URDRS supports course-based research, prompting us-
ers to input information on class/course codes and even
specific course assignments. Ranked results are provided
in a manner that facilitates subsequent access to the
recommended databases.
Applications
This invention is generally useful for undergraduate
students to conduct course-based research. URDRS can
be integrated into websites, catalog, course management
systems and other web-accessible resources. Campus
librarians would save significant time by dealing less with
repetitive reference, instruction, development of online
tutorials and website tinkering.
z
Students can effectively
retrieve broad and
relevant information by
simply querying the
course information
z
Students learn to
expand their basic
information literacy
z
Internet-accessible,
scalable and can be
updated and modified
easily
z
Instructors and
librarians will be
able to add content
and limits
26 | UC MERCED RESEARCH AND ENTERPRISE
Undergraduate Database Research
Recommendation System
Background
Research projects conducted by undergraduate students are frequently
driven by the need to fulfill the requirements of specific assignments
within the framework of formal course curricula. Unlike knowl-
edge-based systems, typical library information retrieval systems are
not designed to recommend broad publication databases in response to
student queries. Moreover, undergraduate students are often unfamiliar
with the expert vocabulary of the subjects they are researching or the or-
ganization of scholarly literature. It is a challenge for them to effectively
retrieve the most relevant scholarly information.
Description
UC Merced researchers
David Noelle
and
Donald Barclay
have
developed an easy-to-use, Internet-based software tool, Undergradu-
ate Research Database Recommendation System (URDRS), that uses
a locally managed knowledge base, coupled with machine learning
methods, to increase the success of students as they attempt to access
the relevant information needed to complete scholarly research projects
related to their coursework.
