Goodbye Net 11!!!!!

Well, I have now completed all of the modules and assignments in this course, I have found that I have learnt a great deal in relation to the Internet and have found it to be a valuable unit to do.

To all of my fellow students...Thank you for all of your help via the discussion board!!! It has been interesting reading about everybody's experiences. Good luck to everyone in the submission of their assignments.

Assignment 2 - Complete!!!

Well I think I have finished assignment number 2, the essay on 'How can net skills and knowledge be enhanced ny having a conceptual understanding of the internet?' I am not sure how I will go with this as it has been sometime since I have written an essay and I was never very good at them anyway. All that is left to do is hit the submit button...Am I game?

Assignment 2 - Progress

Getting there, slowly but surely...I have had trouble with the links in the assessment details in the curriculum so I have just found my own material from the internet, my concept of the internet is improving and I am beginning to understand how things work on a whole different level! I guess this is called learning!!!!

Assignment 2

I must admit, I had trouble starting the Essay, as writing essays is definately not one of my favourite pastimes. However, I have now started and I am about halfway through. Having a new baby is certainly challenging when one is trying to concentrate and the fact that I received some sad news over the weekend, a lifelong friend passed away, is having a little bit of an effect on the time that I can commit to writing this essay. But such is life.... I will keep going and hopefully have a finished draft by the end of today!

Assignment 1

Well, I have finally finished assignment # 1. Like always I have trouble starting assignments, simply due to work commitments, children, uni and life in general!! Once I finally got started I found the assignment to be not as hard as what I first imagined and quite interesting as well! I am just hoping that my outlook on what we had to do in the assignment was correct!! I will soon find out! I must say that I am glad that I have completed it and I will now be moving on to assignment 2!!!

Module 4 - Evaluating the Web

The primary purpose of this site is to provide information to internet users about some functions that you can perform to get the most out of the internet. It is published by the Center fo Improved Engineering and Science Education at the Stevens Institiute of Technology and is covered by copyright, it has a link to the Center of Improved Engineering and Science Education website that tells you more about the publisher, this would indicate to me that the site is credible.

The site is made of tutorials that cover a number of areas for advanced internet users. In my opinion it is published more for the use of teachers at the Institute than the general internet user, but it does provide some useful information for others as well. It provides practical exercises to ensure your understanding of the tutorials. It provides a link that indicates what the purpose of the website and who it is directed at.

I dont believe that the information contained in the website is a current as it could be due to the fact that the copyright happened in the year 2000. I cant see any other date that indicates that information has been updated since then. However the links that are contained in the site are functional.

I used the A9 function to give me an indication of the type of people who visit this site, the people who visit this page also visit a number of other educational sites.

Compare your final analysis and annotation with the material you saved for the last task, and think about these questions :

In terms of your own future use, which 'body ' of information (ie. the original 'snapshot' of the site, or your own, annotated, analytical version) would be most useful to refer back to?

I think that the credibility of the site has a lot to do with how useful the site actually is. I would refer to the about us links and look further into who published and wrote the information contained in the site. I would also need to decide what the mission of the site was to see if it was the kind of information that I wanted to use.

In term of external users (i.e. if you included this site as a hyperlink or resource on a website) which body of information would best help them judge if the site was useful or of interest to them?

To best judge if this site was useful to an external user, it would be best to determine what purpose the site was made for, ie Advocacy, Commercial or Reference/Information. The user could refer to the site information or the about us link to find out more information about the site and to see if the site is relevant to them.

Module 4 - Organising search information task

Choose the best three sources found in the previous task
Using whatever software or tool you think appropriate, record the following information about those sites:

• URL,


• author,


• institution,


• blurb/ summary / screen shot (this can be a direct copy of an appropriate abstract or introductory paragraph on the site: but make sure you record and reference it as such)
  

Site 1.
URL - http://www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced/
Author - Stevens Institute of Technology
Institution - Stevens Institute of Technology

This self-guided tutorial is intended to be used by those who have an expertise in the basic web browsing features. During the hands-on training that covers Basic Internet Features, it is expected that those advanced users take that time to review more complex technical features of their web browser. Those currently engaged in Basic Training are encouraged to re-visit this web site to further their knowledge about internet browsing.
(2000). Advanced Internet User Tutorial. Retrieved 13 April,2007, from http://www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced/index.html

Site 2.
URL - http://www.vicnet.net.au/training/advance.html
Author -
Institution - State Library of Victoria

This web site provides a number of tutorials for the more advanced internet user, it covers such things as comprehensive search tools, tips for internet use and legal & ethical issues, just to name a few. It has some useful links to download programs, microsoft updates and loads of information on a number of topics.

Site 3.
URL - http://peds2.med.miami.edu/mailman/basic.htm#top
Author - Department of Paediatrics
Institution - University of Miami

This website gives a wealth of information, a lot of the information is basic and could be for the beginner, but as it goes along it discusses search engines, browsers and downloading files. I think this site is quite a useful tool. I found this site after doing my search through Metacrawler using only .edu as the domain.

Module 4 - Boolean Search Task

Taking the same key words 'advanced internet users' as your last search, think about how you would best search for the following:

• The biggest number of hits relating to these key words

To return the biggest number of hits I used OR as my Boolean operator. I used this to search on Google and it returned a massive 2,650,000,000 hits. Using the Boolean operator of AND, Google returned 263,000,000.

• Sources relating to skills-based information on these key words.

For this I used Metacrawler and Advanced OR Internet OR Users OR Skills, this returned 96 hits, to be honest I was not sure whether to use AND or OR for this exercise, so I did both! Using AND as a Boolean operator Metacrawler returned 99 hits. Most of the web sites were the same for both methods.

• Information coming only from university sources

I used Metacrawler again, but I went into the advanced search preferences and specified that I only wanted to search for sites with the domain of .edu, this returned 19 hits which seem to be relevant to university sources only.

Module 4 - Search Engines

1. Choose your most commonly used internet search engine and do a search for the words: advanced internet users

• record the first hit and number of hits in your learning log

I chose to use Google for this task as this is the search engine that I am most familiar with, I typed in 'advanced internet users' and the first hit I got was for the following site http://www.k12science.org/tutorials/advanced/. The number of hits was huge, at around 74,400,000! Who wants to wade through all that??? I know I dont have the time, so I can see the need for refining my search.

2. Using copernicus or similar, set it up to search at least three search engines (including one that will search the 'deep web') and repeat exactly the same search

• 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?

As per the task in Module 4, I searched 'advanced internet users' using Copernicus, the main difference is that it only returned 20 results rather than 74,400,000. I also noticed that Copernicus gave me a more in depth search, hence the difference in the amount of sites that the 2 search engines returned. At first glance the two search methods gave me the same site as the first option, however Google then gave me all of the sites that it could find that mentioned those 3 words. At first glance I would think that Copernicus would give me the most promising results, but I would need to look into a few of the sites before I could be sure.

Module 4 - Downloading Tools

Most of the programs that were mentioned in the Module 4 task, I was familiar with. I did download Bookmark Buddy...I found this to be useful to sort through your bookmarks and reorder them if necessary, you can include a lot more detail regarding the site using this program rather than just having them in a favourites list in internet explorer. I found that it was easy to save bookmarks and also to open your existing ones too. The help page is useful and very easy to understand.

I also downloaded Copernic, I found this to be very useful when searching the web as it gives you many more options, you can use it to search with a number of search engines all at the same time rather than having to search one by one!! I had never heard of this program before I started this course, but it will be one that I will definately use in the future.

Module 3 - Blogs

Above is a screen shot of my blog as requested in the Module 3 tasks.......My blog within my blog!!!!! I have found it reasonably easy to use a blog, it seems all pretty self explanatory, especially for someone like me who has never even seen a blog before! Blogs are used by many different people with a whole range of different interests, you can set up a blog to include information about just about anything. Blogs are a form of Asynchronicity communication.

Module 3 - FTP

After much trepidation about this task, I finally decided that I would give it a go!! Just by reading the other students comments in the discussion board, I knew that it wasn't going to be easy!!!
Anyway, after reading the Using FTP tutorial from the Oasis website, I used WS_FTP to transfer my files and I managed to connect to the curtin site. As seen in the above picture, I did mangae this much!!!! However I had great problems trying to connect to my student web space, it just kept coming up with 'cannot connect to server' so whether it is something I am doing or a problem with the Curtin site, I am not sure...but I don't know enough about it to go any further!!! I will keep trying to acess the site and see how I go...I am now going to install VPN and see if that helps!

Well I installed VPN and tried once again to connect to the student web space, this time I got an error message saying that access was forbidden!!!! I am going to try the help desk guys and see if they can answer why!!!

Module 3 - Review questions

Review Topic - Lesson 1

1.What are HTML tags?
Tags that deliver instructions to a web browser to display page information.

2.Where is the text of the title tag displayed?
In the title bar of the browser window.

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

• Launch your text editor program.
• Go to the text editor window.
• Enter the HTML tags

4. How do you create a comment tag?

Comment tags are enclosed by !----comment----

5. How can you display your HTML document in a web browser?

• Select Open File... from the File menu.
• Use the dialog box to find and open the file you created.
• You should now see in the title bar of the browser window the title of the HTML you created and in the web page below, the body of the text you wrote.

Review – Lesson 2

How did you re-open your workspace?

• Select New Window from the File menu.
• Use the Open File command from the File menu to find the necessary file

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

• Go to the text editor window.
• Below the typed text typed press return a few times and add the necessary changes
• This text should be above the and tags shown at the bottom of your HTML file.
• To update these changes in Notepad, select save from the file menu.

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

• Go back to the browser window and refresh the screen to update the HTML with the changes.
  

Review Topics – Lesson 3

What are the different levels of headings in HTML?

The different levels of headings range from 1 through to 6, each of these appear as different sizes in the HTML document.

What are the tags associated with these different levels?

The tags associated with these different levels are hn and /hn. N is a number from 1 to 6 that identifies the size of the heading.

What steps did you use in placing headings in your HTML document?

• Open the browser window
• Go to the text editor window
• Open the HTML text file
• Enter heading
• Save changes
• Return to your web browser and refresh.

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

If the correct ending is not entered, all of the text is seen as part of the heading.

Review Topics – Lesson 4

What is the HTML tag for a paragraph break?

The tag for a paragraph break is p, (you would also use the comma's that surround the HTML tags, I havent in this instance to stop the HTML document from actually inserting a paragraph in the instance.)

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

• Open your web browser.
• Go to the text editor window.
• Open your HTML document in the text editor.
• Enter the HTML tag p where you need to insert a paragraph.
• Save the changes in the text editor.
  

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

• Return to the web browser and refresh the screen and the changes should become visible

* Extra Credit: What is a horizontal rule

A horizontal rule is often used to divide sections of a HTML document. To insert a horizontal line in a HTML document you use the hr tag.

Review Topics – Lesson 5

What are HTML style tags?

HTML style tags are tags that are used in your document to add such things as bold or italics to the HTML.

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

For bold - b
For italics - i
For typewriter - tt
For bold and italics - i b
(All of these tags would be enclosed with the HTML commas.)

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

• Open your browser
• Open your HTML document in the text editor.
• Insert the appropriate tag to make the word appear in bold, italics or typewriter style
• Save in the text editor and refresh.

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

These styles can be useful because they can be used to highlight important words or headings etc.

Review Topics – Lesson 6

How are lists valuable in a web page?

Lists are useful for creating index's or table of contents to documents or chapters.

What is the HTML tag for a unordered list?

The HTML tag for an unordered list is ul.

What is the tag for a ordered list?

The HTML tag for and ordered list is ol.

What steps did you use in adding a list to your HTML document?

• Open your browser
• Open your HTML document in the text editor.
• Add the sentences that you need and enter the HTML tag to insert the type of list that you require.
• Save in your text editor and refresh on your web browser.
  

Module 3 - HTML

I found this topic to be quite interesting, I have never used HTML before and so I just followed the Tutorial to create the famous Volcano site!!! I did however find this topic to be very time consuming and as time is a treasured thing these days, I found this frustrating! I had trouble with my links when I uploaded the Vocano site to webct, some links will not work and I for the life of me cannot work out why!!! I guess it shows my inexperience!! As for the review questions associated with this topic, I am working my way through them and I will upload them to my blog as I go.

ICQ Chat

I managed to have a chat with Mary using ICQ, pictured above is a little bit of the conversation we had about instant messenger programs. I found ICQ really easy to use when chatting to Mary, I did not encounter too many problems with it!

Module 2 - ICQ

I downloaded the software from www.web.icq.com and added all of the available contacts to my list.
I then searched for the nickname advanced netstudies and added it to my contacts list.

1. The ICQ number for advanced netstudies is 257 853 416
2. It is not authorised automatically
3. The comment in the about section says "This is the ICQ identity I use just for my 'advanced internet use' students."

I found ICQ easy to use and have tried to chat with fellow students online, although I did not receive an answer...maybe next time!!!

Module 2 - Email Lists v's Newsgroups

Pictured above is my contribution to a newsgroup regarding problems with windows XP, boring I know but it was one I could get onto.

What are the Pros and Cons of email lists v's discussion boards?

Email Lists
As per the study notes supplied, a list automatically allows the distribution of email to groups of people that have consented to receiveing those messages and have the right to send mail to others. The aim is to be able to share information that interests members on the list.
Mail is sent to a lists address and from there the mail is sent out to the people who have subscribed to the list

Newsgroups or Discussion Boards
Newsgroups are places on the Internet where people can contribute to a discussion by leaving a message of interest.
Newsgroups exist on thousands of topics and are useful for building online communities and bringing people together with similar interests. They are like an electronic notice board. There are thousands of newsgroups that cover many different topics

Lists - Pros

• Information of interest is emailed directly to you


• Members of the lists actually want to be on the lists, this creates better communication between the members


• Can unsubscribe from a list


• Lists are monitored

Lists - Cons

• Lists have rules regarding certain types of information


• Can receive a lot of spam when subscribing to a list


• Have a responsibility when subscribing to a list


• The information that you post can be read by many different people even if you only want to direct to certain groups.


• Can fill up your inbox quite quickly
  

Newsgroups - Pros

• Newsreaders provide search functions, this allows you to sort through a list of groups and find the one that best suits your needs


• Newsgroups can either be moderated or open depending on the requirements of the newsgroup


• An Internet browser is often the only program required to participate in an online discussion


• Newsgroups bring people together who share common interests


• Gauge public opinion or strength of feeling about certain topics or interest
  

Newsgroups - Cons

• Can contain innappropriate content for some readers


• Can contain sexually related images that are inappropriate for some readers


• It is easy for children to download images and participate in sometimes inappropriate discussions


• Can be the victim of 'flaming'
  

Are there certain kinds of communication or purposes more suited to one than the other?

In my limited experience, discussion boards are better suited to people who want to log in and participate in a discussion when they feel like it. When you are a member of an email list, you automatically recieve information in your inbox that you then have to wade through to see if there is anything of any interest to you. The thread in discussion boards seems much easier to follow and you do not have to respond if the subject if it is of no interest to you or you have limited time.

Lists seem better suited to people who like to share their thoughts on a particular interest or subject. When you subscribe to an email list it can quickly fill up your inbox and this can create problems when trying to identify what is of interest to you and what is not.

Because of the time factor and the fact that the threads are easier to follow, I much prefer to use discussion boards like the one that we have set up in this course.

Module 2 - Email Tasks

I found the Email tutorial helpful to understand the basic email functions. I am familiar with many of the basic functions as I use email everyday to communicate at work and also on a private level. However, it is handy to know the tutorial is there to clear up anything that I might not have known.

The answers to the Module 2 questions are as follows.

1. What information about a user's email, the origin of a message, and the path it took, can you glean from an email message?

The information that you can obtain from an email message includes the username of the person sending the email, the domain name and the time that the message was sent. You can also see if the message was sent to anyone else using the cc function.

2. In what cases would you find it useful to use the 'cc', 'bcc' and 'reply all' functions of email?

• You would use the 'cc' function if you wanted to send a copy of an email to someone as well as the recipient
• You would use the 'bcc' function if you wanted to send a blind copy of the email to someone without the recipient knowing
• You would use the reply to all function if you wanted your reply to be sent to all of the recipients from the original message.

3. In what ways can you ensure that an attachment you send will be easily opened by the receiver?

• You must ensure that the recipient has the software they need to open the file eg if you are sending a file that was originally created in MS Word, then you must ensure that the recipient has a compatible program in order to open the document.
• Send text files as plain text (ASCII). This is useful of you don't know what type of programs the recipient has access to. (A file that is sent as plain text will lose any formatted text eg, bold)
• Include in your email the name of the program used to create the attachment.
• It is a good idea to compress large files to reduce the amount of time needed to open the file, you could use programs such as Winzip to unzip the file when you have received it. I have found this useful when sending MYOB attachments.

4. What sorts of filters or rules do you have set up, and for what purpose?

I have a spam filter in place for my email account so that I do not receive as much junk email as I would if this was not in place. I only receive email in my inbox from people listed in my address book. I still receive junk email, but it is automatically placed in another folder so I can access it if I want to, but it does not go directly into my inbox.

5. How have you organised the folder structure of your email and why?

I have based this answer on my email account at work, I sort all of my emails into separate folders depending on who they are from, for example I have different folders set up for clients, the ATO, friends and uni, just to name a few. I have done this so that if and when I need to refer back to an email, it makes it quicker and easier to do this without having to go through every email that is in my inbox.

Module 1 - Traceroute & Ping

Traceroute

I used http://centralops.net/co/ to access a router. There are 19 hops and the average time in milliseconds is 246ms.
The IP number for curtin.edu.au was 134.7.179.10 although in the self check questions the correct answer was 134.7.134.101, I am not sure why this is, however I think most students received the same answer as I did.

Ping

I downloaded the A-Tool bar from http://www.tucows.com/preview/323577.html and pinged the webct.curtin.edu.au address. There were 5 hops with 219ms. As you can see there were far less hops and it took less time.

Module 1 - FTP

I used the recommended site http://www.ftpplanet.com/download.htm to complete this task, I downloaded the 30 day trial version and connected to recall.curtin.edu.au. I logged in as anonymous and pulled up the README file. The correct answer for this task is CAPITALIZATION matters. I am sure the tasks are going to get more complex as we go along, but for a novice like myself, I found this one to be OK.

Module 1 - Telnet

I found this task to be reasonably easy, I typed telnet://library.deakin.edu.au into my internet explorer browser and the telnet screen came straight up. I followed the links to the page where you search for an author, typed in Bennahum and 2 entries appeared. The correct answer for this task is Managed Care: financial, legal and ethical issues.