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

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 Managers

Bookmark 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:

• www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced/
• www.vicnet.net.au/training/advance.html

"internet users and advanced"

104,000,000 results

Results found that were useful:

• www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced/
• www.vicnet.net.au/training/advance.html

"advanced users and internet"

241,000,000 results

Results found that were useful:

• www.vicnet.net.au/training/advance.html
• www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced/

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:

• www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced

"Internet users and advanced"

56,200,000 results

results that were useful:

• www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced

Search words used for Copernic

"Internet users or advanced"

46 results

• http://www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced/

  http://www.vicnet.net.au/training/advance.html

"internet users and advanced"

43 results

• http://www.vicnet.net.au/training/advance.html

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!

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

Module 3: Links

I am having a lot of trouble with the linking of images, it all works for me well when I do not try to organise the files on my computer, the moment I put the files into sub folders and categories, nothing links anymore. I have been battling with this now for three hours and am ready to throw the computer out of the window!!

Module 3: Lesson Reviews

Lesson 1

HTML : Hyper Text Markup Language

What are HTML tags?

These are a set of instructions for the web page you are creating. They are instructions for the web page that you are creating in plain text. It is a blueprint, if you like, of a web page.

Where is the text of the title page displayed?

The text of the title page is displayed in what is known as the header section of the web page, this means that when the web page is published, it will not be visible to the public, unless they convert the web page HTML text.

3 What steps are involved in creating a simple HTML document?

A HTML document is easily created in a simple text programme such as Word Pad. You add the HTML tags to this word document, and as long as you follow the HTML text command properly, a web page can then be published from your HTML tags. The basic structure of a HTML page is.

This tells the computer that you are creating a document that will be published on the web using HTML text commands.

4 How do you create a comment tag?

All tags have text within these <> brackets, that is how the programmes can tell that it is a command.

5 How do you display yout HTML document in a web browser?

-open browser in new window
-click File > Open
-browse your computer for the HTML text you saved
-Open

Your text should now have opened as a web page. Or more simply, you can drag and drop the file into a new open web page.

Lesson 2

1How did you reopen your work space?

The workspace was reopened by clicking on or opening the file I had save on my desktop in a folder named Module Three Tasks. This is easily done when all the documents are kept in one Folder, all your work is available in one place.

2What steps did you use to make changes in your HTML document?

I simply opened my HTML text file and added the text where appropriate, in this case within the main body of text.

3How did you display the view changes on your browser?

This is very easily done by making sure that you have saved the changes. Then going back to your email browser and refreshing the page, or re opening it. If saved correctly, all the changes should come up immediately.
*note: the web page will only refresh if you save the file under the same name.

Lesson 3

1What are the different levels of headings in HTML and what steps did you use in placing headings in your HTML document?

Headings have the tag 1 being the biggest heading, while 6 is the smallest. For example, if I insert the command at the end that will ensure that the heading in in that size.

2What happens if you forget the slash at the end of a header tag?

You must make sure that the command is ended properly with a slash or the text will carry on with the initial tag.


Lesson 4

1What is the HTML tag for a paragraph break?
p tag

2What steps did you use for inserting a paragraph break in your document?

Between the Typed text you add the p tag where you would like to see a new paragraph, there is no need to put the tag to end the command.

3How did you display and view the changes in your web browser?

The changes were displayed by saving the changes to my word pad document and refreshing my web page.

4What is a horizontal rule and the br rule?

hr tag starts a new line with a line inserted

br tag starts a new line without a space, the inserts a space between the lines for a new paragraph, the however just puts text on to to the next line, for pieces of text like poems.

Lesson 5

1What are HTML style tags?

Style tags are tags which you give to text in order to styalise it, for example making text bold, or itallic, showing which size you want the text to be and so on.

2What are the different tags used for different styles of text?

*note: I am unable to include the brackets <> in the tag, as my blog takes it as a command

There are many tags which you can use to styalise text, the most common though are:

b tag for bold lettering

i tag for itallic

tt tag for typewriter text


3What steps did you use in entering styled text into your HTML document?

When wishing to styalise your text, you can go about finding examples of text that you like, find out the tag command for that text and then enter it before and after the text you wish to styalise.

4*Extra Credit: How can these styles be useful in creating a web page or lesson?

Web pages are usually built to pass on some sort of information, to teach you something or to sell something, people are far less likely to look at a web page if it is all in the same text, same colour and same size. The audience is more likely to take note of a point if it is written in a different sized text, or perhaps its bold, or itallic, or all three! It draws attention. Therefor, styalised text plays an important part in the creation of web pages for that reason.

Lesson 6: Lists

Lesson 7: Graphics

1What are the two graphic formats used for the World Wide Web?

GIF and JPEG

2How can a graphic file display on different computers?

The location of a graphic file is written in such a way that it can be understood by different types of computer, the same graphic with the same tags can be sent to either a mac or Windows browser, but it can still be read by both, the reason for this is that the HTML format indicates the location of the graphic file.

3What are some key points to consider when including graphics in web pages?

Images can sometimes be very large files, and the image may download in half a second on your computer, it could take an hour on a computer with a slower server than you, so you have to be thoughtful about the size of the images you are saving, and the audience you wish to reach.

4How did you save the lava graphic for use in your WWW document?

-right click on image

-save image as...

-saved the image as volc.gif in the folder I have all these lessons in

Lesson 8

1.What were the steps you used in creating a link within your document to a local file?

a href="filename.html">text that responds to link

2What steps did you use to create a link which displayed a graphic in an external window?

a href="filename.gif">text that responds to link

Module 2: News Groups and Internet Chat

News Groups
I found a group on Google Groups about Dubai, I followed it for a couple of days and posted the following message. Unfortunately after three weeks I received no replies. It may have to do with the size of the group as it was rather large with over 300 group members. I was disapointed to not receive any feedback, it has however allowed me to discover how groups work, and was amazed at the amount of detail people go into. It is a very interesting way of communicating with people for all different walks of life. Still I dont think it will be a method I will use that often in the future.

I was surprised to read some of the views of Dubai by people who obviously haven't been there. I agree that it has its fair share of desert, but calling it culture less is somewhat narrow minded. While it may not have some of the architecture that Vienna or Florence have, Dubai is history in the making. Dubai is rapidly developing and building architectural feats, what country can claim to have developed as much as it has in the past 20 years? It may not have many historical features now, but can you imagine in a hundred years time? Not only is it developing the tallest building in the world, but it has managed to make a hostile environment a completely flourishing economical hub. The opportunities here are endless.
As for things to do, have you ever been desert bashing? Diving in the Gulf? Camping in amazing Mars like wadis? Stayed and eaten in some of the best restaurants and hotels in the world? Smoked sheisha whilst playing chess? Gone skiing in a mall? Watched locals through Ramadan all sit outside the Mosque together getting ready to break their fast? Had a bbq on a sailboat whilst dolphins frolic around you? Seen hundreds of nationalities all in one place getting along with little crime and trouble?
No one can deny that Dubai is in fact a flourishing hub, regardless of which airlines are going where. And it should be respected for just that, what an amazing place has been created, out of nothing, and still it gets bigger, they do have a final picture in mind, and I think once all the hammering has stopped, Dubai will be quite amazing. It might not be an ideal place, but you have to give it some credit, no matter how you feel about it.


Internet Chat

I have been using MSN Messenger since I was 14 years old and have managed to stay in contact with my friends from around the world, which is something I could never have achieved without it. It was my life line when I was travelling, allowing me to talk to family and friends at minimal cost, and lets face it, its so much better than dodgy phone lines!

I was able to chat to Lyn from the the NET11 unit, but failed to have a group discussion. From my own experience I would say that MSN is probably the most widely used Chat programme, allowing for video chat and even conversations with a little delay. It is used in every country I have ever been to and so easy to use.

Chat is a fantastic way to stay in contact with people world wide at minimal cost, its easy to use, quick, you get instant gratification and are able to to have multiple conversations at once. Businesses are now buying into it too, using Chat programmes instead of phones. It is also true that having information written allows us to carry out more than just the one conversation, allowing for time to reflect on what has been said.

I really do believe that chat is the best invention since sliced bread!!!

Module 2: Lists

My personal opinion is that email lists seem very dated, and a little questionable.

From what I gather anyone in front of a computer with Internet can start a list, about basically any subject, it is an electronic mailing list for those interested in the subject list they join. From the lists that I saw (which were not many, due to the length of time all the listing web sites took to download), it seemed as though people go and make a list and then forget about it! 90% of the lists I tried to join required a subscription fee. Maybe due to my lack of willing to pay for one of these list subscriptions, I missed out on something really fantastic. But am I really willing to pay for something that I am unable to see.

I would be more likely to choose a discussion board than a list, I believe discussion boards create more of a community for the user, there is a quicker response time and while there is probably not as much filtering of information, you just assume that you do have to take all the information read with "a pinch of salt". I understand that lists do have a moderator to filter out any spam or abusive messages, which is a definite bonus when looking into such sites.

Discussion sites such as the one we use for this course are easy to follow, accessible, and most of the sites do not allow other members to edit other peoples entries.