Ideas4Content Page/Recommendations

Notes

The first question to ask when considering the application of any kind of metadata scheme like this is "why"? It seems that in our case the most obvious first answer should be to increase and facilitate the "discoverability" of resources within WikiEducator. To achieve this requires some kind of labelling/classification system to facilitate browsing of information, but the classifications used would need to be quite flexible to accomodate the various needs of the diverse and global community that is participating in the project. Because of this diversity no single vocabulary is likely to work. The MediaWiki system currently does not have a systematic way of adding metadata to materials, but it does have the quite powerful category system, which can be extended into adding subcategories and the like (see: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Categories). This system is perhaps perfectly suited to our needs because it can establish a set of subjects at the outset but can also grow organically as users add materials that require classification outside of the initial set. My recommendation would be for us to select a limited set of labels that can capture a broad range of content and "seed" the system then use the subcategory options to narrow down the focus. brent 23:19, 30 December 2007 (CET)

Joint Academic Coding of Subjects (JACS)

Joint Academic Coding of Subjects (JACS) is the system used by UK institutions to identify the subject matter of programmes and modules.

• Medicine and Dentistry
• Subjects allied to Medicine
• Biological Sciences
• Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture and related subjects
• Physical Sciences
• Mathematical and Computer Sciences
• Engineering
• Technologies
• Architecture, Building and Planning
• Social studies
• Law
• Business and Administrative studies
• Mass Communications and Documentation
• Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
• European Languages, Literature and related subjects
• Eastern, Asiatic, African, American and Australasian Languages, Literature and related subjects
• Historical and Philosophical studies
• Creative Arts and Design
• Education

See: Joint Academic Classification of Subjects

Classification of Instructional Programs

originally developed by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

• Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences.
• Agricultural Sciences.
• Natural Resources and Conservation.
• Architecture and Related Services.
• Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies.
• Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs.
• Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services.
• Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services.
• Personal and Culinary Services.
• Education.
• Engineering.
• Engineering Technologies/Technicians.
• Foreign languages, literatures, and Linguistics.
• Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences.
• Legal Professions and Studies.
• English Language and Literature/Letters.
• Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
• Library Science.
• Biological and Biomedical Sciences.
• Mathematics and Statistics.
• Military Technologies.
• Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
• Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies.
• Philosophy and Religious Studies.
• Theology and Religious Vocations.
• Physical Sciences.
• Science Technologies/Technicians.
• Psychology.
• Security and Protective Services.
• Public Administration and Social Service Professions.
• Social Sciences.
• Construction Trades.
• Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians.
• Precision Production.
• Transportation and Materials Moving.
• Visual and Performing Arts.
• Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences.
• Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services.
• History
• Residency Programs.
• Technology Education/Industrial Arts.
• Basic Skills.
• Health-related Knowledge and Skills.
• Interpersonal and Social Skills.
• Leisure and Recreational Activities.
• Personal Awareness and Self-Improvement.
• High School/Secondary Diplomas and Certificates.