Shifting contexts: relating the user, search and system in teaching information retrieval

‘Shifting Contexts’ explores the benefits that are to be had, with respect to teaching and learning in IR, in delivering a curriculum based on the analysis of the retrieval system in the context of the user perspective of searching for information. Three user contexts are identified, based on students’ experience and provide a motivation to relate IR practice and principles in learning how to search, build and/or design a search and retrieval system and its interface. The complementary perspectives enable insight to be gained into our use and interactions with IR systems in characterising search, as well as in the explanations of the techniques and technologies for IR. The goal is to provide an education in the practice of IR and in the concepts and principles that underpin the discipline