Choose your most commonly used internet search engine and do a search with words of your choosing.
Google
Record the first hit and number of hits in your learning log
Using google I have searched the word 'netiquette' as one of the concepts of my assignment. the Google search resulted in 6,490,000 results for netiquette. The first result is http://www.albion.com/netiquette/
Copernic
Record the number of hits in your learning log, and compare to your first search. What differences did you notice? Why? Which search, on first glance gave you the most promising results?
Searching The Web resulted in 30 hits.
This search appears initially to be more robust in that the hits are sites that have a page or sub page with the exact wording searched as opposed to the Google search that resulting in any website that contained the word in any context.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Module 4 Tasks - Tools for using the Web
Downloading tools / plug-ins Task
In your learning log record which programs you downloaded and note which (if any) facets you think might prove useful.
I did not download any programs as most were already installed on my system. The offline browser / copier program being the one which I did not have and really don't think it is one I would ever use. To download and save a website to view at a later date does not seem practical to me - personally I would like to always be confident that the data i am viewing is always the most current available.
In my mind viewing an offline web site is a bit like reading last weeks newspaper - generally a waste of time.
I have previously attempted to use a Bookmark Manager but overall found it clumsy and cumbersome, so gave it away.
Media players all very much do the same thing and appear to be differentiated only by their surface presentation and sales gimmicks.
My personal favourite is Adobe Acrobat pdf - my life would not be the same without this! A universally know and accepted format that is simple to use and fail safe.
In your learning log record which programs you downloaded and note which (if any) facets you think might prove useful.
I did not download any programs as most were already installed on my system. The offline browser / copier program being the one which I did not have and really don't think it is one I would ever use. To download and save a website to view at a later date does not seem practical to me - personally I would like to always be confident that the data i am viewing is always the most current available.
In my mind viewing an offline web site is a bit like reading last weeks newspaper - generally a waste of time.
I have previously attempted to use a Bookmark Manager but overall found it clumsy and cumbersome, so gave it away.
Media players all very much do the same thing and appear to be differentiated only by their surface presentation and sales gimmicks.
My personal favourite is Adobe Acrobat pdf - my life would not be the same without this! A universally know and accepted format that is simple to use and fail safe.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Module 3 Tasks - WWW Standards
Make a summary of what you believe are the 5 most important ‘rules’ for writing online. Think about any differences between the articles: for example, is the advice in Nielsen’s paper -- written in 1997 – still current?
More on this later.
- Scannable text
For writing on-line almost every reference will highlight the importance of scannable text. Nielsen (http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9710a.html ) goes to great lengths to demonstrate text that is concise, scannable, and objective achieves a far greater usability.
Nielson moves on to explain (http://www.useit.com/alertbox/percent-text-read.html) in mathematical terms how users ultimately spend very little time reading the actual text on web pages.
Although his thoughts are now over 10 years old the concept of scannable text is still very applicable today, as it precisely captures the intent of web browsers. Scanning is a quick examination of the text for relevant words or phrases and if unfound the uers will move away from the web page within a short space of time.
- Paragraph, paragraph and more paragraphs
Use lots of paragraphs when writing simply becasue putting data into large paragraphs without any spaces or line breaks is hard to read, and annoying.
- Meaningful links
While it is a great novely to click on a link to see where it goes, it's just down right rude if the link is a misrepresentation, and annoying.
"the misuse of links is perhaps the most common failure of Web authors" (http://www.dartmouth.edu/~webteach/articles/text.html). This says it all really - so don't do it!
to be completed..
Module 3 Tasks - HTML web page
Record any difficulties you encountered with these exercises. Record your thoughts about html - do you feel a sense of achievement? What are the differences between html and blogging? what do you like best?
Having completed the tutorial which was entertaining enough to ensure you stayed on until the end, and more importantly it was informative, I am now creating my web page. Taking the opportunity to get some free advertising for our business Progressive Reports I am pleasantly surprised how 'easy' HTML is.
The exercises in the tutorial I found to be conscise in that each could be put into action straight way, making the learning intersting and pratical.
I'm sure many of the true HTML boffins will scoff at my use of the word 'easy', but for someone like me who has never had any exposure to HTML in the past it is incredibly satisfying to see your work up in lights on the Internet.
Along with the glory there is also the frustration. One character out of place and it doesn't work or one slip of the finger and a few lines are erased never to be seen again. Addictive...absolutley!
To be continued.....
Having completed the tutorial which was entertaining enough to ensure you stayed on until the end, and more importantly it was informative, I am now creating my web page. Taking the opportunity to get some free advertising for our business Progressive Reports I am pleasantly surprised how 'easy' HTML is.
The exercises in the tutorial I found to be conscise in that each could be put into action straight way, making the learning intersting and pratical.
I'm sure many of the true HTML boffins will scoff at my use of the word 'easy', but for someone like me who has never had any exposure to HTML in the past it is incredibly satisfying to see your work up in lights on the Internet.
Along with the glory there is also the frustration. One character out of place and it doesn't work or one slip of the finger and a few lines are erased never to be seen again. Addictive...absolutley!
To be continued.....
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Module 2 Tasks - Chat
TASK OPTION Other chat options
For this task I have chosen Google Talk for the main reason that I have it installed already on my system and I am extremely reluctant to keep downloading more programs that will not be used again after this module.
Record your outcome and reflections of your experiences and thoughts on this task in your learning log;
To be totally honest my reflections on this tasks are not positive. I'm sick of downloading countless software programs that all do the same thing. Each requires a user name and password and I'm sick of trying to remember them all.
My thoughts are that too many people chat about nothing meaningful and end up wasting huge amounts of time doing so.
If you don't have anything meaningful to say why bother.
Fundamentally the chat programs undertake the same thing - chatting. The most defining factor to set any one program apart is presentation. The overall appearance of the screen and layout for various functions.
After chatting with some fellow students I must admit that I find it somewhat reassuring to know that I am not alone in finding the time for uni work and my concerns about the 'junk' software we are required to download. Solidarity in numbers perhaps.
In summary to quote a fellow student Antony Cave via Skype;
"So I think its safe to say, with chats it depends where your friends are, which defines what you use and from there it's how well it works or suits what you're doing. Basically they're all very similar."
For this task I have chosen Google Talk for the main reason that I have it installed already on my system and I am extremely reluctant to keep downloading more programs that will not be used again after this module.
Record your outcome and reflections of your experiences and thoughts on this task in your learning log;
To be totally honest my reflections on this tasks are not positive. I'm sick of downloading countless software programs that all do the same thing. Each requires a user name and password and I'm sick of trying to remember them all.
My thoughts are that too many people chat about nothing meaningful and end up wasting huge amounts of time doing so.
If you don't have anything meaningful to say why bother.
Fundamentally the chat programs undertake the same thing - chatting. The most defining factor to set any one program apart is presentation. The overall appearance of the screen and layout for various functions.
After chatting with some fellow students I must admit that I find it somewhat reassuring to know that I am not alone in finding the time for uni work and my concerns about the 'junk' software we are required to download. Solidarity in numbers perhaps.
In summary to quote a fellow student Antony Cave via Skype;
"So I think its safe to say, with chats it depends where your friends are, which defines what you use and from there it's how well it works or suits what you're doing. Basically they're all very similar."
Module 2 Tasks - Lists
Go to the main groups page and choose a category that interests you.
While there were many lists covering many topics, I refined my search to cover gardening. then was faced with the tedious task of trolling through pages and pages of lists to find public lists and a list that was truly dedicated to gardening.
Surprisingly there were many lists that were of different subject matters and singles and dating seeming a common thread. The majority of lists required membership.
craftsmanlawn@yahoogroups.com, was one of the few lists that the subject matter was relevant to the title and was a public list. The questions and responses seemed quite genuine but my concern would be that the advice being posted is unregulated and unsubstantiated.
What are the pros and cons of email lists versus discussion boards?
Discussion boards are better suited to large groups, in situation where you may not know the person you are in communication with.
Email lists are better suited to smaller groups where entry is gained by the shared interest, and therefore all other members know who they are communication with.
While there were many lists covering many topics, I refined my search to cover gardening. then was faced with the tedious task of trolling through pages and pages of lists to find public lists and a list that was truly dedicated to gardening.
Surprisingly there were many lists that were of different subject matters and singles and dating seeming a common thread. The majority of lists required membership.
craftsmanlawn@yahoogroups.com, was one of the few lists that the subject matter was relevant to the title and was a public list. The questions and responses seemed quite genuine but my concern would be that the advice being posted is unregulated and unsubstantiated.
What are the pros and cons of email lists versus discussion boards?
Email Lists Pro's
- asynchronicious
- widely used format - many people are comfortable with email communication
- allows file attachments
- Users remain ' anonymous' or unidentified.
Email Lists Con's
- asynchronicious
- Unregulated, postings are not controlled.
- All previously lists Pro's could be argued to be a con also.
Discussion Board Pro's
- Maintained by the owner.
- Mass communication forum.
- Can provide expert comment on specific subject.
- Response is not immediate.
Discussion Board Con's
- Response is not immediate.
- Content regulated by owner.
Discussion boards are better suited to large groups, in situation where you may not know the person you are in communication with.
Email lists are better suited to smaller groups where entry is gained by the shared interest, and therefore all other members know who they are communication with.
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