Week Five in Accessing Knowledge!

28/3/08

Overview of Lecture Five
This weeks lecture was all about search engines. Search tools fall into two main categories; Search engines and Directories.

• A search engine is a web-based application that crawls the internet, creating indices of websites.
• Some examples of a search engine are Google, Yahoo, AltaVista, AlltheWeb.
• The problem with search engines is that they return too many results and there are limited results that are of relevence.
• Types of queries to do with search engines are keyword, phrase, boolean, advanced/engine features.
• Some search tips when using search engines are: use several search tools, read the search tips or help information at each search engine, use several words for keyword searches, guess a location, select the wheat from the chaff by thinking about what you want, back up to find out where you are and use advanced search functions to narrow down search.
• Directories are human-edited.
• Directories are webpages submitted directories and are reviewed by manual submission.
• Some examples of directories are: DMOZ, Google directory, Yahoo directory, Look smart, About.
  
  Tutorial Activities
  
• The first thing we did for weeks five tutorial, was open up our Blogger page and showed Gary, what we had completed so far.
• After we had shown our Bloggers we then carried on with weeks 5 tutorial activities.

Activity One:

• For activity one, we had to go into the Monash University website and list four strategies that would help structure a good search. (http://www.monash.com/spidap.html)

1. Read the search tips or help information at each search engine.
2. For keyword searches, use minimal words.
3. Use many search engines, not just one- you will get a greater variety.
4. Select the appropriate search type, in many cases you will find relevant information in directories rather than search engines.

Activity Two:

• For activity two we had to go complete a history trivia quiz.
• We had to do this quiz by researching the answers using search engines as the questions came up.
  
  
• After we had completed this quiz we had to printscreen our results. Which is shown below.
  

Activity Three:

Strategies used to locate quiz answers/summary:

• I mostly used Google to find the quiz answers, though i also used dogpile and ask Jeeves.
• I only put in a keyword or a phrase and they were accurate in finding me a result.
• Most of the time, the first link on the search engine would have the right answer.
• When i struggled finding an answer, i would either change search engines or reword it, this usually helped.

Reading Summary:

• Web Search Strategies: This reading follows the exact same structure as the lecture. It includes all the same information but it goes more into depth.
• Search Engine Watch: This page provides a guide to key material within Search Engine Watch, resources across the web and articles written about searching better.
• The History of the Internet: This talks about the beginning of search engines, how we find information on the net, and key pointers of directories, search engines, databases and library catalogues.

Week Four in Accessing Knowledge!

21/3/08

Overview of week fours Lecture

Week Four in Accessing Knowledge was required to be completed at home, as there was no school on good friday. The lecture slides and workshop instructions were put up on blackboard for us to complete and not fall behind.

The lecture for this week was all about the web, and the net. It explained the difference between the two, and the importance of each. Though the main focus of the lecture was 'Using the WWW'. On the Internet you would find computers, and the connections are cables between computers. Whereas on the web you would find documents and other information, and the connections are hypertext links. The web is defined as a universe of accessible information stored on computers throughout the world. The information is available through a gigantic network called the Internet. The lecture explained about the Domain Name System Conventions (for example org, com, gov, net). and we were also told about the sorts of web browsers found on the Internet and common interface shortcuts (eg. Ctrl+S=Save, Ctrl+D=Bookmark).

Tutorial activities

Activity One

1) Visited the website http://www.haggishunt.scotsman.com/

Four clues that gives the site away as a spoof:
1) It is a commercial website (http://haggishunt.scotsman.com/)
2) Photos are irrelevant to the so called 'Haggis Hunt'
3) The animal Haggis is fictional
4) Has alot of irrelevant links.


Above is a similar picture as the previous one, only this one I have edited in paint before inserted into Blogger. It has been edited by showing the where-abouts of the spoofs on the site.

2) Visited the website http://www.molossia.org/

Four clues that gives the site away as a spoof:
1) should be gov not org.
2)There language is English though seems to be Middle Eastern
3) Its not an actual country (found in America)
4) Too many news articles for such a small nation


Above is a similar picture as the previous one, only this one I have edited in paint before inserted into Blogger. It has been edited by showing the where-abouts of the spoofs on the site.

Activity Two

• When I enter this website I expect to see a picture of Martin Luther King, and a history and background of MartinLuther King. I also expect to see his achievements and what he has completed in his life.

Activity Three

• My first impressions when I entered this site were that I expected to read and learn about his achievements and the history of the life he lived.Though as you read the articles more in depth they became more biased, and my first impressions became further from the truth.

Activity Four

• I feel that the website has changed from my first impression that I had on it, the website told the stories from one point of view, though in saying that the writer also noted his achievements, though sounding less herotic. After researching other websites of Martin Luther King, the website http://www.martinlutherking.org/ didnt seem to acknowledge and mention his tremendious achievements as much as other websites did.
  
  

Reading Summary:

Search Engine Watch Tutorials: The page provides a guide to key material within Search Engine Watch, resources across the web and articles written about searching better.

History of the WWW: This shows a little history of the world wide web from 1945 to 1995.3)

History of the World-wide web: This reading is also about the history off the web, but is much more comprehensive than the other reading. It talks about the development of the computer more in depth.

Week Three in Accessing Knowledge!

14/3/08

Week Three Lecture Overview

This weeks lecture focused on 'Online Libraries and Databases'. It told us the advantages and disadvantages of using both of these sources, and informed us what they were all about, and how they worked. Online libraries and Databases are similar but not the same, though they are both informative and usual.

• Online Libraries are convenient, broad, current, electronically formatted, and you can access it at anytime, anywhere.
• The types of online libraries include: online text repositories, electronic books, online journals, musicals and artwork.
• A limitation of using the online library is that in many cases only the catalogue is online.
• Another limitation is that you must reference correctly, in order to not misuse the copyright issues.
• Online databases are similar to online libraries, though they focus on data collection, search and browse facility and the distribution of data.
• Types of online databases include; people searches, e-mail directories, maps and atlases, government information and statistics, news and media and portals.
• The advantages of online databases are that they are comprehensive, current, kept up-to-date, browsable, searchable, 24/7 access and is in electronic format.
• The disadvantages include lots of advertising, difficult to navigate, info overload and you might have to pay.

TUTORIAL ACTIVITIES

For this I had to carry out my tutorial activities at home, as I could not make it to class due to having surgery. I did this by downloading the tutorial workshop for week 3 and completed the tasks that were assigned.

• The first thing I did was go on the internet and go into ECU Library Service. (http://www.ecu.edu.au/library/). I spent some time just browsing this website and exploring some of the functions it has available.
• After I had explored the site thoroughly and new my way around, I then searched for an online journal article on the 'economic impact of global warming on business'.
• Then went I had got my article I went back into the ECU Library site and searched for 10 useful functions/ search tips on this site, which are listed below:

1. ECU Library Catalogue: You can do a quick search or an assisted search. You would find anything from books to Cd's found at any ECU campus .
2. FindJournal Articles: An ECU research portal is MetaQuest or can be found INdoor (title/subject).
3. Reserve Collection Services: There is either eReserve Collection or Print Reserve Collection. Here students and staff can borrow books, CD-Roms etc.
4. Journal Title: You can search here for a journal as all journal titles held by ECU are available in the database.
5. Find Websites: Find them by topic, search engines or frequently used websites.
6. LibraryResources by Faculty: Provided by faculty library teams to meet specialized subject needs.
7. ECU Referencing Guide: Available online to help you with referencing, quoting etc.
8. Ask the library: If you have any queries about finding information or using databases you can ask a qualified librarian.
9. Learning to find information: You select an area that interests you and you learn more about it. These are helpful before you use the resources such as journal articles.
10. Student information: Here you would find quick links such as SIMO, news and important dates (eg. exams)

• After I got the above 10 useful functions I then visited the MEDline plus website (http://www.medlineplus.gov/). I browsed this website, becoming familiar with the MEDline plus site.
• I then used the built in search engine in this site and searched 'diabetes'. After i searched this I found a site that contained of usual information, which is shown below.

• When I had finished looking over the article, I clicked on the hyperlink text 'Interactive tutorials'. This was a site, that talked through the what you had searched. In my case I had clicked on Asthma, and then the site talked about asthma, and had a variety of usual links about Asthma on the left of the screen.

• I think the people that might use a service is the general public and people that want to know about their health without going to the doctors. They may use this site as a health precaution to stay healthy or they can not get to doctors becuase the doctors surgery is closed or the patient has to work.
• Another group of people that may use this service may be students that are studying an assignment, as it may come in handy to discover the information they need.
• The tutorials are well set out, there is a voice over, graphics and relevant information on the site.
• The interactive tutorials start with an introduction, followed by what the issue is, cause, effects, prevention, treatment and a summary. There are also questions that relate to the information provided.
• With this information provided whoever is using this site, would walk away from it knowing more about the issue they have researched and becoming more familiar and knowledgeable on the topic.

Reading Summary:

Finding what you want on the net: This website is about analyst Bill Thompson talking about searching the net, and trying to find what you want. The site mentions good searching without the search engine 'google' would not be easy. Also mentioned in the article is wide-ranging web indices and searching well.

Bare Bones: This site is about tips when searching the web. It gives out multiple guidlines on how to constuct an effective web search. One tip that is displayed and explained on the site is to use (+) plus and (-) minuses in front of the word to enforce their importance and inclusion and exclusion in searches.

Week Two in Accessing Knowledge!

7/3/08

Main points from Lecture Two:

This weeks lecture gave us an insight of how to use and develope our skills in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel programs. This lecture gave as the basic knowledge of how to use these two programs and showed us how they function. Helen Cripps showed us the vital and important knowledge required that were essential to complete tasks using these programs. This unit (UPCOOO4) will acquire us to use Word processing and presentation, Excel spreadsheet, E-mail, the Internet and other various applications to help us succeed in our Uni studies.

Main points from Lab Class Two:

• To start off this weeks lab class, we opened up Blackboard and had a quick overview of what this weeks lesson would contain of.



• We then opened up MS Word and browsed around the program, adapting to the new concept of word, as we are now using the new Windows Vista.



• Week Two's task was to complete an excercise in MS Word. This excercise was designed to extend and familiarise our understanding and knowledge.



• In Word we were required to do multiple tasks, such as:

Insert a Cover Page

Insert Page Break

Format Line Spacing

Create Headings

Insert Header/Footer

Insert Page number

How to format page number

Create a table of Contents

• We also got taught some keyboard shortcuts, that would make using word faster and alot easier.



• For example 'Control' + 'Backspace' which would delete the whole word that was behind the cursor. 'Control' + 'Shift' + 'Home', this would highlight the whole document. We learnt alot of different keyboard combitions such as the examples above.

Excel Spreadsheet

• After we completed all of these tasks above we then went into the internet, and listened to an audio presentation on how to use the new Vista Excel Spreadsheet.



• When the presentation was finished we then went into Excel and Gary went through an example of how Excel works, when you enter information into the spreadsheet.

Reading Summary

Microsoft Word: This website gives out helping tips and guidlines on how to use Microsoft word for APA tasks. It shows quick short cut ways in which you can do things. An example that is on this site is 'Back spacing and deleting'. It shows how to delete and backspace words in a time saving way. The site gives general tips for alot of different functions used in MS Word.

Week One in Accessing Knowledge!

Friday 29/02/2008.

Lecture Overview:
Today was the day we commenced our Accessing and Knowledge Lecture, and Lab classes. A brief summary of what went about within these classes is stated below:

• We started the day off with our Lecture class which was taken by Dr.Helen Cripps.



• The lecture involved: giving us the course introduction, providing information on life at university, learning outcomes, course structure, assessments and communication with lecturers and tutors for unit UPC0004, and other students.



• We were informed that is it essential that we attended all lectures and lab classes.



• There are 3 assessment tasks for this course, all these tasks must meet the required pass mark in order to complete the course.



• There are 6 modules in this course.



• We are currently working on Module One, which involves; Using Computers. Basic computing skills are required for achievement in this course, but as the course progresses new skills will be acquired.

Tutorial Activities:
In our Lab class this week we learnt how to do the following:

• Searched through the ECU website.



• Logged in to MyECU blackboard, then clicked the Accessing Knowledge link and looked through the course outline, structure and assesment tasks.



• Browsed through SIMO.



• Browsed and used our ECU student website.



• Set up my own blog (weblog) to complete assessment one at http://www.blogger.com/



• Registered at imageshack and set up my own image storage account. (http://www.imageshack.us/) to help me with assessment one.



• Created a screenshot using imagshack.

How to set up your own blog account.

• Go to http://www.blogger.com/ and click on create your own blog.



• Complete all the necessary details in the Create an account webpage and click continue when all filled in.



• You then have to Name your blog after it has been accepted and select a URL for your blog, then click continue.



• If your blog title and URL have been accepted then you can Choose a Template. Click continue once you have found a template you like.



• Once the system has created and confirmed your blog click on Start Posting.



• To post comment you simply click on the hyberlink 'New Post' then when you have finished writing your post click 'Publish Post'



• Click on View Blog and there will be your blog with the week one entry.

Image Shack evidence.

This is a print screen of imageshack http://www.imageshack.us/ and blogger http://www.blogger.com/

Reading Summary:

PC Lube and Tune: PC lube and tube is a service and is a convenience store in business since February 1994. The site covers the following information:

• An introduction to PC hardware
• Exception handling in java and c#
• The graphic user interface
• Computers, videos files and HDTV
• Technical perspective on the microsoft antitrust case
• The tragedy of microsoft and java
• Character encoding and web standards
• Microsoft .Net framework
• Distributed applications and the web
• Das boot
• The storm before the COM
• Introduction to SNA, TCP/IP, and APPC
• Ethernet

How PCs Work: This website is about PCs and how they work. The article talks about the introduction to how PCs work other hyperlinks inside this article that the site talks about is PC connections, powering up, operating systems, the future of PCs, portable personal computing, lots more information and see all desktops articles. The article talks about the parts to a computer, their functions and how to use them.