INFSCI 2140 - Information Storage and Retrieval
(Summer 2001, CRN 20727)
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Course Objectives
- to understand the dimensions of the information retrieval "problem";
- to understand the functions of an information retrieval system;
- to analyse the components of an information retrieval system;
- to consider the factors which optimize the information retrieval process;
- to examine current issues in information retrieval
Upon satisfactory completion of this course, students will:
- learn history of information retrieval research and development of information retrieval systems
- understand and be able to explain core concepts and terms of information retrieval (see list of concepts and terms assocoated with lectures)
- understand and be able to explain different retrieval models and basic algorithms involved in processing and retrieval of information
- be able to identify the essential components and functions of an information retrieval system
- be able to evaluate existing information retrieval systems and suggest how the systems can be improved
- be able to apply theories to effectively solve information retrieval problems in real world situations
- be able to design information retrieval systems using principles and techniques learned in class
Assessment and Grading
Components of the Final Grade
Course assessment includes some assignments that will be offered through the course, two paper projects, a midterm exam, and a final (group) project.
You final grade has three components: work over the duration of the course, midterm exam grade, and final project grade.
Each of these components will be evaluated separately using 100pt extended Letter Grade scale (0-20 is F range, 20-40 is D range, 40-60 is C range, 60-80 is B range and
80-100 is A range). After that the final grade will be calculated as 40% course + 30% midterm + 30% final project.
Grade for the work over the duration of the course is a sum of your assignment grades, quiz grades, paper project grades,
and activity points. Your progress will be measured as a percentage of the max possible points:
(assessment_points + quiz_points + activity_points)/(max_assessment_points + max_quiz_points) * 100%. Using this formula you can always check
where you are standing. Score < 50% corresponds to F, 50-62.5 is D range, 65.5-75 is C range, 75-87.5 is B range, and 87.5-100 is A range.
The formula to convert this score to 100pt extended Letter Grade scale is (X-37.5)/12.5*20.
Activity Points
You can earn bonus "activity points" for several things such as asking a good question in class or in a discussion forum, providing a helpful answer in a discussion forum,
helping during the lecture, finding errors in slides and examples. Activity points will be added to your assessment/quiz results.
Submitting and Naming
All assignments has to be submitted in paper form on the due date before or after the lecture.
In addition, the electronic version of the assigment has to be submitted electronically using CourseInfo systems at any time by or on the due date (your submissions are time stamped).
Naming conditions for electronic submissions are strict.
The link should be named assignment_X where X is assignment number.
You will lose 1/2 point for every misnamed link.
All submitted work should bear the number of the assignment/quiz and the author's name in printed form.
You will lose 1/2 point for every solution that lacks this data.
By submitting work under your name, you are indicating that you
have completed the assignment.
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
You are expected to be fully aware of your responsibility
to maintain a high quality of integrity in all of your work.
All work must be your own, unless collaboration is specifically and explicitly permitted as in the course group project.
Any unauthorized collaboration or copying will at minimum result in no credit for the affected
assignment and may be subject to further action under the University
Guidelines for Academic Integrity. You are expected to have read and understood these Guidelines.
A document discussing these guidelines was included in your orientation materials.
Attendance
Class attendance, while not mandatory, is required if you want to succeed in this course. While about 3/4 of the
material covered by the lectures could be found in the Course Book, some material is not sufficiently covered by the book.
Finally, most of the lectures include demonstrations and videos. If you have missed the lecture, make sure you have a copy
of the slides. Spare copies can be picked up from a folder near the instructor's office or printed from the Web.
Late Submissions and Resubmissions
The due date for assignments is strict. For extreme circumstances you have 5 late days to use at your discretion (i.e. you may use them on a single assignment,
or distribute them over several assignments). Outside of this limit late assignments will not be considered.
Make-ups
If you miss a quiz or and assignment, you will receive a zero.
There will be no make-up quizzes or assignments. Missed exams can be made up in cases of
extreme circumstances.
Office Hours
Office hours are an opportunity for you to clarify details you may
have missed in class or to resolve a serious problem you have encountered when working on an assignment.
They are not a place to get a "second run" of the lecture.
Special Considerations
If you have a disability that requires special testing accommodations or other classroom modifications, please, notify both the instructor and
Disability Resources and Services by the second week of the term. You may be asked to provide documentation of your disability to determine the appropriateness of
accommodations.
To notify Disability Resources and Services, call 64807890 (voice or TDD) to schedule and appointment. The office is located in the William Pitt Union, Room 216,
Course Schedule
| Tuesday May 15 | Lecture 1 |
| Thursday May 17 | Lecture 2 |
| Tuesday May 22 | Self-study, no class meeting |
| Thursday May 24 | Lecture 3 |
| Tuesday May 29 | Lecture 4 |
| Thursday May 31 | Lecture 5 |
| Tuesday June 5 | Lecture 6, Midterm exam |
| Thursday June 7 | Lecture 7 |
| Tuesday June 12 | Lecture 8 |
| Thursday June 14 | Lecture 9 |
| Tuesday June 19 | Lecture 10 |
| Thursday June 21 | Lecture 11, Project presentations |
Copyright © 2001 Peter Brusilovsky
