Module 4: Evaluating the web

I chose the below site, as it was a good site from my previous tasks, the site is from the library website of the University of Berkeley, California, USA and is a reliable and authorised site, I therefore have faith that the credibility of that site is without question.

Many other credible sites link to it and from it and it is clear in it's subject matter of guiding and assisting students to utilise the internet more effectively. I have previously been trained by university librarians in the appropriate use of search engines for researching articles and sources for research papers and I thought that this site offered a good on-line resource to that end.

The site:
Finding Information on the InternetThis site is a good place for new users to begin learning about search engines. It covers the required terminology, the basics of searching, search strategies, and recommends specific search tools.http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.html

Finding information on the internet. (2007).Retrieved May 24, 2007, fromwww.lib.berkeley.edu

Reflections:

1.
I would usually check the website itself as opposed to my 'own notes' as websites change,disappear and taking another 'snapshot' of the site would trigger more memories about it's usefulness and content than say, just a brief annotation of words ( I being a visual learner)

2.
There are two parts on the 'About this tutorial' page that would be of the most use.Firstly, the 'What's unique about this tutorial?' gives a good description of the motivations and purpose of the this offering and a link from that paragraph to 'evaluate everything you find', this takes you to a more detailed breakdown of a webpage/site and how to check for authority and credibility.Very user friendly and easy to navigate through.However, I did not use this for my annotated bibliography assignment as I was looking at slightly more advanced user sites at that time.

Module 4: Organising search information task

The following three sites I thought were pretty good and a good start for anyone starting out with searching on the Internet.

Using the Internet
Written for subscribers of EarthLink, this page provides useful information about the Web for new users.
http://www.earthlink.net/internet/faq/web.html

Using the internet. (2007). Retrieved May 23, 2007, from
www.earthlink.net

Finding Information on the Internet
This site is a good place for new users to begin learning about search engines. It covers the required terminology, the basics of searching, search strategies, and recommends specific search tools.
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.html

Finding information on the internet. (2007).Retrieved May 23, 2007, from
www.lib.berkeley.edu

Conducting Research on the Internet
This site looks at how best to search the Web, contains a basic guide to the Web, evaluates Web resources, and has links to the major search engines.
http://www.albany.edu/library/internet/research.html

Conducting research on the internet. (2007). Retrieved May 23, 2007, from
www.albany.edu


I have used my blog spot to record the info, as above and utilised the very nature of the exercise to organise the websites listed above via the title of the exercise ' Organising search information task', I could also include it in my favourites on my IE but this would be duplication and after this unit is completed I would be deleting them and maintaining my minimalist favourites list as is my discipline. Maintaining these websites info on my blogspot means I can access them anywhere I can connect to the internet and not just on my PC.

Module 4: Boolean searching task

Google: advanced internet studies - 77,400,000

Copernic: advanced internet studies - 40

Altavista: advanced internet studies - 45 million


Google: advanced internet studies + skills - 4

Copernic: advanced internet studies + skills -42

Altavista: advanced internet studies + skills - 411



Google: advanced internet studies + domain:edu - 401

Copernic: advanced internet studies + domain:edu -28

Altavista: advanced internet studies + domain:edu - 15

Module 4: Search Engine Task

Search utlising Google for ' Advanced internet users, skills, domain:edu'

Result: 279,000 hits in 0.22 seconds

1st five hits


CVC Professional Development Center
In 2003 in the United States and Canada alone, the number of Internet users over the age of 16 has reached 79 million, up from 58 million in 2002 (Dreyfus, ...pdc.cvc.edu/common/article.asp?entry=1&idx=2532 - 52k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
CVC Professional Development Center
CCCApply Annual Users Workshop April 2, 2007 in S. CA April 4, 2007 in N. CA ... program that's sure to sharpen existing skills, generate new ideas, ...pdc.cvc.edu/common/announcements.asp - 28k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this[ More results from pdc.cvc.edu ]
Collect domain name Resources on TechRepublic
This program probes the Internet to discover and collect domain names with ... to change our existing domain (domain.as) to another domain (domain.edu). ...search.techrepublic.com.com/search/Collect+domain+name.html - 36k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
personal domain Resources on TechRepublic
I have about 500 Exchange users with the old domain and I am trying to ... I have Win2003 server with domain and Win2000 advance server with domain too. ...search.techrepublic.com.com/search/personal+domain.html - 35k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this[ More results from search.techrepublic.com.com ]
Vol 33 No 4, October - December 1995 Page 2
CompuServe and other commercial services make it possible for users to access their .... When you have acquired some confidence and skills on the Internet, ...exchanges.state.gov/forum/vols/vol33/no4/p2.htm - 58k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this


Search utilising Copernic for 'Advanced Internet users,skills,domain:edu'

Result: 300 hits

1st 5 hits

Domain Name - General Info... your domain name is your online identity, which allows internet users from ... registering for a domain name requires advanced computer skills, and is much ...www.hostsearch.com/domain_general.asp
New Users — UMN MapServer4.3 Skills ... mapserver users and developers can be found on Internet Relay Chat. ... incorporation of dynamic data, advanced topics, MapScript, and the creation ...mapserver.gis.umn.edu/new_users
Internet Prerequisite Skills (TED 121)In Netscape, select edit -- preferences -- advanced -- cache. ... http://www.misericordia.edu/users/ted121/seminar/examples/notes.html ...www.misericordia.edu/users/ted121/2internet.html Connecting to the Digital Domain... there are over 473 million users on the Internet served by more than 200 million ... belongs to the "furman" subdomain which belongs to the "edu" domain. ...cs.furman.edu/digitaldomain/book/chap4.htm
WDVL: Toon Boom Studio v.1.0... it helps to have artistic skills and to be somewhat familiar with ... The light table feature allows users to see all drawings below the current one. ...wdvl.internet.com/Reviews/Graphics/Toon



I felt that the information provided in Copernic was more accurate per se with Titles of the topic/article located and it gave a side list of related articles to further define the search.

Google just gave me everything that had the search words in it, with varying degrees of statistically significant variances - highest probability to lowest etc.

Google gave the best search at first glance, but I think Copernic threw out all the rubbish and hones the search down more intelligently and saved the user ( me!) a lot of time in sifting.

Module 4: Downloading tools/plug-ins

Due to the nature of my employment and 2 other Tertiary courses, I have the following most recent programs:

1.Adobe pdf reader and writer - also used to convert docs to forms
** Hate Adobe, so user unfriendly, but it's what's on offer and utlised in my workplace and at University.

2.Flash/Shockwave

3.Quicktime/Windows Media/Real Networks players

4.Glooton ( Free for PC ) and Copernic 2.02

5.URL Manager - although I never use it, I have disciplined myself to keep only the absolute necessary favourites I actually use regularly and keep them in order ( alphabetically)
** I did not like Bookmark Buddy - thought it was a bit too 'home made'.

6. Not required, am always on-line as have 20GB ADSL2+ download available, so no need to ever save time or money, I could never use it all up each month, hence it stays connected permanently.

Assignment 1: Annotated Bibliography

Javascript & DNS tools

Tools to manage DNS. (2006, July 10). Retrieved May 4, 2007, from http://www.dns.net/dnsrd/tools.html
This web site offers a list of ways to diagnose and repair DNS problems. The tools used are UNIX, Linux, MS-DOS and Perl scripts and are mostly functional on a cross-platform. There is a separate link to Windows Tools but the link is outdated. The web site provides a variety of links to help you diagnose basic and overall problems. It also provides links to Network Information management systems. There are a variety of links that provide online and miscellaneous tools as well. The site is useful in its direction to other websites. It is a map of where to find information.

The JavaScript source. (2007). Retrieved May 4, 2007, from http://javascript.internet.com/
The JavaScript Source provides a variety of examples that can be cut and pasted to use in the creation of your own web pages. The site offers Java coding for free. The JavaScript Source also provides links that will lead you to websites that will help you create Generators, calculators, buttons and search pages. The web site is easy to use, functional and really does provide script for free.

FTP ( File transfer protocol)

FTP. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4, 2007, from http://www.computerhope.com/software/ftp.htm
The FTP web site was a bit disappointing. There were no additional links and only brief explanations about FTP. Not useful for an advanced user, but good to explain basically to the new user.

FTP help. (2006). Retrieved May 4, 2007, from http://www.ftpplanet.com/ftpresources/ftpmain.htm
FTP help was a well designed and thought out web site. The web site provides links to guides that will assist you in understanding the functions of a Webmaster, technician, online auctions, gaming and Mp3 downloads. The web site is for all levels of users and provides common information that make the internet more efficient for the user.

HTTP ( Hypertext transfer protocol)

HTTP. (2006, July 27). Retrieved May 4, 2007, from http://searchvb.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid8_gci214004,00.html
SearchVB.com is a web site that provides a lay definition for HTTP. In the paragraph long definition there are links that will lead users to other pages for an explanation of tech jargon that they may not already know. The web site is for a specific purpose and does what is expected.

Hypertext transfer protocol. (2007, May 2). Retrieved
May 4, 2007, from http://www.wdvl.com/Internet/Protocols/HTTP/
Hypertext Transfer Protocols explains through a variety of analogies what exactly HTTP is and why you may want to know what it is. The web site is informative and helpful. It not only provides a definition for HTTP but provides links that will take users to other pages that will explain header fields, general properties and request methods. The web site uses some technical jargon, but also provides a history of how HTTP was created. The web site was informative, but not very useful.

Web Browser Help

Web browser help. (2007). Retrieved May 4, 2007, from
http://webbrowserhelp.com/
Web Browser Help provides assistance understanding the intricacies of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Opera web browsers. The web site is one page only and offers links to the user guides for the above mentioned browsers. The web site also provides six articles that that will assist all web browsers.

Firefox help. (2006, December 29). Retrieved May 4, 2007, from http://www.mozilla.org/support/firefox/
Firefox help is a web site dedicated to Mozilla Firefox. It is hosted by Mozilla.org and provides helpful links for user to do tricks and shortcuts in Firefox. The web site also provides links for menu referencing, editing configurations and reporting bugs. The web site is for a specific purpose and is directed towards Firefox users only.

HTML & XHTML

HTML

The Web Design Group. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4, 2007, from http://htmlhelp.com/
The Web Design Group is a reference web site that helps you find the coding you need to create non-browser specific web pages. The web site offers free information and provides links to other web sites that also offer free information to help you create imaginative and informative web sites. The web site was useful and I have used many of the links.

HTML & XHTML FAQ. (2007, April 29). Retrieved May 4, 2007, from http://www.codestyle.org/html/FAQ.shtml
HTML & XHTML FAQ page is just that a fact finding web site. The web site does not provide links that will lead you to other web sites for your answers. The FAQ web site lists commonly asked question and provides the answer themselves. This web site is useful if you have a specific question you want answered.

Module 3 Tasks: ftp and Blogs

http://akashakatz-net11learninglog.blogspot.com/



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