Home | Metadata
Last updated 7 September 2007
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Metadata may best be described as 'data about data'. A metadata record consists of a set of elements (sometimes called fields or attributes) which describe different parts of a resource. For example, a metadata record describing a book may contain author, title and publisher elements.
One of the best examples of metadata is the library catalogue which contains information (metadata) about publications (data). Metadata placed in electronic documents on the Web provides the same basic information except that it is not visible to the viewer unless he looks at it in the document source found under the View option.
Metadata is used to describe, manage and catalogue resources.
Metadata imbedded in a document can add value to the page by including extra information that may not be found in the text, i.e. subject headings, levels within the curriculum framework, etc. This information whilst not visible to the user is visible to many search engines used for locating information on the Internet.
Metadata does not have to be imbedded within the document it describes, in order for it to be located; it can be stored in a database. Many subject specific databases have been established to allow easier access to materials that may be of value. Examples of such educational databases include:
There are many different types of metadata currently in use. Most of these are based on the Dublin Core (DC) system with additional elements and qualifiers etc added as the need has arisen. When adding metadata you are not just limited to one type but may use several different element sets on the one document.
The Department's metadata application profile is based on IMS LOM. It is currently being implemented in the Schools Online Curriculum Services.
CMIS Cataloguing takes an active role in the application of metadata by:
- Participating in the development and application of metadata standards to DET electronic publications.
- Participating in the development of standards and processes to apply metadata elements to online curriculum content to facilitate access.
- Creating metadata files for online content
Just like an electronic library catalogue uses MARC to enable the computer to identify the individual parts of the bibliographic record, metadata uses a standard to enable the bits of data about a webpage to be identified. This standard is called Dublin Core (DC).
DC consists of a set of 15 elements that are used to describe the data.
Some of these elements can be further qualified by using element refinements, which make the meaning of an element narrower or more specific, and/or, encoding schemes, that aid in the interpretation of an element value. For example, the element DC.Title can be used with the element refinement Alternative to enable more than one title to be incorporated into the data. An example of an encoding scheme used with DC.Subject is SCISSHL, just like on the library catalogue records found on SCISWeb
More information on the DC element set can be found at:
The Education Network Australia (EdNA) metadata standard comprises a set of guiding principles and a set of elements. These elements include the 15 Dublin Core (DC) elements (some with EdNA qualifiers) and EdNA elements. The EdNA elements extend the scope of description that can be included in a metadata record with information that has particular educational relevance. Some of the EdNA elements are specifically for the administration of EdNA Online.
These EdNA elements are:
For more information on the EdNA Metadata Standard see
Australian governments have endorsed the use of metadata to facilitate discovery of government information and services across all levels: local, state, and federal. The Australian Government Locator Service (AGLS) Metadata Set is the standard set of metadata elements for describing Australian government resources. All agencies are encouraged to use the AGLS standard, as it enables them to readily interact with other similar agencies and coordinate resources across government.
The AGLS Metadata set consists of nineteen elements and incorporates the use of element refinements and encoding schemes. It also has an additional element qualifier called value components. These are used to specify additional information about the element and are intrinsic to the element value rather than the resource itself. They are more flexible and can be made up by individual agencies as required. For example when using the element AGLS.Creator you can further qualify the data by using such things as: contact=, personalName=, email=, etc.
More information on the AGLS Metadata Set can be found at
The growth of the Internet and the World Wide Web is transforming teaching and learning at all levels of education, in the workplace, and at home. IMS Global Learning Consortium, Inc. (IMS) is developing and promoting open specifications for facilitating online distributed learning activities such as locating and using educational content, tracking learner progress, reporting learner performance, and exchanging student records between administrative systems.
More information on IMS Global Learning Consortium, Inc. can be found at
The purpose of The Le@rning Federation Metadata Application Profile is to support the access, search, selection, use, trade and management of Learning Objects. In particular, the metadata described in this application profile supports:
- management of files and Learning Objects;
- description of the educational purpose and value of Learning Objects;
- technical interoperability between information systems using Learning Objects;
- management of the digital rights associated with Learning Objects;
- inclusive access to Learning Objects.
The metadata includes elements for describing:
- the object’s curriculum topic;
- the potential learning outcomes supported by the object,
- teaching methods for presenting the material,
- the intended audience for the object.
More information on The Le@rning Federation Metadata Application Profile can be found at
