My assignment has been submitted with a dash of anticipation and dollop of nerves. I thought I would write this to define the problems I had whilst doing it, as well as the break throughs. It started off well, though i think i might have broken off more than I could chew, choosing to create a web page. I started of using HTML but was limited by my knowledge of tags so I then enlisted the help of a HTML editor, which I think I have previously mentioned. The HTML editor helped me to create a more aesthetic page, though the page I ended up with was nothing compared to the one I had started (including many pictures). After showing what I thought was a really good layout to a few friends I was informed that I should probably choose a simpler layout, easier to follow, which is what I ended up doing. I discarded all the pictures and chose to use a more block like format with distinguishing colours instead. Not only did this turn out to be better to look at, but was also a lot easier for me to get my head around.
As for the content of the web page, I think I have some good links that will aid further education on being an advanced Internet user, but my writing of annotated bibliographies could be improved on, I found it quite difficult to find some of the sources of the web pages I chose, as well as the authors. This has been interesting, because I now realise the importance of making that information available when creating an online source. The reliability of certain web sites is very much in the air because of their lack of referencing and author information. I also learned a lot about what to look for when searching for information on the net, learning to look for their date last updated, their references, their reliability and any other information they could supply me with.
Over all, I tried to make my web site as easy to follow as possible, giving each subject a different page, and having the home page with all links available on it. I chose a certain colour for each subject and linked that colour to the referencing, so when the audience is searching for information on a certain link, it is easier to find.
I am hoping that my work on the web site will see me pass, and that it may even help someone doing this unit in the future. I have learnt so much creating this assignment, and am proud of what I have managed to achieve, even if it may not get me best results.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Personal Thoughts: Language on the Internet
Whilst doing my assignment, I began to think about our hap-hazard way of writing on the Internet, though there are guidelines in place that we are all meant to follow, it worries me that the language we use whilst chatting or blogging, or even whilst we are creating web sites, is becoming far too informal and abbreviated. Slowly with the use of text messaging, chatting and blogging, we are creating a new language, a web language that is full of abbreviations, smiley faces and terrible spelling. Whilst I think it is absolutely incredible to sit in on one of these chat sites and watch them communicate as if they were speaking a different language, I am beginning to think that we might eventually start becoming a little socially handicapped, we no longer need to use phones because we have the Internet, even with our mobiles, we are able to just send messages. Shopping can be done online, learning can be done online, most businesses now have chat sites where we can contact them..............are we eventually going to lose our power of speech???? Don't get me wrong, I think the Internet and everything it involves is amazing, but what is going to happen to actually being face to face with someone, the human touch, the expressions on a persons face, a REAL smile, proper social interaction!
Having gone to a school where English was VERY important, and the importance of spelling was drummed into you, (even though admittedly I am a terrible speller!) I have been reading web site after web site, blog after blog, where bad grammar, bad spelling and a ridiculous amounts of abbreviations are being used. There are only so many mistakes you can put down to typos. Even with spell checker, people are getting complacent, what message is that sending out to the Internet prodigies we have as children today? That it is alright not to be able to spell, or even write properly for that matter. That it is fine to use silly abbreviations instead of descriptive and powerful words?
My conclusion to my rant is that as advanced internet users, we should make it our mission to make sure that everything we write and publish has a certain degree of correct, formal English, as well as good grammar, to set a good example to those surfing the web.
Having gone to a school where English was VERY important, and the importance of spelling was drummed into you, (even though admittedly I am a terrible speller!) I have been reading web site after web site, blog after blog, where bad grammar, bad spelling and a ridiculous amounts of abbreviations are being used. There are only so many mistakes you can put down to typos. Even with spell checker, people are getting complacent, what message is that sending out to the Internet prodigies we have as children today? That it is alright not to be able to spell, or even write properly for that matter. That it is fine to use silly abbreviations instead of descriptive and powerful words?
My conclusion to my rant is that as advanced internet users, we should make it our mission to make sure that everything we write and publish has a certain degree of correct, formal English, as well as good grammar, to set a good example to those surfing the web.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Module 3 cont: html linking troubleshooting
I have spent countless hours trying to work out why I could not create a separate file for my pictures and still link it to my volcano html document, my conclusion, after much contemplation, confusion and frustration, is that my computer files the pictures, html documents, Photoshop documents and so on, automatically. When I open my work in progress file, created especially for the html tutorial, all my files are categorised into type by little icons, for example, the html documents have the explorer icon, gif images have a gif icon, so on and so forth. I have spent days feeling furious, when in fact, it was right there in front of me all the time, the important thing though, is I now understand exactly how folders I have on my computer are filed, and better still, I now have a very good understanding on how to get the files linked in a html document. WAHOO!!!
Neglecting my bog!
I have thrown myself into my assignment so much that I have neglected my blog terribly, this does not mean that nothing is being achieved though, or at least I like to think! My web page is coming along, although I find myself getting tied up in the asthetics rather than the content, which I realise is not the correct thing to be doing, especialy when my web design skills are so raw.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Module 4: Tools For Using the Web
Downloading Tools
You tend to stick with what is familiar to you whilst using your computer in fear that if you do do anything different it may all fall apart. I know I am very familiar with Internet explorer, Google, Adobe, and I did think that they were probably the best programmes or tools out there because they are the most widely used. In this module I discovered that that is not always the case, and while I did already have some of the tools suggested in the module, I learnt a lot about other tools out there that can help with research.
I am a little bit weary when it comes to downloading programmes for a few reasons, one is, are they going to take up too much space on my hard drive, and make my already slug-like lap top even slower? Am I increasing my chances of getting a virus? Will I be able to un-install them easily if I decide I no longer want them? And most importantly are there going to be hidden charges somewhere that I am going to have to pay for?
All of the programmes suggested in the module were quick and easy to download, even with the ever doubtful Internet connection we have here in the UAE. None of them gave me a virus! And all have a little unistallation tag for quick removal! Here is what I found :
Media Players
Searching Engine Task
You tend to stick with what is familiar to you whilst using your computer in fear that if you do do anything different it may all fall apart. I know I am very familiar with Internet explorer, Google, Adobe, and I did think that they were probably the best programmes or tools out there because they are the most widely used. In this module I discovered that that is not always the case, and while I did already have some of the tools suggested in the module, I learnt a lot about other tools out there that can help with research.
I am a little bit weary when it comes to downloading programmes for a few reasons, one is, are they going to take up too much space on my hard drive, and make my already slug-like lap top even slower? Am I increasing my chances of getting a virus? Will I be able to un-install them easily if I decide I no longer want them? And most importantly are there going to be hidden charges somewhere that I am going to have to pay for?
All of the programmes suggested in the module were quick and easy to download, even with the ever doubtful Internet connection we have here in the UAE. None of them gave me a virus! And all have a little unistallation tag for quick removal! Here is what I found :
Media Players
I already had all three media players (Apple, Windows, Real Time) installed on my computer, this is due to my downloading of songs and movies from Lime Wire, the media I download is almost always in one of the mentioned formats, so having all three downloaded allows me to easily and quickly access my downloads. My preferred Media player would be the Apple Quick Time player, it is easy to use and compatible with my ipod permitting me to download any media i have onto my ipod.
I do use all three on a regular basis though, and find them all quite similar apart from some format differences.
Search Manager/Combiners
Google Google Google! It is what I have always used, and I am very faithful to it, little did I know about search combiners, they are really fantastic! While they take a little longer than Google, the results seem to be a little more accurate. I did not find Glooton as user friendly as Copernic, it is very slow with my connection and the layout was unfriendly!
Copernic was however very simple, all information is layed out for you to see, I really liked the fact that it told you which search engines it was searching, so you can later on go and check them separately if needed. The history section is also very useful, it keeps a record of your last searches so you can access them easily at a later date, it also informs you of how popular the website is and how relevant it is to your search.
I have to say that Glooton is going to be uninstalled!!
Book Mark ManagersBookmark buddy is an extremely useful tool, I often find myself having to go into my Favourites Internet Explorer and deleting rows of Favourites because I can not find the one I want, while favourites do have the options to create folders, Bookmark buddy has a better layout, it is all there in front of you, a simple format, easily read and easily accessible. I will be keeping this as an added programme. I know have all my favourite websites in files and categories that I can get to easily!
Searching Engine Task
Copernic Search
46 results were found
- www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced/
- www.worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/ow/91c9a2dda65d585fa19afeb4da09e526.html
- www.cws.internet.com/article/1254
- www.eserver.org/courses/w01/tc510/orange/advanced_users.pdf
- http://www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced/saveweb.html
- http://www3.uwm.edu/sce/course.cfm?id=6835
Google Search
121,000,000 results were found- www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced/
- www.vicnet.net.au/training/advance.html
- www.uwm.edu/sce/course.cfm?id=6835.
- www.newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/global/asiapac/news/2005/pr_09-21.html
- www.msen.com/1997/adv_links.html
Using Boolean search methods on Google, my regular search engine was more effective than using it on Copernic, Copernic claims that it uses the Booleam method automatically when you enter a search subject. Even though Copernic deas use the Bollean method, it does occasionally come back with different results if you enter, "or", "and".
Search Words Used for Google
"internet user or advanced"
220,000,000 results
Results found that were useful:
"internet users and advanced"
104,000,000 results
Results found that were useful:
"advanced users and internet"
241,000,000 results
Results found that were useful:
Search Words Used for Yahoo
"advanced internet users"
56,100,000 results
Results that were useful:
- www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced
- www.weblogpage.com/wendils101
- www.users.bigpond.net.au/home.htm
"advanced users and internet"
56,200,000 results
Results that were useful:
"Internet users and advanced"
56,200,000 results
results that were useful:
Search words used for Copernic
"Internet users or advanced"
46 results
"internet users and advanced"
43 results
I have not yet discussed my search methods with fellow students, though I have come to my own conclusion that whilst the Boodean search method would have helped a great deal a few years ago, I think it now comes included in the web searches, I searched many times using all the different methods and came up with the same results, all search engines tend to give you pages and pages of results with any of the words included, I did think the Boodean method was meant to eliminate that, it does not seem to though. Search engines have become sophisticated enough to find the articles and web sites that relate most with you search entry.
Assessment 1: Creating my Website
For assessment one I have decided to try and develop a web page, seeing as I am using a blog for my online journal and I am more familiar with blogs than I am with web pages.
I have been going through module three learning how to use HTML, and while I am coming to grips with most of it, I think I am going to need a little help, so I have sort out the help of a programme called Page Breeze HTML Editor, it is a useful tool as it allows me to create a web page with help, but I can always edit the HTML myself, which I am finding really helpful, not only am I learning from the commands that they use, but I'm adding my own as well.
It is a little hard for me at the moment due to the fact that I haven't written anything for educational purposes for a while, so I have to juggle with trying to write well, as well as figuring out how I should display it all. But I am sure everyone is dealing with the same problem, all part of the learning curb!
I have been going through module three learning how to use HTML, and while I am coming to grips with most of it, I think I am going to need a little help, so I have sort out the help of a programme called Page Breeze HTML Editor, it is a useful tool as it allows me to create a web page with help, but I can always edit the HTML myself, which I am finding really helpful, not only am I learning from the commands that they use, but I'm adding my own as well.
It is a little hard for me at the moment due to the fact that I haven't written anything for educational purposes for a while, so I have to juggle with trying to write well, as well as figuring out how I should display it all. But I am sure everyone is dealing with the same problem, all part of the learning curb!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Module 3 : Continued
Lesson 8b
1What purpose do URLs serve for the World Wide Web?
URLs are like an address system, they contain the information that allows you to go find a page on the web. It identifies the type of server being used, the Internet address and the file path.
2Where are URLs found on a WWW screen?
URLs are found in the upper part of the web window, usually in a long thin white box.
3What is the basic structure of an URL?
A URL is made up of the following parts:
type, Internet address, directory, sub-directory, file name
1What purpose do URLs serve for the World Wide Web?
URLs are like an address system, they contain the information that allows you to go find a page on the web. It identifies the type of server being used, the Internet address and the file path.
2Where are URLs found on a WWW screen?
URLs are found in the upper part of the web window, usually in a long thin white box.
3What is the basic structure of an URL?
A URL is made up of the following parts:
type, Internet address, directory, sub-directory, file name
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