MBIB4230 Information Retrieval Course description

This course deals with theories, methods and models for constructing, using and evaluating automatic information retrieval systems. This includes input from linguistics, mathematics, statistics and information theory.

• statistic and semantic based methods for document description and retrieval
• automatic classification and categorization
• search behaviour and how to construct systems for real users
• new methods/mediums/arenas for information retrieval, such as image and multimedia retrieval, retrieval of multilingual material etc.

The language of the course is English when there are foreign exchange students present.

The form of assessment is an individual portfolio, consisting of the three written work requirements as described above, in further developed versions. An overall grade is given. 

Font and font size: Arial/Calibri 12 points. Line spacing: 1.5.

In case of fail, all parts of the portfolio must be handed in again. Students awarded a fail grade are given one opportunity to submit an improved version of the portfolio for assessment

None

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has

• advanced knowledge of the theoretical fundaments for a variety of models for automatic information retrieval, and how the models can be realized with various algorithms
• advanced knowledge of user oriented views on information retrieval, both cognitive and social views, and their consequences for user interface, relevance judgements and interactivity in the retrieval process
• advanced knowledge of linked data and other semantic tools used to structure and make data available, and how to utilize such data
• thoroughly knowledge of practical experiments for evaluating information retrieval systems and models
• advanced knowledge of computational linguistics for analyzing grammar and semantics, and how this can be used in automatic information retrieval system

Skills

The student can

• participate in, and have practical experience with the development and implementing of user friendly information retrieval systems and modules
• evaluate such systems in order to obtain and use them

General competene

The student is able to

• give an account of different subdomains that use Information retrieval theories and methods
• independently design, plan, and conduct different types of algorithmic IR related studies, hereunder the choice of appropriate methods and metrics

Lectures, tasks and seminars. This includes presentation of a term paper, made individually or in groups, for discussion. Teaching will be in English when there are foreign exchange students present.

The following coursework requirements must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

1. Either a report on a laboratory assignment or an essay on one or more of the course subtopics, written either individually or in groups of 2-3 students, to be submitted at the end of the course. Written individually, the essay will have a scope of 15 pages, written in group the scope will be 20 pages. For a laboratory assignment the scope will be approx. 10 pages written individually, and approx. 12 pages written in a group. The topic of the assignment is chosen in cooperation with a course teacher.
2. Presentation of the term-paper/laboratory report at the end of the course. Each student/group uploads a draft of the assignments text. Each student is assigned an opposition of one of the other students' assignments' drafts. Each presentation is assigned 20 minutes that include the presentation of the assignment (up to 10 minutes), a comment by the opponent (up to 5 minutes) and any questions from the audience (up to 5 minutes). Students are given a week to improve their paper based on the comments.  In case restrictions prohibit physical attendance, the oral opposition is replaced by an opposition note of 1-2 pages.

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline in order for the student to take the exam. If one or more coursework requirements have not been approved, the student will be given the opportunity to submit an improved version once by the given deadline.

The sociology of literature is mainly concerned with two aspects of literature and society: One the one hand, the historical, material and cultural conditions of literature, and the significance of these conditions for how literature is produced, disseminated, read and evaluated. On the other hand, sociology of literature also explores how social structures appear in literature. Important topics in the course are dynamics in the literary public sphere and in reading habits, changes in the book market, quality assessment and canon formation, as well as literature and library policy. The course also discusses theories, models and methods used in literary sociological analyzes and research.

The language of the course is Norwegian.

None.

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence

Knowledge

The student

• has a broad historical understanding of the sociology of literature 
• insight in the theories and methods used to research the sociology of literature
• knowledge of the main constituents of the literary public sphere, and of Norwegian cultural and library politics
• knowledge of different institutions and reader groups' perspectives on the assessment of literary quality

Skills

The student

• can assume an analytical perspective on the rapidly changing book- and media market
• can conduct qualitative and quantitative studies on topics concerning sociology of literature  
• can write literary critique
• can assess the quality of fictional and non-fictional texts, as well as their relevance to different groups of readers

General competence

Candidates are able to

• write articles and reviews
• assume an analytical perspective on quality discussions

The course is organised as a series of three sessions over three days. The teaching methods are seminars, lectures, group work and student presentations. Students will work individually with assignments of their own choice within the genres opinion pieces, articles and literary criticism.

Grade scale A-F

The following coursework requirements must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

1. An article (approx. 20,000 characters without spaces)
2. A longer debate post or newspaper article (approx. 4,000 characters without spaces)
3. A literature review (approx. 3,000 characters without spaces).
4. One of the course assessments (the student chooses which one) is to be presented and discussed at the last meeting. Attendance is mandatory at this gathering. 

All written coursework must be written in Arial / Calibri 12 point line spacing 1.5. In addition, all the work must have a short note outlining the intended publication channel and target group.

All submitted courseworks receive feedback.

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline in order for the student to take the exam. If one or more coursework requirements have not been approved, the student will be given the opportunity to submit an improved version twice by the given deadline.