Lecture Summary
Today's lecture discussed the importance of having anti-virus software and how to protect our computers and files from viruses, spam emails as well as protecting our personal information. As the (www) is freely accessible to anyone at any time we need to be aware that not everyone is trustworthy and the (www) is not always a safe place. We need to protect ourselves from people who try to hack into our files in order to steal information, personal details and evan money from online bank accounts. Justine recommended that our anti-virus programs be updated at least once a week and for those who are connected with broadband, installing a firewall is also a good option to consider. I didn't realise that some email attachments can contain viruses, lucky for me I rarely open them but it is a good thing to be aware of. Justine also covered the issue of copyright and how important it is to consider at university when we retrieve information for academic purposes.
Workshop Summary
Task 1- Visit the following website: http://www.copywright.org.au/ and list the sheets that will be useful to your undergraduate studies.
Sheet 1- Education and Training
I chose this sheet because I intend to study education as my undergraduate course and I thought it would be useful. Reading through it, I realised that evan photocopying something which states copyright is an offence, without the consent of the person who issued the copyright. Copyright is usually owned by the person who produced the document. Copyright laws enable academic students or teachers to copy video and audio files but only after administrative requirements have been met. If the copyright contract has expired then the term has no standing. The copyright act does have some schemes which enable educational institutions to copy documents for the purpose of providing education. There are many useful conditions outlined on this page which states the kinds of material educational institutions have the right to copy as long as the guidelines are followed correctly.
Sheet 2- Libraries, Galleries and Museums
The library will be an important part of my undergraduate course, libraries contain some of our main academic resources. This page explains the difference between lending and renting, lending allows a person to borrow copyright material for a period of time without payment. On the other hand renting requires a fee and refers to audio or visual recourse's. Copyright owners can state whether their material can be reproduced and copied for certain purposes. This therefore allows us to use pictures out of books and to borrow items from a library. There is a lot of terminology which is hard to understand in these information sheets; however I think I am beginning to understand the main points and the important aspects of the copyright laws.
Sheet 3- Websites, internet, software, databases
The internet will also be a major source of research as a university student and often I wonder what it is that I am aloud to copy and paste. Often sites will state whether their copyright act allows you to copy and paste any material from their page. Be aware that not everything posted on the web is genuine and whilst you may think you can copy something from a site which does not contain copyright, you may actually be infringing the act if you are copying a document which has been plagiarised and copied from the original document. The copyright act of 1968 allows copyright to cover drawings, pictures, maps, reports, poems, journals to name a few and depending on the circumstances the act may be applied differently to each.
Task 2- Look at the US Dept of Justice's Intellectual Property cases and write a summary in reference to US vs. Sankas case.
John Sankas developed ways to unscramble computer codes which allowed he and his associates to hack into important files from major businesses and organisations. The group was known as DrinkOrDie, using scrambled code names the team thought their activities could never be traced. Sankas code name was HellFire spelt backwards. Their level of hacking gave them access to important information and movies, games, plans to name few which they could release without consent before the organisation or company could do it themselves. This is stealing and as a result John Sankas was sentenced to 46 months imprisonment in a federal prison. The case emphasises the fact that if you commit copyright piracy you will be caught and you will suffer the consequences. The Us customs service seem very determined to crack down on groups such as DrinkOrDie and there have been a number of cases and people who have been prosecuted and will continue to be prosecuted because piracy is a serious crime and violation of privacy.
Task 3-Write a plan to protect yourself against attacks on your privacy and security in reference to viruses, Trojans and personal information.
My Plan includes the following:
* Be aware of your passwords, never use personal information as your password because hackers can easily access these details. Use letters, numbers and different signs, mix and match and created phrases that stand for something which is in you own interpretation and change your password regularly.
* Change the Administrator account name because this allows hackers access to personal details.
*It is important to know how viruses work, they attach themselves to files, in an email for example, they are spread through attachments and each time the attachment is opened the virus begins to spread.
* Install an anti-virus system and update it regularly, so that you are up to date with the latest protection. These systems check for viruses in your computer and any emails or files which you receive containing a virus will be detected.
*Such anti-virus systems include, Macro Virus protection, Unix and commercial software to name a few. There are a range of systems which offer a range of protection for different programs and PCs.
* Never open spam emails and avoid opening pop up advertisements.
*Trojan horses appear as normal computer programmes, such as in the form of an online game and as you play the game it is doing damage to your computer without your knowledge.
* Install a Trojan anti-virus system, an example of one is the Spy-ware doctor which was named best of the year 2005-2006
*Be aware that email attachments in the form of .DOC, .EXL and so on are quite safe, however be aware of jpg, exe and com which are risky and should not be opened without a virus check.
In summary it is important to protect your PC and your personal files against hackers, viruses and Trojans but before this is possible you need to understand your PC and what the best software is for your individual purpose according to what software you use. Install ant-virus software and update it regularly, avoid spam and email attachments that are from unfamiliar people.
Summary of the Readings
There were six readings in this weeks tutorial all of which covered the same topics discussed in the lecture and activities. The readings contained material on how to protect your privacy, basically do not give your details to people you meet on the internet, use anti-virus protection, change your passwords regularly and so on. The readings also discussed the concepts of viruses, worms, email attachments as well as offering information and history on the development of the internet. It is important to be familiar with the copyright regulations and ensure you protect yourself from plagiarism and infringement.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Week 11 - Module 5: Building Knowledge, 16th of Oct 2007
Lecture Summary
Today Justine discussed the difference between the terms data, information and knowledge. Data refers to mostly fact or findings of a particular subject, Information refers to a number of facts or data which correspond with the other in regards to a particular subject or topic and knowledge is described to be the overall idea of what has been instructed or found. Knowing how to distinguish between these terms becomes very useful for university studies. An assessment for example will often offer a question to be answered or a topic to be researched, the research part of your assessment is considered to be the collecting of data which are important facts, such as dates, statistics and so on. The part where you begin to develop a strategy of how your assessment piece will be formed refers to gathering information, after collecting the facts begin to place similar facts or data together and finally develop your own ideas and opinions from your own knowledge from things you already knew or have just learnt.
Workshop Summary
Task 1- Look into some online dictionaries and record the definitions you find for data, information and knowledge. Justine offered a link in case we got stuck with our search; I chose to search online dictionaries on both Google and Yahoo and below are my results.
DATA
Factual information: information, often in the form of facts or figures obtained from experiments or surveys, used as a basis for making calculations or drawing conclusions
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861671190
INFORMATION
Gathered facts: the collected facts and data about a specific subject.
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861621211
KNOWLEDGE
All that can be known: all the information, facts, truths, and principles learned throughout time.
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861624343
Task 2- Create a Graphical representation of these terms, please see below for my interpretation of the relationship between the three terms.
Task 3- Briefly discuss how understanding the relationship between data, information and knowledge can assist you at University.
As mentioned in the lecture summary the data is the basis from which your topic is developed as all the important components are found through research. Information is developed through the analysis of the data and the linking of similar facts and ideas. Before you can begin to write your essay or report you need to develop an opinion and your own personal ideas and thoughts towards what you have researched. This is retrieved through your previous knowledge as well as what you have just learnt. All of these terms help to create the final product which should be a correlation of data, knowledge and information as a result of your research, analysis and personal input.
Task 4- List Five organisations which collect information from their clients and describe why they would do this. I have chosen to use organisations which I am familiar with and have experienced the daunting request of having to answer questions from them.
Five organisations include-
1- Census (Government survey) collect information which is related to the living arrangements of all Australian residents, I assume it is useful in informing the government on how the Australian people are living and whether changes need to be made.
2- Promotional marketers for associations such as (The lifesaving Club) collect information, I believe for two reasons. One is to encourage the public to purchase tickets for raffles in order to raise money for charity and the other I believe is to get access to peoples personal details, such as their address, email and contact details. This information is stored until they have further advertising or merchandise etc.... to sell or promote.
3- Tele-marketers such as those from (Telstra) who gather information about your monthly phone bill and what network you are with and so on, collect this information in order to assess the number of people who are not connected with them. Once they have asked you for the information they usually follow with "we would like to offer you a better deal", therefore the reason for them seeking the information is in order to persuade you to switch to their company as your telephone provider.
4- Video Easy collect information in order to keep track of who is renting videos, what kind of videos people prefer and also gathering address details helps the organisation to inform their customers of new movies and entertainment.
5- Centrelink collect numerous amounts of information in order to assess a persons financial circumstances, this is usually for people who seek money from the Government. The information Centrelink receives is vital in determining whether a person is eligible for the payment they request.
Summary of the Readings
The first reading on data, information and knowledge was a very smart interpretation of understanding the difference and connection between all three terms and wisdom. Using examples of describing an object to stimulating memory and thought whilst trying to determine the name of the object is exactly how researching data and analysis works. The second reading called Information Literacy contained some activities to test your knowledge and ways of interpreting the information you gather. There were a number of lessons on a number of topics such as the organisation of knowledge, citing your sources, to name a few and each was followed by a quiz. It was interesting that the results of my first attempt at the quiz were average; it was only after the second attempt that I received more correct answers, it was an interesting exercise. The final reading discussed how organisations such as supermarkets, libraries and telephone companies collect numerous amounts of data which do not seem important at the time, yet over a large period of time the relationship between the data is analysed and this is where information is found and discussed.
Today Justine discussed the difference between the terms data, information and knowledge. Data refers to mostly fact or findings of a particular subject, Information refers to a number of facts or data which correspond with the other in regards to a particular subject or topic and knowledge is described to be the overall idea of what has been instructed or found. Knowing how to distinguish between these terms becomes very useful for university studies. An assessment for example will often offer a question to be answered or a topic to be researched, the research part of your assessment is considered to be the collecting of data which are important facts, such as dates, statistics and so on. The part where you begin to develop a strategy of how your assessment piece will be formed refers to gathering information, after collecting the facts begin to place similar facts or data together and finally develop your own ideas and opinions from your own knowledge from things you already knew or have just learnt.
Workshop Summary
Task 1- Look into some online dictionaries and record the definitions you find for data, information and knowledge. Justine offered a link in case we got stuck with our search; I chose to search online dictionaries on both Google and Yahoo and below are my results.
DATA
Factual information: information, often in the form of facts or figures obtained from experiments or surveys, used as a basis for making calculations or drawing conclusions
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861671190
INFORMATION
Gathered facts: the collected facts and data about a specific subject.
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861621211
KNOWLEDGE
All that can be known: all the information, facts, truths, and principles learned throughout time.
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861624343
Task 2- Create a Graphical representation of these terms, please see below for my interpretation of the relationship between the three terms.
Task 3- Briefly discuss how understanding the relationship between data, information and knowledge can assist you at University.
As mentioned in the lecture summary the data is the basis from which your topic is developed as all the important components are found through research. Information is developed through the analysis of the data and the linking of similar facts and ideas. Before you can begin to write your essay or report you need to develop an opinion and your own personal ideas and thoughts towards what you have researched. This is retrieved through your previous knowledge as well as what you have just learnt. All of these terms help to create the final product which should be a correlation of data, knowledge and information as a result of your research, analysis and personal input.
Task 4- List Five organisations which collect information from their clients and describe why they would do this. I have chosen to use organisations which I am familiar with and have experienced the daunting request of having to answer questions from them.
Five organisations include-
1- Census (Government survey) collect information which is related to the living arrangements of all Australian residents, I assume it is useful in informing the government on how the Australian people are living and whether changes need to be made.
2- Promotional marketers for associations such as (The lifesaving Club) collect information, I believe for two reasons. One is to encourage the public to purchase tickets for raffles in order to raise money for charity and the other I believe is to get access to peoples personal details, such as their address, email and contact details. This information is stored until they have further advertising or merchandise etc.... to sell or promote.
3- Tele-marketers such as those from (Telstra) who gather information about your monthly phone bill and what network you are with and so on, collect this information in order to assess the number of people who are not connected with them. Once they have asked you for the information they usually follow with "we would like to offer you a better deal", therefore the reason for them seeking the information is in order to persuade you to switch to their company as your telephone provider.
4- Video Easy collect information in order to keep track of who is renting videos, what kind of videos people prefer and also gathering address details helps the organisation to inform their customers of new movies and entertainment.
5- Centrelink collect numerous amounts of information in order to assess a persons financial circumstances, this is usually for people who seek money from the Government. The information Centrelink receives is vital in determining whether a person is eligible for the payment they request.
Summary of the Readings
The first reading on data, information and knowledge was a very smart interpretation of understanding the difference and connection between all three terms and wisdom. Using examples of describing an object to stimulating memory and thought whilst trying to determine the name of the object is exactly how researching data and analysis works. The second reading called Information Literacy contained some activities to test your knowledge and ways of interpreting the information you gather. There were a number of lessons on a number of topics such as the organisation of knowledge, citing your sources, to name a few and each was followed by a quiz. It was interesting that the results of my first attempt at the quiz were average; it was only after the second attempt that I received more correct answers, it was an interesting exercise. The final reading discussed how organisations such as supermarkets, libraries and telephone companies collect numerous amounts of data which do not seem important at the time, yet over a large period of time the relationship between the data is analysed and this is where information is found and discussed.
Week 10 - Module 4: Using online Libraries and Databases, 9th of Oct 2007
Lecture Summary
Today's lecture gave us a brief outline on what databases and online libraries are and how they can be very useful to university studies. These data bases are usually created by large organisations with large amounts of information on a particular category or topic. An online library for example, created by a university would contain academic sources for academic purposes. Such programmes include online journals, music, art work, online books just to name a few. These databases can be very resourceful because through thorough research a person can find exactly what they are looking for. They are convenient and contain numerous amounts of links; they are up to date and are accessible any where and at anytime in comparison to a real library or art gallery. Some of the catalogs such as those posted by art galleries, may require subscription, meaning you are charged a fee to look at the catalog, however there are others which are free such as online libraries. Basically all of these online databases are a collection of information which are categorised into different links which allows the user to access various information by using the different links and tabs to find exactly what they are searching for.
Workshop Summary
Task 1- Visit the http://www.ecu.edu.au/library/ and create a list of 10 useful functions that you find on the library site.
10 useful functions
1- Books, CD's and more (catalogue)
This function allows you to access online books and CD's, the link offers you different methods of searching either by typing in the authors name, the name of the book and keywords just to name a few.
2- Other Options (search other catalogues) through the same function there is a link that allows you to access other catalogues from other universities with the click of a button. This is a great tool because if one catalogue doesn't have what you are looking for why not search others.
3- Journal article (databases) this function enables you to search for academic journals via name search, key word search and so on. I think that the key word search is quite easy to use because after you type in the main topic e.g. (abortion) and then if you wanted to be specific with the topic you would type next to it (teenagers) this would narrow the search to abortion in teenagers.
4- Websites this function gives you quick internet interaction, allowing you to select a specific category such as finance, hospitality etc... and also gives you the option of what internet server you wish to use such as Google, Avista etc... The link seems to be really convenient for those who wish to use the websites as another source.
5- MetaQuest this function allows you to access 10 databases at the one time which saves time and space.
6- ECU Library Podcasts this functions allows you to access podcasts which are audio files created by the university for academic purposes on a range of subjects.
7- The IT Services link is a very handy tool that allows you to seek assistance for a technical problem, searching through the tabs you will find contact numbers and people who specialise in this area.
8- ECU Library Link provides you with library times for journals and books which are only accessible in hard copy. The link also offers conditions on hiring and student services as well as other useful information.
9- Researches link takes you to a number of other links, one in particular called faculty library schools which gives you a list of the people who deal with that area and when, where and how you can contact them.
10- APA referencing guide link gives you internet access to these sources which is convenient as well as saving time and money.
Task 2- Visit the MEDline plus website http://www.medlineplus.gov/ and search through some of the health topics and discuss your findings.
The condition I have decided to focus on is lupus because my closest friend lives with the condition everyday. At the top of the first page there was a search box called Search MedlinePlus. After typing in Lupus it open up another page, at the top was a brief description of what lupus was and how it affects the body as well as the various forms of the condition. As I scrolled down I was surprised to see that there were numerous amounts of web links (697 hits) to other websites on other areas of the condition such as the other types. After reading the interactive tutorial it is obvious that this sight would be very useful to medical students. Evan members of the public who were interested in such topics could gather some beneficial information because it is easy to read and understand. It states at the very beginning that the information provided should not substitute the doctors advice. The slide presentation offers a number of visual and verbal aids to assist in educating the searcher on the topic such as what the condition is, the symptoms, the different strands of it as well as possible treatment. All medical terms are explained thoroughly which also makes the tutorial easy to understand and interpret. The tutorial also offers the viewer with a multiple choice questioner which allows the reader to remember what they have just read and seen which is a great method of educating.
Please see below for a screen shot of the tutorial slides
There were no additional readings for this week.
Today's lecture gave us a brief outline on what databases and online libraries are and how they can be very useful to university studies. These data bases are usually created by large organisations with large amounts of information on a particular category or topic. An online library for example, created by a university would contain academic sources for academic purposes. Such programmes include online journals, music, art work, online books just to name a few. These databases can be very resourceful because through thorough research a person can find exactly what they are looking for. They are convenient and contain numerous amounts of links; they are up to date and are accessible any where and at anytime in comparison to a real library or art gallery. Some of the catalogs such as those posted by art galleries, may require subscription, meaning you are charged a fee to look at the catalog, however there are others which are free such as online libraries. Basically all of these online databases are a collection of information which are categorised into different links which allows the user to access various information by using the different links and tabs to find exactly what they are searching for.
Workshop Summary
Task 1- Visit the http://www.ecu.edu.au/library/ and create a list of 10 useful functions that you find on the library site.
10 useful functions
1- Books, CD's and more (catalogue)
This function allows you to access online books and CD's, the link offers you different methods of searching either by typing in the authors name, the name of the book and keywords just to name a few.
2- Other Options (search other catalogues) through the same function there is a link that allows you to access other catalogues from other universities with the click of a button. This is a great tool because if one catalogue doesn't have what you are looking for why not search others.
3- Journal article (databases) this function enables you to search for academic journals via name search, key word search and so on. I think that the key word search is quite easy to use because after you type in the main topic e.g. (abortion) and then if you wanted to be specific with the topic you would type next to it (teenagers) this would narrow the search to abortion in teenagers.
4- Websites this function gives you quick internet interaction, allowing you to select a specific category such as finance, hospitality etc... and also gives you the option of what internet server you wish to use such as Google, Avista etc... The link seems to be really convenient for those who wish to use the websites as another source.
5- MetaQuest this function allows you to access 10 databases at the one time which saves time and space.
6- ECU Library Podcasts this functions allows you to access podcasts which are audio files created by the university for academic purposes on a range of subjects.
7- The IT Services link is a very handy tool that allows you to seek assistance for a technical problem, searching through the tabs you will find contact numbers and people who specialise in this area.
8- ECU Library Link provides you with library times for journals and books which are only accessible in hard copy. The link also offers conditions on hiring and student services as well as other useful information.
9- Researches link takes you to a number of other links, one in particular called faculty library schools which gives you a list of the people who deal with that area and when, where and how you can contact them.
10- APA referencing guide link gives you internet access to these sources which is convenient as well as saving time and money.
Task 2- Visit the MEDline plus website http://www.medlineplus.gov/ and search through some of the health topics and discuss your findings.
The condition I have decided to focus on is lupus because my closest friend lives with the condition everyday. At the top of the first page there was a search box called Search MedlinePlus. After typing in Lupus it open up another page, at the top was a brief description of what lupus was and how it affects the body as well as the various forms of the condition. As I scrolled down I was surprised to see that there were numerous amounts of web links (697 hits) to other websites on other areas of the condition such as the other types. After reading the interactive tutorial it is obvious that this sight would be very useful to medical students. Evan members of the public who were interested in such topics could gather some beneficial information because it is easy to read and understand. It states at the very beginning that the information provided should not substitute the doctors advice. The slide presentation offers a number of visual and verbal aids to assist in educating the searcher on the topic such as what the condition is, the symptoms, the different strands of it as well as possible treatment. All medical terms are explained thoroughly which also makes the tutorial easy to understand and interpret. The tutorial also offers the viewer with a multiple choice questioner which allows the reader to remember what they have just read and seen which is a great method of educating.
Please see below for a screen shot of the tutorial slides
There were no additional readings for this week.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Week 9 - Module 4: Using Research Engines, 2nd of Oct 2007
Lecture Summary
Today's lecture covered the importance of knowing how to use different search engines as a useful and quick tool in searching for information from the (www). The main problems associated with the (www) are the amount of hits your topic will receive and of which, most are irrelevant and not fit-for use. Understanding the different links will help to minimise the amount of unwanted information you receive from your search. There are two types of search tools; there are search engines and directories such as Google and Yahoo. Directories are smaller than search engines and the information you find has been sorted prior to posting, therefore it may be a more reliable hit. key word searches and phrase searches also help to specify exactly what you are looking for. I didn't realise that there was such a huge range of search engines because at school we only used Google and Yahoo. The search engines are all a little different, they have different links and the information that you retrieve varies in style and form. Such search engines include, lycos.com, hotbot.com, kartoo.com and ask.com just to name a few. One thing Justine mentioned which I found very interesting is that often when we find a valuable site, we forget to record the URL which makes it difficult to find the site again. Justine said to use a keyword search and type in a word that is very unusual and specific to what is in the source you retrieved and it should eventually find the site you had looked at.
Workshop Summary
Task 1- Look through the Monash University's interactive tutorial on search engines and directories at: http://www.monash.com/spidap.html and list four strategies that will help to structure a good search.
Four Strategies-
1- Minimize your search by being specific; determine what is it that you are looking for and don't be too broad with your topic and try to narrow it down. Use the tabs and links, key word searches, and phrase searches to cut down the amount of hits you receive.
2- Using the advanced search tool on a search engine can also be useful as it can allow you to use more than one word at a time and cut out words which could cause the search to wonder off into another category unrelated to what you are looking for.
3- Subject directories can be very easy and convenient to use by typing in the authors name, year of publication, the title or subject, this is in reference to journal articles, online books and so on.
4- Important thing to consider, if you are looking for a specific topic then search engines are probably the more convenient option because they offer a number of links and search methods. If you are searching for a topic and simply wanting to find various information on something or someone then try a web directory first.
Task 2- Complete the online quiz found at: http://www.siteseen.co.uk/questions/generalkowledgehard/
As shown in the screen shot above I was only able to complete up to question 15 because after numerous attempts I could not find the answer to the question. In order to find the answers for the other questions I chose to use Google and Yahoo. All of the answers were contained throughout these search engines, so there was no need to look anywhere-else. Typing in the key words related to my search led me to a number of different hits, of which, most had the answer within the link content. There was one specific question which had a date and name of an event. I found that a faster method to find the correct answer was to enter both the name and the date which narrowed the number of hits down by a large proportion. I also tried using the advance search tool, yet I didnt find it vary useful and didn't really have any use for it. This module has broadened my knowledge on a number of different search engines and places on the net from where I can locate information. Knowing how to use the various links and tools has enabled me to find what I am looking for in a shorter amount of time, which is great and convenient. I have also become aware that being able to determine a sites value and content is important, not only to ensure the information you are using is correct but also to save you time and effort from looking through useless sites.
Summary of the Readings
There were four readings for this week, they all discussed the different types of search engines and the number of methods and tools that are available to use to help you with your search. The first reading on Web search strategies discussed that there are many types of search engines such as global, regional, reference and targeted search engines. Search engines consist of an index of Web sites that are created and sorted electronically through a spider or bot programme. Directories, however have been sorted and hand picked by humans into specific categories. The second reading Spiders Apprentice gave a basic guide on the best strategies to structure a good search. The third reading Search Engine Watch was a number of extra search engine tutorials, giving you links to a range of different sources educating you on how to search things effectively. The final reading discussed some history and again an overview about search engines and directories. The very first search engine was developed by McGill University in 1990 which enabled computer users to retrieve computer files. Overall the readings were quite interesting and easy to understand just a lot of information to absorb at one time.
Today's lecture covered the importance of knowing how to use different search engines as a useful and quick tool in searching for information from the (www). The main problems associated with the (www) are the amount of hits your topic will receive and of which, most are irrelevant and not fit-for use. Understanding the different links will help to minimise the amount of unwanted information you receive from your search. There are two types of search tools; there are search engines and directories such as Google and Yahoo. Directories are smaller than search engines and the information you find has been sorted prior to posting, therefore it may be a more reliable hit. key word searches and phrase searches also help to specify exactly what you are looking for. I didn't realise that there was such a huge range of search engines because at school we only used Google and Yahoo. The search engines are all a little different, they have different links and the information that you retrieve varies in style and form. Such search engines include, lycos.com, hotbot.com, kartoo.com and ask.com just to name a few. One thing Justine mentioned which I found very interesting is that often when we find a valuable site, we forget to record the URL which makes it difficult to find the site again. Justine said to use a keyword search and type in a word that is very unusual and specific to what is in the source you retrieved and it should eventually find the site you had looked at.
Workshop Summary
Task 1- Look through the Monash University's interactive tutorial on search engines and directories at: http://www.monash.com/spidap.html and list four strategies that will help to structure a good search.
Four Strategies-
1- Minimize your search by being specific; determine what is it that you are looking for and don't be too broad with your topic and try to narrow it down. Use the tabs and links, key word searches, and phrase searches to cut down the amount of hits you receive.
2- Using the advanced search tool on a search engine can also be useful as it can allow you to use more than one word at a time and cut out words which could cause the search to wonder off into another category unrelated to what you are looking for.
3- Subject directories can be very easy and convenient to use by typing in the authors name, year of publication, the title or subject, this is in reference to journal articles, online books and so on.
4- Important thing to consider, if you are looking for a specific topic then search engines are probably the more convenient option because they offer a number of links and search methods. If you are searching for a topic and simply wanting to find various information on something or someone then try a web directory first.
Task 2- Complete the online quiz found at: http://www.siteseen.co.uk/questions/generalkowledgehard/
As shown in the screen shot above I was only able to complete up to question 15 because after numerous attempts I could not find the answer to the question. In order to find the answers for the other questions I chose to use Google and Yahoo. All of the answers were contained throughout these search engines, so there was no need to look anywhere-else. Typing in the key words related to my search led me to a number of different hits, of which, most had the answer within the link content. There was one specific question which had a date and name of an event. I found that a faster method to find the correct answer was to enter both the name and the date which narrowed the number of hits down by a large proportion. I also tried using the advance search tool, yet I didnt find it vary useful and didn't really have any use for it. This module has broadened my knowledge on a number of different search engines and places on the net from where I can locate information. Knowing how to use the various links and tools has enabled me to find what I am looking for in a shorter amount of time, which is great and convenient. I have also become aware that being able to determine a sites value and content is important, not only to ensure the information you are using is correct but also to save you time and effort from looking through useless sites.
Summary of the Readings
There were four readings for this week, they all discussed the different types of search engines and the number of methods and tools that are available to use to help you with your search. The first reading on Web search strategies discussed that there are many types of search engines such as global, regional, reference and targeted search engines. Search engines consist of an index of Web sites that are created and sorted electronically through a spider or bot programme. Directories, however have been sorted and hand picked by humans into specific categories. The second reading Spiders Apprentice gave a basic guide on the best strategies to structure a good search. The third reading Search Engine Watch was a number of extra search engine tutorials, giving you links to a range of different sources educating you on how to search things effectively. The final reading discussed some history and again an overview about search engines and directories. The very first search engine was developed by McGill University in 1990 which enabled computer users to retrieve computer files. Overall the readings were quite interesting and easy to understand just a lot of information to absorb at one time.
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