Welcome to the
Metadata User Guide
for the PBS Digital Learning Library

 

Current Version of PBS DLL Metadata is 1.2

 

 

What is the Metadata User Guide
for the PBS DLL?

The Metadata User Guide for the PBS Digital Learning Library (PBS DLL) documents the project's own metadata dictionary at introductory, overview, and element-specific levels. Each metadata descriptor is defined and includes lists of terms to use when "controlled vocabularies" are warranted. Usage Guidelines are also noted as best practices for describing media items. Examples of completed, full metadata records are provided for Video, Audio, Image, Document, Interactive, and Groups of assets. As needed, mappings to other metadata standards are documented. The PBS DLL Metadata XSD (XML Schema Definition) is also available for download.

What is the PBS Digital
Learning Library?

The PBS Digital Learning Library (DLL) is a digital media repository of public media content. It houses and distributes a comprehensive range of learning objects designed specifically for classroom use and delivered to teachers exclusively through local PBS stations. These learning objects include video, audio, images, games, interactives, and documents.

As part of an ongoing, multi-year research initiative to identify and provide effective digital media in the classroom, PBS is aggregating its educational content to make it more accessible and practical for classroom use. With the support of content development grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the DLL will be comprised of high-quality multimedia resources from PBS member stations and award-winning PBS broadcast programs, all aligned to national and local education standards and tagged for easy searching. Video resources from 30- and 60-minute television programs are edited into short segments or chapters that are more classroom-friendly and meet the needs of teachers and students in a 21st-century learning environment.

What is the Purpose of this Website?

This website, the PBS DLL Metadata User Guide, is a companion to the main PBS Digital Learning Library On-Board project site. Where the On-Board site focuses on participation in the project and content contributions, this Metadata User Guide documents the metadata dictionary developed for the PBS DLL. This documentation is designed to be the sole source for the metadata element definitions and the guidelines for their proper usage by content contributors to the PBS Digital Learning Library.

What will you Find in the Metadata User Guide?

The Metadata User Guide provides both introductory and detailed information about PBS DLL Metadata. All pages are accessed by using the Table of Contents to the left as your main site navigation. The documentation is divided into these pages...

• ABOUT METADATA
  • Introduction to Metadata
    • About the PBS DLL Metadata
    • FAQs on Metadata in general
    • Defining Elements: Attributes Used in our definitions
• VIEW THE METADATA ELEMENTS
  • Overviews of All Elements
    • All-In-One Definitions Document: All element definitions as an online & downloadable document
    • Diagram View of the Elements
      (with links to individual element definitions)
    • Alphabetical Listing of the Elements
      (with links to individual element definitions)
    • Elements Grouped by Obligation to Use: Mandatory; Optional; Provided by PBS
      (with links to individual element definitions)
    • Elements Grouped by Related Categories: Logical groupings of elements
      (with links to individual element definitions)
  • Individual Element Definitions
    • Select a Specific Element to View itsFull Definition & Guidelines for Usage
  • Samples of Full Metadata Records
    • Video Assets
    • Audio Assets
    • Image Assets
    • Document Assets
    • Interactive Assets
    • Group Assets (multiple, related Video, Audio, Image, Document & Interactive media items)
  • Mappings to Other Metadata Standards
    • Index and Documentation for Various Mappings (including PBCore, Dublin Core, and others as needed)
  • Exchanging Metadata
    • Download and use the PBS DLL Metadata XSD: XML Schema Definition exchange document
    • About the OAI: Open Archives Initiative and metadata harvesting
  • Metadata Schema Changes
    • Version Control & Change Orders (ongoing notifications and documentation of changes made to the PBS Digital Learning Library Metadata Elements and Schema over time)