Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 Hours. |
| Practical | 5 Hours. |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Assessment of visual information seeking systems 3000 words | 60% |
| Semester Assessment | Reflect on the value of visualisation for different audiences. (2000 words). | 40% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Resubmission of failed coursework |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
* Demonstrate an understanding of a variety of different Visualisation techniques in the context of information retrieval
* Evaluate applications for visualisation techniques in IR/IS.
* Assess the advantages and disadvantages of these methods for users and information suppliers.
* Evaluate the effect of use individual differences and learning styles on the the value and usability of visualisation in IR/IS systems
*Explain the basic methods used in the creation of visual information retrieval systems
*Evaluate the practical issues of different types of visualisation method.
Brief description
To visualize: "to form a mental vision, image, or picture of (something not visible or present to sight, or of an abstraction); to make visible to the mind or imagination"[The Oxford English Dictionary, 1989]. At last technology is offering some practical opportunities to allow realtime information retrieval to use visual cues as a presentation method. This module aims to introduce the concept of visualisation in information retrieval and to enable students to identify visual IR systems and methods, to assess the applications of visualisation in IR and other fields, to relate this to theory, research and practice.
Content
2. Identify applications of visualisation and examples of current implementations. Including the uses of visualisation as a tool for presenting Text, WWW results, and other data.
3. Navigating and Interacting with visual information systems, including advantages and disadvantages of Visualisation for IR/IS.
4. Consideration of the influence of learning and cognitive styles upon effectiveness of these systems.
5. Practical issues in visualisation: animation, quality, technologies, access, training etc.
6. Evaluating systems and methods.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Incidental to the module, but topics will introduce areas of data manipulation and algorithms. |
| Communication | Presentation by written formal report. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Self reflection will be encouraged as part of the process of understanding the value of visual IR/IS systems. |
| Information Technology | IT and Software skills are at the heart of developing knowledge in this field. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Not explicitly, though awareness of the issues |
| Problem solving | Related to development of understanding and relation of this to detailed explanation of visualisation techniques |
| Research skills | Preparation for coursework will involve basic information gathering techniques and summative skills |
| Subject Specific Skills | Theory, software and research specific knowledge will be developed. |
| Team work | Some element of team work within practicals may be included. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6