Week 12 - Social & Ethical Issues

Lecture Summary

This weeks lecture covered Internet security. We discussed web identity theft and the risk of putting your personal details on the web. We then discussed characteristics of the internet, internet information and internet users. We then looked at the different problems assiciated with using the ITC and how to protect your personal details when using the web.

Workshop Summary;

In this weeks workshop we continued working in our blogs. We completed our tasks with the assistance of our tutor.

Task 1.

For our first task we went to the Australian copyright council web site.

(www.copyright.org.au)

a. We followed the links to the 'information sheets'

b. We then chose five information sheets that are relevant to us as undergraduates:

1. Education Institutions- This informational sheet covers copyright acts and thier application in educational institutions. It discusses what copyright protects and what it doesnt protect and infringements for using copyright material illegaly. The sheet explains how students are allowed to use copyright material and who is responsible for infringements. This sheet gives students an idea of what materials they are allowed to use, and gives them more incentive to reference properly.
2. Internet: copying and downloading- This information sheet discusses copyright on the internet. It explains who copyright protects, how to get copyright protection, and when you might infringe copyright. The sheet helps show you what to look for when accesing a site to give you an indication of whether it is copyright or not.
3. Libraries-
   

(http://www.apra.com.au/music-users/online_mobile/online_mobile.asp )

(http://netsecurity.about.com/)

(http://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus6.htm)

(http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2100282,00.asp)

Reading (URL) - EFF's Top 12 Ways to Protect Your Online Privacy:

(http://www.eff.org/Privacy/eff_privacy_top_12.html )

Reading (URL) - Ethics in Computing - Social Justic Issues: Electronic Monitoring:

(http://ethics.csc.ncsu.edu/social/workplace/monitoring/ )

Reading (URL) - Brown & Michaels - Overview of Intellectual Property:

(http://www.bpmlegal.com/overview.html )

Week 11 - Building Knowledge

Lecture Summary:
In this weeks lecture we discuse the relationships between Data, Information and Knowledge.

• Data - A fact or proposition
• Information - A collection of data that relates to each other
• Knowledge - The sum of what has been learned

We discussed the characteristics of each of these and the importance. We then discussed these relationships in relation to businesses. We then looked at strategies to for assignment work by breaking it down into these categories.

Workshop Summary:

Week 10 - Information Management

Lecture Summary:
This weeks lecture looked at managing information. We looked at atom-based information which includes books, papers or anything that has been printed. Bit-based information is any electronic information like web pages, T.V. shows and pod casts. We then discussed the pros and cons of both. We looked at how it has changed 'the face of goods and services'. We then looked at principals for organising bit-based information.

Workshop Summary:

In this weeks tutorial we concentrated on completing our weekly tasks. This weeks tasks were about creating bookmarks.

Task 1.

The first task involved doing an online tutorial on how to use bookmarks and favourites

(http://www.inette.com/aibtinette/favoritesI.html)

Task 2.

Our next task was to create a folders list that has three folders in it, with at least two websites marked as favourites.

The first folder I created I called Mail. The two favourite websites for this folder is Hotmail and ECU Student Email:

The next folder I created is called Search Engines. The favourite websites for this folder are Google, Ask Jeeves, and All The Web:

The final folder I created is called Uni Net. I actually moved some of the favouritse that were already in my favourites list into this folder. The favourites include: Referancing Guide, Blackboard, Simo etc:

Task 3.

Our next task was to read Negroponte's "Being Digital" archive online.

The article "The DNA of Information", discusses the difference between bits and atoms. He also discusses the use of digital technologies in businesses.

(http://archives.obs-us.com/obs/english/books/nn/ch01c01.htm)

Task 4.

After reading Negroponte’s ideas relating to bits and atoms I believe that his views are still very much relevant. He discusses the advancement of digital technology, yet still remains realistic about what the future will bring. He bases his ideas on both the pros and cons of atom based information:

Pro’s

• High contrast display


• Lightweight, and


• Easy to ‘thumb through’

Con’s

• Harder to transport


• Can go out of print


• More expensive to transport

He believes that although “media will become digitally driven”, it is not likely that within the next century we will be converting atoms to bits in order for better transport etc.


Reading (URL) - Grazing the Net

(http://www.fno.org/text/grazing.html)

Week 9 - Communications

Lecture Summary:

This weeks lecture centered on Communications. We discovered that 'Information and Communication Technology (ICT)' is the cause of much of the change in communications over the last 20 years. We looked at types of communication, of which their are four:

• Synchronous
  
• Asynchronous
  
• Place Dependent
  
• Place Independent
  

These types of communications include emails, chat rooms and bulletin boards. We then looked at examples of ICT use which are used in every day life e.g. Mobile phones. We viewed using ICT and major issues associated with it. Finally we discussed the benefits and draw backs of using ICT, and concluded that it is a good source of information for university students.

Workshop Summary:

In our workshop we completed this weeks tasks with the guidance of our tutor. This weeks task was linked with our communications lecture and involved visiting podcast.

Task 1.

Our first task for this week was to enter a search term on google ' groups'. I searched peanut allergies:

(http://groups.google.com.au/groups/search?hl=en&q=peanut+allergies&hl=en&)

My search offered a number of groups with titles such as: A warning to those with peanut allergy, New study on peanut allergy and attention potato chip lovers!

Task 2.

I then proceeded to open some of the bulletin boards. For example the group ' A warning to those with peanut allergy'. Some of the messages include people giving examples of people with peanut allergies dying after being exposed to peanuts. And some of the messages are just people commenting on these stories.

(http://groups.google.com.au/group/alt.fifty-plus.friends/browse_thread/thread/466a3ea4732c00ff/03167601f4e10f34?hl=en&lnk=st&q=peanut+allergies#03167601f4e10f34)

Task 3.
After going to the podcast hosting site I entered the search Global Warming. The search results came up with different types of music most of them by an artist called Sonny Rollins

(http://audio.search.yahoo.com/search/audio;_ylt=A9G_XdxtHz5Idj4A9VyppcoF?ei=UTF-8&fr=sfp&p=Global+Warming)

I then went to the ECU Podcast site, it gave me some useful information on how to use the university podcasts.

(http://www.ecu.edu.au/library/services/podcasts.html#about)

Task 4.

Some of the potential benefits of using podcasts for university students include:

• Visually impaired students are able to access academic materials.
• Audio learners are better able to take in the information.
• Library offers tours for staff and students to navigate thier way around uni services.
• Students can get a better idea of the topic they are studying if it is presented visually and orally.
• Podcasts can maintain interest in students where written texts may not.

Podcasts are another example of ICT. Their are limitless amounts of information and music presented in podcast format. They are also another way for people to conduct asynchronous, place independent communication!



Reading (URL) - Guide to using Email:

14 Email Do's and Don'ts

The site '14 Email Do's and Dont's', offers 14 tips on how to make your emails more efficient. The site explains that although possibly the most widely used form of communication, email can be very inefficient. The tips it offers are both for senders and receivers and can help people organise meetings and other activities with minimal emails.

(http://myecu.ecu.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_154713_1%26url%3D)

Essential Email Etiquette

This article instructs the reader on how to format an email. It goes into detail in how formal your writing should be, and gives tips on how to avoid sounding sarcastic or brief. This information is useful in knowing when you are emailing a boss, lecturer, government official etc.

(http://myecu.ecu.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_154713_1%26url%3D)

Reading (URL) - The Problem with SPAM:
This article is all about SPAM. The site defines SPAM and informs the reader of the potential risks you may face when it is not handled correctly. Some of the main points are:

• What the problems are
• solutions that don't work, and
• Solutions that do work
  

(http://www.caube.org.au/problem.htm)

Week 8 - Presentation Strategies

Lecture summary:
This weeks lecture was all about constructing presentations. We looked at several techniques to producing successful presentations and what to include in our slide shows. One of the main points was KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid! This is important advice as if you overload your audience with information they are not likely to retain any. This lecture was to help us prepare for an upcoming presentation in UPC0002.

Workshop Summary:
In this weeks workshop we learnt how to create a slide show. Gary gave us some tips such as;
F5 - Start Slideshow
Shift F5 - Start slideshow from the slide you are on
Arrow Keys - Make the animation appear

He also showed us how to put podcasts on our slide shows and how to include other animations and sounds.

We also went over the group task again so that we all knew what was expected when we hand it in next friday.

Task 1.
Five strategies to creating a successful presentation:

1. Presentation - Only have 3-5 key points, keep your background and font simple and only have one type of animation effect.
2. Engage Your Audience - Make eye contact, know your subject and ask your audience questions.
3. Content - Only include the main points in your slide, stick to one theme and give examples.
4. Practice - Time yourself with a watch, practice in front of a friend and practice navigating your slideshow so you dont waste time.
5. Always Have a Backup - Know your subject so you can present without aid, make handouts so the audience can review the main points and bring overheads.

Task 2.
Our second task was to create a powerpoint slide show on how to give a presentation:

Slide 1-Title slide

For my title slide I picked a low key background that doesnt direct the audiences attention away from the speaker. I went into custom animations and used the Fly In effect on the picture. This gives the audience time to read the title before they view the graphics.

Slide 2 - Introduction

The introduction is on a simple background. It introduces the main theme of the presentation and outlines the content. I used the Fly In animation effect to bring the dot points onto the page. This shows what is in the rest of the slide.

Slide 3-7 - Main Body

The main body is also on a simple background so as not to make it feel cluttered. I have only included the key points in each slide instead of writing it in detail. This way the reader will have time to read the slides and take in there themes. I only used the Fly In animation to enter the dot-points onto the page so the speaker has time to discuss each point.

Slide 8 - Summary

The summary slide sums up the main theme of the presentation and conveys the main point of the presentation. I did not use any animation in this slide but included one graphic.

Week 7 - EndNote Libraries

Lecture Summary:

This weeks lecture centered around Referencing and the use of end note. We looked at what end note is, a flat-file database system, and how to install it. End note is used to store all of the references you use. It recognises different styles of referencing and can be used to insert citations and end text references. The use of end note allows you to keep track of your growing references and to make referencing much easier.

Workshop Summary:
In this weeks workshop, Gary showed us how to install End note, and also how to use it. We looked at saving a library,changing the referencing style, and referencing different sources. We then used end note to insert citations into a written text, and to create an end text reference list.

Task 1.

Referencing electronic format material:

1. Web Page:
   Technical specifications (iPhone). [n.d.] Retrieved November, 2007, from Apple: http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html
   
   
2. Article only in an Internet journal:
   Fredrickson, B. L. (2000, March 7). Cultivating positive emotions to optimise health and well-being. Prevention & Treatment, 3, Article 0001a. Retrieved November 20, 2000, from http://journals.apa.org/prevention/volume3/pre0030001a.html
   
   
3. CD-ROM:
   The Australian Business Index [CD]. (1993). Nedlands, Western Australia: CD-ROM Publishing.
   
4. Email:
   A. B. Smith (personal communication, December 29, 2005)
   
   
5. Computer software:
   Computer literacy for nurses [Computer software]. (1985). Edwardsville, Kansas: Medi-sim.
   
   

(Online Referencing Guide)

Task 2:

In this task we completed the Endnotev11 Exercises for Vista.

(EndNote Exercises)

Firstly we had to start an end note library. We then proceeded to enter some references provided into our endnote library:

(EndNote library)

We then went to a prescribed website and collected details to enter into our library:

(http://computer.howstuffworks.com/blog.htm)

Finally we went into the library web page and found a certain Journal Article. We followed the instructions and used the tabs to export the citations directly into our endnote library:

(http://0-proquest.umi.com.library.ecu.edu.au/pqdweb?RQT=532&MRR=R&TS=1212024225&clientId=7582)

Task 3.

We then used end note to insert in text citations into a pre-written text.

(Cite while you write Endnote Exercise)

After inserting our citations we discovered that the end text references had automatically been placed at the bottom of the page, making up our end text reference list. We then inserted a page break and edited the text where necessary.

Reference Page of Endnote Exercise:

(Cite while you write Endnote Exercise)

Resource - (URL) ECU Referencing Guide:

(http://www.ecu.edu.au/LDS/pdf/refguide.pdf)

Resource (URL) - EndNote:

The 'Guide to Endnote v9 @ ECU' is an introductory guide for new users. It explains what endnote is and what it is used for. It also goes into detail on how to use endnote. The main points are:

• Building a New EndNote Reference Library
• Displaying and Searching
• Making Citations and Generating a Reference List Using EndNote and MS Word, and
• Importing References Electronically into EndNote v9

By reading this guide new users should gain a clear understanding of endnote and its functions.

(http://www.research.ecu.edu.au/grs/data/tmp/guide_to_endnotev9ecu.pdf)

Resource (URL) - Some additional EndNote help:

The 'Endnote Technical Support and Services' site offers information to endnote users on a number of issues. These include the following:

• Crashing issues
• System compatibility
• Importing, and
• Transferring

This guide helps endnote users to maintain thier endnote programs.

(http://www.endnote.com/support/ensupport.asp)

Week 6 - Evaluation & Authentication

Lecture Summary:
The lecture for week 6 was all about evaluating web pages. We looked at information quality (IQ) and considered that as the internet has no standards or requirements it is possibl for anyone to create a web page. We then examined different criteria for evaluating IQ. The Beck criteria has the following structure:

• Accuracy
• Authority
• Objectivity
• Currency, and
• Coverage

By evaluating a website using criteria such as this we are able to determine whether the information presented on a web page is useable or not.

Workshop Summary:

In this weeks workshop we had an informal blog check. Gary looked at each persons online journals and gave them constructive feedback on what could be done to improve the blogs. We then split into groups of three for our group assignment. We discussed what the assignment entailed and when it was due. We discerned that the information we would need to complete the assignment was found in the week 6 lecture.

Task 1.

The ICYou Critical Thinking page is on online guide to evaluating websites. It contains 6 strategies for evaluating pages:

1. Determine whether it is necessary for you to use the internet as a source. What are you looking for?
2. Compare information found in web pages with a number of different sites to ascertain the authority of the information. Look for evidence.
3. Look for information about the author to find out wether they are an authority on the topic.
4. Look for the purpose of the web page. Why was it created? What is its bias?
5. Observe the quality of the page and information, spelling, grammer, graphics. Do all the links work?
6. What was the sites original source. Academic journal or gossip magizine?

(http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think.html)

The 'inco 48' web page also gives advice on which criteria to use when evaluating web pages. Its suggestions are much the same as the critical thinking page with a couple of additional suggestions:

1. What is the reputation of the publisher?
2. What is the currency of the page. When was it last updated?
   

(http://www.taftcollege.edu/newTC/Academic/INCO48/sec6-4.htm)

Task 2 & 3.

Web Site Evaluation:

American Cultural History: 1960 - 1969

1. This web page does offer useful information that may not be found in another type of source.
2. Information is valid. The site offers evidence and links to other pages which give more information to support.
3. The author of the article is a reference librarian whos authority is credible.
4. Purpose of the web page was to inform the reader of the topic with reference to what is important in the present.
5. The page is of good quality. No spelling errors, has working links, relevant graphics.
6. The information on the site was originally contained in edited books.
   

(http://kclibrary.nhmccd.edu/decade60.html)

A Trip Through the Sixties

1. This site contains useful information that may be contained in other print sources.
2. The information is valid. The site offers evidence and links to other sites.
3. The site has a number of articles with different authors. Information appears to be accurate.
4. Purpose of the site is to inform. No strong bias.
5. Good quality page. No spelling or grammer errors, many working links, relevant graphics.
6. The information has originally come from printed books.
   

(http://www.hippy.com/php/sitetopics.php?topic=1)

This weeks lessons have shown us that by using a criteria to evaluate web pages before using information, we will be able to determine wether the information is credible. It is essential to evaluate web pages as the use of false information can seriously undermine an academics work.

Reading (URL) - Critical Thinking:

(http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/college/help/critical/ )

Reading (URL) - Evaluating Web Sites:

(http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/webeval.html)

Reading - Evaluating Information found on the Web:

(http://www.library.jhu.edu/researchhelp/general/evaluating)

Reading (URL) - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: Why It's a Good Idea to Evaluate Web Sources:

(http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/eval.html)

Reading (URL) - Robert Harris: "Evaluating Internet Research Sources":

(http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm)

Reading - A Contextual Approach to Teaching Undergraduates Web-site Evaluation: