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.