Contolled Vocabularies
IRLS 630 Section 791
Instructor: Hong Cui
IRLS 515 Organization of Information
is a pre-requisite for this course.
Catalog Description
IRLS 630: This course provides an introduction to
knowledge organization systems that use controlled vocabularies. Principles,
standards, design and maintenance of thesauri using computer software are
studied. The use of controlled vocabularies in electronic information
environments such as the WWW is explored.
Course Description
This course covers different types of controlled vocabularies such as subject heading lists, thesauri, taxonomies, and ontologies with a focus on the need and use of controlled
vocabularies in websites. An example of thesaurus construction standard studied is the ANSI NISO standard Z39.19,
Guidelines for the construction, format, and management of monolingual thesauri. An example of thesaurus construction software used is either TermTree or MultiTes--depending on which one we can get.
- Knowledge of the standard guidelines for constructing monolingual thesauri
- Understanding of information architecture, specifically, the role of
controlled vocabularies - Ability to analyse the usability of websites
- Familiarity with tools and technologies for electronic information
organization, creation, navigation, display and use
Required course readings can be downloaded from the Web
1. ANSI/NISO Z39.19 - 2005 Guidelines for the Construction, Format, and
Management of Monolingual Thesauri. 172 pp. ISBN: 1-880124-65-3 Price: $59. URL:
http://www.niso.org/standards/resources/Z39-19-2005.pdf
Note:
The full-text of this standard can be downloaded from NISO site for free as an
Adobe file or purchased from NISO. Check the date to make sure you're
downloading the 2005 standard.
2. Willpower Information Management Consultants, Publications on Thesaurus Construction.
http://www.willpower.demon.co.uk/thesbibl.htm Note: the full text of the most of the articles can be found online via google/scholar search or full-text@UofA.
3. Library of Congress Subject Headings - Principles of Structure and Policies for Application.
http://www.itsmarc.com/crs/shed0014.htm
Recommended course materials
1. Information Architecture for the World
Wide Web, 2nd Edition By Peter Morville, Louis Rosenfeld 2nd Edition 2002
0-596-00035-9, 486 pages, $39.95 US. URL: http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/infotecture2/toc.html
Assignment 1: Four one-page papers on specific topics due at different times
- Assignment 2: Thesaurus/Ontology/Other
Details will be given
within D2L Assignments.
- Active participation through out the term on D2L.
Academic Code of Integrity
Students are expected to abide by The University of Arizona Code of Academic Integrity. 'The guiding principle of academic integrity is that a student's submitted work must be the student's own.' If you have any questions regarding what is acceptable practice under this Code, please ask an Instructor.
Accommodating Disabilities
The University has a Disability Resource Center. If you anticipate the need for reasonable accommodations to meet the requirements of this course, you must register with the Disability Resource Center and request that the DRC send me, the Instructor, official notification of your accommodation needs as soon as possible. Please plan to meet with me by appointment or during office hours to discuss accommodations and how my course requirements and activities may impact your ability to fully participate.
General Policies/Methods of Instruction
The classroom environment for this virtual course is D2L . Here are guidelines to help schedule
learning:
Do not expect to do too much within D2L itself until after the first week. In the first week, just browse this syllabus and readings etc.
Complete weekly readings by
the end of the day they are scheduled and discuss them publicly.
Lecture notes and discussion topics are posted on each Monday.
Assignment Policies
- How to submit your assignments: all assignments should be submitted to D2L dropbox.
- Assignment due dates and late policy: the due date/time for each assignment is specified in the class schedule in D2L. Late assignments must be dropped in a dropbox labeled "late". Late penalties are assigned at the end of the term. To avoid late penalties, get approval from your instructor for an extension at least two days ahead of the due time. Late penalty is 5% deduction each late day. The first late day is counted as a late day. Assignments late for 5 days will not be marked.
Incompletes
The 1997-8 University of Arizona General Academic Manual, p.23 reads
The grade of I may be awarded only at the end of a semester, when all but a minor portion of the course work has been satisfactorily completed. The grade of I is not to be awarded when the student is expected to repeat the course; in such a case the grade of E must be assigned. Students should make arrangements with the instructor to receive an incompete grade before the end of the semester ...
If the incomplete is not removed by the instructor within one year the I grade will revert to a failing grade.
Grade Breakdown:
Assignment 1: 40%
Assignment 2: 45%
Participation: 15%
Grade Assignment:
A=90+ (Superior work)
B=80-89 (Very Good)
C=70-79 (Marginally
satisfactory)
F=0-69 (Failed)
Instructor: Hong Cui Office
Contact: D2L email or UA email hongcui@email.arizona.edu. Must include [IRLS630] on email subject line. My email filter may remove your email if you don't.
