Week 12: Social and Ethical Iccues

Task

Copyright protects a range of material encountered in educational institutions, including:

• Written material: books, articles, essays, novels, poems, lyrics, letters, training manuals and reports
• Musical works
• Dramatic works: choreography, screenplays, plays and mime
• Artistic works: paintings, drawings, cartoons, graphic art, craft work, photographs, maps and plans
• Computer programs
• Compilations: anthologies, directories and databases
• Cinematograph films
• Sound recordings: CDs, cassettes and DAT
• Broadcasts: television and radio programs
• Published editions: publishers have copyright in the typographical arrangement of a published edition

Found on http://www.copyright.org.au/information/specialinterest/G048.pdf

1. Internet: copying and downloading material
2. Educational institutions: introduction to copyright
3. Ownership of copyright
4. Computer Software
5. Libraries

APRA site: http://www.apra.com.au/music-users/online_mobile/online_mobile.asp

New technologies such as the Internet and mobile phone applications are opening up new distribution avenues for songwriters. There is little doubt the creative work of composers and songwriters adds value to online businesses and services. Any use of copyright music requires the appropriate clearances to be obtained. Copyright owners in music have a number of rights in their work, including the right to reproduce their music and the right to communicate their work to the public.

There are many ways to protect yourself from privacy and security attacks.

1. Always keep your firewall, Anti-virus and spyware programs on
2. Keep your details hidden, so people are unable to see it
3. DO NOT give out your details unless you know it is safe and the website is authentic
4. Back up all your data in case of an emergency
5. Do not reply to spam emails

Week 11: Building Knowledge

Task

Data

A collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn; "statistical data"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Information

Data that has been processed to add or create meaning and hopefully knowledge for the person who receives it.
services.eliteral.com/glossary/decision-support-systems-glossary.php

Knowledge

Knowledge is part of the hierarchy made up of data, information and knowledge. Data are raw facts. Information is data with context and perspective. Knowledge is information with guidance for action based upon insight and experience.
servicedesk.unimelb.edu.au/knowledgebase/itservices/a-z/k.html

Wisdom

Wisdom is the ability, developed through experience, insight and reflection, to discern truth and exercise good judgment. Wisdom is sometimes conceptualized as an especially well developed form of common sense. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisdom

Understanding how data, information and knowledge is a useful tool for university studies. To know the relationship of these would aid for easier study, such as remembering the information better which would then turn the information into your own collection of knowledge.

There are may organisations whom collect information from their clients or from the public to help them provide, either better customer service or simply how clients feel of being with the organisation.

5 Organisations:

• Telstra
• Optus
• QBE
• Synergy
• Water Corporation

These organisations sends out surveys to their clients or simply give their clients a quick call. With the results of the survey or call the organisation can improve their business with better training and better customer service, as they would know what the clients need or want from the organisation.

Week 10: Information Management

Lecture

This week we learnt how information is managed and they different ways it could be stored. There are two types of information format

Atom-Based - Books, papers, reports, etc.

Pros:

• We can see it
• We can know where it is
• Easily concealed
• Easy to protect
• Difficult to change
• Difficult to copy

Cons:

• Bulky
• Costly
• Difficult to edit
• Difficult to distribute
• Inflexible

Bit-based - Digital reproductions, electronic content

Pros:

• Very flexible
• Very cheap
• Easy to edit
• Easy to mass produce and broadcast

Cons:

• Easy to copy and steal
• Authenticity
• SPAM

Task

Week 9: Communications

Lecture

Communication in the world is very different today compared to 20 years ago, because of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

With ICT communication can be:

• Between individuals
• Between individuals and organisations
• Within a business
• Between a business and an external oganisation

Example of technologies that use ICT:

• Mobile telephones (3G network)
• Video and tele-conferencing
• iPods, mp3, lap-tops
• E-mails
• Webcams

MSN messenger an instant message client used ICT. MSN allows users to send instant messages to other users who are also 'online'.

Other examples of ICT uses are:

• Discussion Boards/Forums
• Internet Relay Chat
• Podcasts
• Blogs
• Wiki webs
• Social Networking

Task

Google: http://www.google.com/

I typed "Integra" into search groups. A list of things related to the word Integra came up.

After reading some of te posts on the frums, I found that they were mostly about the positive and negative sides of the Integra. It also had some detail about the car.

Podcasts are used for mainly listening. As every student has there own different way to learn, some learn best listening. Podcasts can allow the students to listen to lectures or anything they want and would help them remeber alot better then visually seeing the slides. ECU library's podcasts include audio tours of each metro campus library, as well as information about using your ECU library.

Week 8: Presentation Strategies

Lecture

In this weeks lecture we learnt about the structure of a presentation and how to prepare your presentation. A presentation should consist three parts which are introduction, body and conclusion.

The structure of an introduction:

• Attention Getters
• Thesis Statement
• Audience Adaption
• Credibility Statement
• Preview
• Transition to the Body

The structure of a body:

• Main Ideas
• Organisational Patterns
• Connective Devices
• References to Outside Research

The structure of a conclusion:

• Reinforce the thesis
• Review the main points
• Close effectively

To prepare for a successful presentation, you should rehearse your talk, have backup materials in case things get missing or simply does not work and if possible try the venue beforehand.

Task

Top Five for a top-notch presentation:

1. Rehearse
   Most people have trouble talking in front of a crowd. The best way to overcome this issue is to rehearse your speech until you are confident with what you are going to present.
2. Show up early
   It can help the speaker to solve unexpected problems.
3. Use humor
   Humor that is carefully put into a presentation can help keep the audience interested.
4. Believe the presentation
   The presentation will not be convincing if the speaker does not seem conniving.
5. Content
   Place some extra time to make sure the presentation is relevant.

Week 7: Using Endnote

Lecture

In this weeks lecture, we learnt about using Endnote.

Reasons for using Endnote:

• Keeps track of a growing number of references
• Displays a variety of recognised styles of referencing
• Handles a variety of types of references
• Searchable record of references associated with a specific project
• Can be integrated with Microsoft Word

Task

In our tutorial we are asked to do tasks using EndNote. also we have to find referencing to 5 different websites.

5 website example reference:

Website:

Technical specifications (iPhone). [n.d.] Retrieved November, 2007, from Apple: http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html

Periodical:

VandenBos, G., Knapp, S., & Doe, J. (2001). Role of reference elements in the selection of resources by psychology undergraduates [Electronic version]. Journal of Bibliographic Research, 5, 117-123.

Computer Software:

Computer literacy for nurses [Computer software]. (1985). Edwardsville, Kansas: Medi-sim.

Email:

Office of Research and Development. (1995). ARC large grant guidelines. Email December 2, 1995, from t.lampard@cowan.edu.au/Get ARCLG95

eBook:

Wilkinson, R., & Marmot, M. (Eds.). (2003). Social determinants of health: The solid facts (2nd ed.). Retrieved December 2, 2007, from http://www.euro.who.int/document/e81384.pdf

Week 6: Evaluation & Authentication

Lecture

In todays leacture we were informed of the different qualities of internet web-sites and the different techniques we could use to differ between authentic and unauthentic sites.

These are some criterias that should be used to check if a site is authentic

Accuracy

• Is the information reliable and error-free?
• Is there an editor or someone who checks the information?

Authority

• Is there an author?
• Is th author qualified?
• Whos is te sponsor?
• Is te sposor of the page reputable?

Ojectivity

• Does the information show a minimum of bias?
• Is te page designed to sway opinon?
• Is there any advertising on the page?

Currency

• Is the page up to date?
• Have the links expired or moved?

Coverage

• What topic is covered?
• How detailed is the material?

Task

ICYouSee: http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think.html

Make sure you are in the right place

When using the Web ask yourself why you are using the Web. Don't use the Web because it is fun and easy. An hour on the Web may not answer a question that you could find within two minutes of picking up a reference book.

When in doubt, doubt

Almost anyone can put up anything on the Web for any purpose. Accuracy is not easy to confirm. Information on a site cannot be evaluated unless you compare it to other sources. As with any research, you must test one source against another.

Consider the source

Try to find out details of the person who wrote or created the Web pages. It is easy to think that an author wouldn’t be writing unless he or she was some kind of expert on the topic, but that is not always true.

Know what's happening

Try to identify the reason the Web page was created in the first place. Determine if the main purpose is to inform, to persuade, or to sell you something. If you know the motive behind the page's creation, you can better judge its content.

Look at the details

Check for the obvious things, such as good grammar and correct spelling. Note the depth of the material presented. Look for documentation of the facts being presented. Look for the date the page was last up dated.

Distinguish Web pages from pages found on the web

When people speak of Web pages, they usually don't mean books and articles, but both books and articles are accessible through the Web.

INCO 48: http://www.taftcollege.edu/newTC/Academic/INCO48/sec6-4.htm

• Content
• Credibility
• Critical Thinking
• Copyright
• Citation
• Continuity
• Censorship
• Connectivity
• Comparability
• Context

Week 5: Using Search Engines

Lecture

A search engine is a web-based application that crawls the internet, creating indices of websites, usually from the textural information contrained on them. Sited are usually indexed according to keywords.

Types of search engines:

• Google - http://www.google.com/
• Yahoo - http://www.yahoo.com/
• AltaVista - http://www.altavista.com/
• AlltheWeb - http://www.alltheweb.com/

Problems with Search Engines:

• Too many results
• Limited relevance or quality filtering of results to a search query
• Misuse of the page scoring system
• Including of current "broken" links in a list of results

Some reliable search directories:

• DMOZ- dmoz.org
• Google Directory - directory.google.com
• Yahoo Directory - dir.yahoo.com
• Look Smart - http://www.looksmart.com/
• About - http://www.about.com/

U.S. Search Engine Ranking September 2007:

• Google - 57%
• Yahoo - 23.7%
• Microsoft - 10.3%
• Ask - 4.7%
• Time Warner including AOL - 4.5%

Task

Four strategies:

• Look for an appropriate search engine
• Think of proper keywords for better search results
• Use inverted Commas Around Your Search
• Use advanced search functions to narrow the info down

I used inverted commas to find the answers. The results that came up using this strategy was really good, as the information had the answer hidden in its contents.

Extra Reading

Robert Harris-Web Search Strategies: http://www.virtualsalt.com/howlook.htm

This site provides and overview of the enormous amount of information that Internet contains and it provides details on how and where to search for certain types of information. It also gives tips on searching for information without the use of a search engine.

The History of the Internet: (Chap 4- Search Engines): http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl/history/ivh/chap4.htm

This site informs the readers of the history of the internet search engine. It then describes how search engines have developed over the years to become more useful in terms of ability to find information over the web. The site also provides brief tips on how to search topics with the use of various keywords.

Search Engine Optimization for Companies: http://www.websight.net.au/search-engine-optimisation.asp

This site contains information regarding the processes involved in determining whether a small business website is suitable for search engine optimisation.

Week 4: Using the WWW

Lecture

The lecture this week was basically about the internet vs the WWW (World Wide Web).

The difference between the web and the internet is that the web operates via programs that communicate between the computer and the net.

What is WWW?
WWW stands for World wide web which is a universe of accessible information stored on computers throughtout the world. The information is available through a gigantic network caled the internet.

.com - commercial (of a commercial nature)
.org - organisation (non-profit)
.net - network (when .com is not available)
.gov - government
.edu - education

Task

Scotman site: http://haggishunt.scotsman.com/

The Scotsman site tries to look authentic by:

• The advertisements on the page, camvista.com
• There are prizes
• It seems tobe a promotional site with a competition
• Has membership registeration link

Molosia site: http://www.molossia.org/

This site tries tobe authentic by:

• Giving the visitor two options (Teacher click here, click here to enter)
• Has the history of the place
• It is a .org (organisation)
• In the teacher page it clearly shows that it is not an authentic site

Martin Luther King site: http://www.martinlutherking.org/

From lookning at the web address, I expected that this site was made up by an organisation. The contents of this site was expected tobe about Martin Luther King.

After visiting the site, it clearly shows that this was not any site deadicated to Martin Luther King. This site however was the opposite, with its racist made up quotes such as "I'm not a negro tonight".

This site was basically contained racist remarks on the African-American people by using Martin Luther King as the subject.

Extra Reading

A brief history of the internet

The internet is one of the biggest things in our daily lives today. It has changed the way we study and research. The internet was first invented by the navy to have a better communication. It started in the 1980’s and ever since then it has been developed around the world.

History of the World-wide Web

This website talks about the history of computers and the World Web. In the article there are five different chapters. The first chapter talks about the development of computers till the late 1960’s. The second chapter is on going from Arpanet to the Internet. The third chapter is all about the history of electronic mail. The fourth chapter is about search engines and the last chapter gives you a basic insight to basic net data on the internet.

Week 3: Online Libraries and Databases

Lecture

In todays lecture we leanrt about the advantages and disadvantages of using an online library.

Advantages of using an online library are:

• Convience - internet connection
• Currency - Jounals are up to date
• Electronic Format - Easy for making notes, copying and pasting etc.
• Anytime, anywhere - 24/7 access

Disadvantages of using an online library:

• Much of the contenet is hidden and only accessible by subscription
• Search engines do not access database and library indexes.

There are some different online library types:

• Online Text Repositories
• Online Journals
• Electronic Books
• Musical
• Artworks

Onlin databases however is vey similar to an online library, with search and browse facility.

Some types of Online Databases:

• People Searches
• E-mail Directories
• Maps
• Statistics
• News

Advantages of Online Databases:

• Comprehensive
• Current
• Browsable
• Searchable
• 24/7 Access
• Electronic Format

Disadvantages of Online Databases:

• Many databases accesible by subscription only
• Lots of advertisements
• Difficult to navigate
• Information Overload

Task

In todays task we had to go to the ECU Library Service and spend some time foing through the various support options.

Then we had to record 10 useful functions or search tips from the ECU library site.

• Use the plus (+) and minus (-) signs in front of words to force their inclusion and/or exclusion in searches.
• Use double quotation marks (" ") around phrases to ensure they are searched exactly as is, with the words side by side in the same order.
• Put your most important keywords first in the string.
• Type keywords and phrases in lower case to find both lower and upper case versions. Typing capital letters will usually return only an exact match.
• Use truncation (or stemming) and wildcards (e.g., *) to look for variations in spelling and word form.
• Combine phrases with keywords, using the double quotes and the plus (+) and/or minus (-) signs.
• When searching within a document for the location of your keyword(s), use the "find" command on that page.
• Know the default (basic) settings your search engine uses (OR or AND). This will have an effect on how you configure your search statement because, if you don't use any signs (+, -, " "), the engine will default to its own settings.
• Know whether or not the search engine you are using maintains a stop word list. If it does, don't use known stop words in your search statement. Then try search on another engine that does not recognize stop words.

We then had to visit the MEDline plus website - http://www.medlineplus.gov/ and spend time goin through the health topics and drug information.

This site is an online library of health issues so people that are:

• Worried about a certain symptom
• Wondering about a medicine the doctor prescribed
• Wants to find a local doctor/hospital

Extra Reading

Finding what you want on the web: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3362913.stm

Google is not the most efficient way to search for information just because it has a vast amount of information available and is one of the most widely used search engines. Bill Thompson said that to get better information, you should use more then just one search engine.

Bare Bones Lesson: http://www.sc.edu/beaufort/library/pages/bones/lesson7.shtml

This site contains information regarding basic search tips to narrow your search results. Using double quotations around specific phrases to search exactly as they are worded or using simply a plus or minus.

Week 2: Application Skills

Lecture

The lecturer today talked about common pc tasks such as file handling, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, internet access, e-mail and view PDF files. The lecturer then went into detail about how each common pc task are used and what common program is used to fullfil this task.

According to browser statistics- January 2008:

• Internet explorer - 54.7%
• Firefox - 37.2%
• The Monzilla Suite - 1.3%
• Safari - 1.9%
• Opera - 1.4%

We were also given some example blogs at the lecture.

Task

In tutorial we had to complete exercises for word and excel.

I found that the microsoft word exercise was very interesting, as I learnt about features that I havn't used before.

I found the excel exercise was very easy compared to the word exercises, as I have used the features needed to complete the task before already.

Week 1: Course Introduction

Lecture

This lecture explains to us what kind of things that will be learn in this course. It should provide a project-based approach to accessing knowledge through library and information & communication technologies. We will learn how to use resources from a variety of sources to search for information on a topic and prepare a project on a given topic.

We were also told that on completion of this unit, students would be able to:

• Access and use ECU web enrolment, email and learning management systems.
• Produce a range of documents of university standard using common computer applications.
• Locate, access and evaluate data and information from a variety of sources.
• Work productively as a member of a team.
• Minimise the risks associated with writing, using and managing electronic documents.

Task

In this weeks lesson, we were given our first assessment.

This week we had to set up a weblog using http://www.blogger.com/

Also we had to set up an image storage account using http://www.imageshack.us/

After doing the above tasks, I had the chance to mess around with blackboard to get familiar with all its useful links.

Extra Reading

PC Lube & Tune: http://www.yale.edu/pclt/default.htm

• PC Lube and Tune is a Service Station and convenience store in business since Feb, 1994
• The PC Lube & Tune objective is to supply usable introductions, tutorials, and education on technical subjects to the large audience of computer users.
• The method is to supply system independent hypertext files through the Internet and World Wide Web.

How Stuff Works: http://www.howstuffworks.com/pc.htm

• Dicusses the main components of a PC (memory, a hard disk, a modem, etc).
• Centraol processing unit (CPU)- The "brain" of the computer system.
• Memory- Storage used to hold data.
• motherboard- Main circuit board that all the other internal components connect to.
• Hard disk- Permanent storage used to hold information such as programs and documents.
• Graphics card- Translates image data from computer into a monitor.