INFORMATION RETRIEVAL
17:610:513
Spring 2000
N.J. Belkin
SYNOPSIS
Aims of the course
The aims of this course are
that the students gain an understanding of:
-
the genesis and varieties of information retrieval situations;
-
the variety of information retrieval models and techniques;
-
design principles for information retrieval systems;
-
methods for implementing information retrieval systems;
-
characteristics of operational and experimental information
retrieval systems;
-
methods and principles for the evaluation of information
retrieval systems.
Course conduct
Each meeting day, there will
be a lecture on the scheduled topic, with readings assigned for that topic.
Students are expected to participate in discussion on that topic, based
on the readings. In order to structure the discussion, students will be
expected to submit notes on the readings. In addition to the lectures and
discussion, there will be periodic lab sessions, held during the class
period. There will also be periodic exercises with information retrieval
systems outside of class time.
Assignments
There are three types of assignments
for this course:
-
Notes on the readings. These will be in either outline or
essay form, and are intended to structure and guide the discussion of the
readings for each day. They will not be longer than two pages, and will
focus on questions, problems and other issues arising from the readings,
which the student wishes to discuss. The should, in general, be critical
and evaluative.
-
Two to five-page reports on practical exercises with information
retrieval systems. There will be several such exercises, done outside of
class time.
-
A final project, which can take various forms, for instance:
a detailed description and critique of some operational information retrieval
system(s);an evaluative survey of methods (operational and experimental)
for implementing some process associated with information retrieval;
-
a paper discussing changes taking place (or likely to occur)
in operational information retrieval systems within the next five years,
with specific reference to factors leading to such changes, and their likely
effects;
-
constructing and documenting (a significant part of) an information
retrieval system, and evaluating it by demonstration (this could be a group
project).
Assessment
Notes on the readings: 25%;
Practical exercises: 25%; Final project: 50%.