Standard Metadata Elements

The APeP Metadata Standard distinguishes between System Metadata and Content Metadata. 

System Metadata is described as that which is recorded and available via the Content Management System. System Metadata elements that are recorded for all content items in the CMS are Date Created, Date Modified, Date Issued, Creator, Publisher (recorded as approver ID and as a position on the footer of each page), and Identifier.

Content Metadata is described as that which is recorded by content authors with the purpose of making the content searchable.

This standard focuses on specifying the Content Metadata that is used within the CMS - it does not describe storage standards or schema. For more information about metadata and the creation of this standard see About Metadata and Standards and/or Metadata Focus Group.

Standard Content Metadata

For ease of use, the CMS provides two standard element sets - Administrative and Academic.  It is also possible to specify a unique element set at a local business area level if neither standard is suitable.  Such a specification is done during the requirements analysis stage of each project.

For a brief description of each element read the element summary below. For a more detailed description click on an element name.

Unused Metadata

The following elements have previously been specified as part of the standard, but are no longer used for various reasons, including:

• the element is already recorded via the system
• the element was not deemed relevant to current ANU publications
• the element was difficult to implement technically

Annotation: Comments on the use of the content.

Availability: How the resource can be obtained or contact information. The Availability element is primarily used for non-electronic resources to provide information on how consumers may obtain physical access to the resource.

Contributor: The name of a person or organisation that has played an important but secondary role in creating the content.

Difficulty: How hard it is to work with or through this learning object for the typical intended audience.

Duration: How long the content takes to work through (for learning objects). Note that the duration of an audio or video file is specified under Format.Extent.

Function: The business function to which the content relates.

Language: The language of the content.

Mandate: A specific legal instrument which requires the resource to be created or provided.

Relation: Identification of other content that is related to the current content, and the type of relationship.

Requirement: The technical capabilities necessary for using the content.

Semantic Density: The degree of conciseness of a learning object.

Status: The completion status or condition of the content, for example Draft in Progress.

Structure: Underlying organisational structure of the content.

Version: The edition of this content. Used for content with Version numbers or similar numerical identification.