MIT OpenCourseWare Identifier Strategy

MIT OpenCourseWare requires persistent, unique, unambiguous names for its Contributors, Courses, Sections, and Resources.   It refers to these names as identifiers.  This document clarifies the MIT OpenCourseWare strategy for identifier assignment and use.

Identifier Requirements

1. Once assigned an identifier should not change.
2. Two objects should not share the same identifier.
3. The identifier should allow for the clear

Identifier Usage

MIT OpenCourseWare assigns identifiers for use within its own publications.  These identifiers may be used by individuals, organizations, or projects external to MIT OpenCourseWare.  MIT OpenCourseWare does not assume responsibility for supporting these externals uses, or for establishing or maintaining identifiers for any objects outside of MIT OpenCourseWare publications.  For example, MIT OpenCourseWare will establish identifiers for its Contributors, many of which are MIT Faculty.  This does not mean that MIT OpenCourseWare maintains identifiers on behalf of the Institute for every MIT faculty or community member.

Don't Share Names

1. Names are not Titles
        Course, Section, and Resource Titles are not unique.
2. Names are not Personal Names
        Personal N

Follow Linked Data Principles

See: http://www.w3.org/DesignIssues/LinkedData.html

1. Use URIs
2. Use HTTP URIs so that people can look up those names
3. When someone looks up a URI, provide useful information, using the standards (RDF, SPARQL) 
4. Include links to other URIs. so that they can discover more things.

How to Fashion URIs

There will be two methods for assigning URIs.  One for Courses, Sections, and Resources.  A second method for Contributors.

We currently make XML metadata files for Courses, Sections, and some Resources available to the public.  For example, see (http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Electrical-Engineering-and-Computer-Science/6-005Fall-2008/)