from data storage to information management

From data storage to information management

Adventures in -ication

Who am I★ Managing Partner, Outerthought

★ www.outerthought.org

★ content- and knowledge management

★ Open Source CMS

★ www.daisycms.org

Topics

Organisation

Classification

Discovery

Organisation

The Database

Rule 1: The Information rule

All information in the database is to be represented in one and only one way, namely by values in column positions within rows of tables.

BigTable

★ Schema-free databases

★ Name-value pairs

★ Keys ➠ URIs

★ Relations ➠ HyperLinks

★ No SQL unfortunately?

★The era ofinformationrepositories

★ Storage of documents instead of records

★ Relations through hyperlinks

★ Dynamic or non-relational schemas

★ Weak, if any, typing

★ Focus on findability and storagability rather than on schema adherence

★ Shift from database to data modelling

★ Increasing importance of the domain model

★ Semi-structured information

★ Content- and information rather than website or document management

1. Domain Modelling

2. ‘External Classification’

Two challenges

Domain Modelling

★ wireframes★ navigation hierarchy★ landing pages★ lists of things★ which content will fit where

★ ‘UML’-like domain model★ content★ structure★ which content can be shown where

★ domain model

★ define and name entities, content parts and characteristics

★ define and establish relationships★ think about findability★ think about unit of manipulation★ think about access control

External Classification

Labelling

Classification

The Universal Taxonomy

Run!Run!Run!

★ the universal taxonomy fails

★ single-rootedness★ things appear in multiple locations★ omphaloskepsis: navel gazing

multi-labeling

tagging

taxonomies ➠ folksonomies

➠

➠

★ folksonomies

★ tags and optional tag bundles★ content- rather than

classification-driven★ user generated micro-content★ shown as tag clouds

★ user generated micro-content

★ represents a genuine value★ must be moderated★ history falsification★ spam (PR whoring, p0rn)

★ lower the doorstep★ no authentication required★ QA burden for content owner

Drip feeding

success factors★ volume★diversity★reward

impediments★ when a formal classification is

required★ expert communities★ classification ~ structure

★ when full-text searching is a viable alternative★ use tags to define weight in ranking

Discovery

★ the doom of simplicity

★ natural language processing

★ plurals

★ typos

★ abuse-prone

★ no upfront expectation management

★ upfront knowledge

★ managed expectations

★ principle of least astonishment

WILL BE

Facetted navigation

Facetted navigation

Facetted navigation

Facetted navigation

Conclusions

Organisation★ Always make a thorough judgment as to

where to store what

★ RDBMS for relational data

★ Repositories for documents/information

★ Integrate instead of standardization

Classification★ Rich metadata improves findability and (re)

usability

★ Somewhat-typed metadata

★ Tagging, folksonomies r k3wl, but

★ Business case needed

★ Don’t forget menial tasks

Discovery★ Premature feedback doesn’t exist

★ Classification can add influence ranking

★ K I Simple !

Case

CCGC★ aka: Lesson learnt in information design

★ Canadian Coast Guard College

★ Case: Management of Competency-based Training Material

Course

Course Unit 1 Course Unit 2

Course Unit 3

PerformanceObjective

Terminal Objective

EnablingObjective

EnablingObjective

EnablingObjective

EnablingObjective

Competency Table

Competency Area

General Competency

General Competency

Specific Competency

Specific Competency

Specific Competency

Sub-Competency

Sub-Competency

Sub-Competency

Sub-Competency

Sub-Competency

Sub-Competency

Sub-Competency

Sub-Competency

Sub-Competency

Sub-Competency

Sub-Competency

Sub-Competency

Sub-Competency

Specific Competency

Specific Competency

Course Unit 1 Course Unit 2

Course Unit 3

Competency Area

PerformanceObjective

General Competency Terminal

Objective

Specific Competency

EnablingObjective

EnablingObjective

EnablingObjective

EnablingObjective

Sub-Competency

Learning Object

Competency Classification

Specific Competency

(Terminal Obj.)

General Competency(Perf. Obj.)

Competency Area

(Course Unit)

Enabling Objective / Sub-Competency

BodyPerformance Action Verb

Teaching Information

Overview

Aim

Trainer’s Notes

Learning Strategies

Exercises

Ressources

References

Evaluation

Performance Environment

curricullum

Description: daisy/html

General Competencies: link

Competency Area

Description: daisy/html

Specific Competencies: link

General Competency

Description: daisy/html

Specific Competency

Aim: daisy/html

Trainer's Notes: daisy/html

References: daisy/html

Performance Standards: daisy/html

Evaluation Standards: daisy/html

- Competence Hierarchy: link

- Performance Action Verb: string

- Performance Environment: string

+ Prerequisites: link

+ Student Notes: link

+ Exercises: link

+ Resources: string (selection)

- DeliveryTime: long (minutes)

- DeliveryMethod: string (selection)

Learning Object

competency listing

(query)

competency table

course rendition

Description: daisy/html

Teacher info: daisy/html

Student info: daisy/html

- Competence Hierarchy: link

- DeliveryTime: long (minutes)

- DeliveryMethod: string (selection)

+ Resources: string (selection)

Type?

Exercise

Course Training Standard: daisy/html

Course Structure: list of LO's

n/a

Internal Course

com

pete

nce h

iera

rchy

CompetencyTable: list of LO's

n/a

Competency Table

Content: daisy/html

+ Competence Hierarchy: link

Student Note

Description: daisy/html

n/a

External Course

All parts required for bookpublishing

Metadata?

Rendition

Description: daisy/html

+ Courses: link

Curricullum

use

docu

men

ts t

o m

odel

cla

ssifi

catio

n hi

erar

chy

CCGC★ Problem

★ 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 = 10.000★ 20 x 20 x 20 x 20 = 160.000★ ...

CCGC★ Solution

★ Hierarchical Structure Widget

★ Store hierarchy in XML document

★ Provide authoring and editing widget for hierarchy

CCGC

CCGC

CCGC★ Lessons learnt

★ think critically about metadata

★ the system might need adaptation (or the data)

★ focus on domain model rather than on the ‘website’

Q & AThank you!

stevenn@outerthougth.org