifications for applying IMS to POOL learning Specifications for applying IMS to POOL learning objects including:objects including:

•A base schema & schemas for describing video, A base schema & schemas for describing video, audio, and still images at different levels of audio, and still images at different levels of granularitygranularity

•Application of schema to the TeleCampus online Application of schema to the TeleCampus online course databasecourse database

NNew Brunswick Distance Education Network Inc.ew Brunswick Distance Education Network Inc.University of New Brunswick Electronic Text CentreUniversity of New Brunswick Electronic Text Centre

a primer on metadata standards

Documents

legacy metadata

meta metadata

xtelecampuswhy metadata

data loss metadata

collection of learning

learning objectsno

terms fields

online world