Week 10: Information Management

Lecture Summary:

Week 10 was based on Information Management. We use the computers to manage our information for us quickly and easily by using text, documents, images, WebPages, bookmarks, presentations, assignments, and references.

Atom-Based: his includes books, magazines, papers, reports etc. These are good sources as they are difficult to copy or change, we can see it so will not lose it easily, an can store it away. Negatives include the large size, you can not update or change, it can go out of date.

Bit-Based: This includes digital reproductions and information in an electronic format. The pros of this are it is easy to store and cary, cheap, edit or update wat any time. Negatives are, it is easy to copy of sleal ideas, and there could be a large chance of it being fake as it is easy for anyone to edit.

Principles for organising your bits are to put work in the correct, organised files, locate files by using the search button, an install a google search engine. Learn what the file extensions are and what they do, this wil make it easier to manage files.

Tutorial Tasks:

This weeks task was to complete the task on http://www.inette.com/aibtinette/favoritesI.html about using bookmarks on the internet. Make a favourites list wiith atleast 3 files in it, 2 websites marked as favourites. Read through the article called 'Being Digital' on http://archives.obs-us.com/obs/english/books/nn/bdcont.htm. Write 150 words on why i think the information presented is still relevant, include pros and cons of using 'atoms' and 'bits'

Week 12: Social & Ethical Issues

Lecture Summary:


Who is Watching you?
This was one of the man points during this lecture. A report was shown about Myspace. This included identifying an individual by looking up or researching the few personal details they present on their personal page about themselves including, full name, star sign and what country or state in which they live. This indicates that information which you chose to present on the internet can be useful for other people and easy for them to look up personal information. There is the option to set your profile to private so that you control who views your page so there is a certain amount of privacy and security. Although websites have warnings on this issue, they do not always appear clear to users.

Why are there problems?
There are many problems related to the internet as characteristics of the internet itself, characteristics of the internet information and characteristics of the internet user are not always correct.

What are the problems?
The problems one the internet as the information being presented is not always correct, it may be bias, anyone can publish information, unethical information and publishers may not be very intelligent.
Other problems include copyright, plagiarism, security intellectual property, privacy and freedom of speech. This plays a huge role in the types of problems on the internet.
Security problems deal with content and password thief, viruses opening attachments on e-mails and downloading unwanted software. Data from one computer can be transmitted to the destination computer.

How to protect yourself
Installing firewall and antivirus software will prevent viruses from attacking your computer. Beware of attachments, the majority of them contain viruses. Understand what spy wear you install as sometimes they contain viruses or are not actually protecting your computer

Academic Misconduct
Edith Cowan University does not accept any form or misconduct. For example, plagiarism, unauthorised collaboration, cheating in examinations, theft of others students work, collusion, inadequate and incorrect referencing, just to name a few. If any of these things take place, there will be a punishment.
Tutorial Tasks:
This weeks tutorial task was to access 5 information sheets on the internet that are written for undergraduates informing them on copyright policies and what is acceptable and what is not. I needed to look for examples of these pages and summarise. Copyright wen it comes to music is also looked up. From this I realised free music downloads are not fait to the musician or song writer themselves, because we don’t pay, the artists don’t have anything to get paid for their work themselves. A guide is to be written on how to protect my PC from viruses.

Tutorial Tasks:

This week was based on copyright codes and conducts. I had to look up and summarise 5 information sheets that are written and aimed at students at undergraduate level.Tutorial. Also, I had to research information on 3 different websites on music and the web. The last part, is to write a guide on how to protect your PC from unwanted viruses and the different causes of these.



Readings:
1. Review 5 information sheets on the website www.copyright.org.au.
My first information page is named Recording from TV & radio for educational purposes. This revolved around the idea that students can learn greatly by using TV and radio. Information on what you are allowed to record, from where, what you can do with a recorded programme, what cant you do with recordings, information on recordings, copies and communications, keeping records of recording, copying and communication, and moral rights obligations, non-broadcast AV material. The web site sums up with questions and where to find further information.

The second information sheet Special case exception: education, libraries, collections. This information page is a guide for educators rather than for students. The guide includes information needed to know and putting ideas into practice.

Thirdly, copyright update. This information page contains information and a graph on recent updates, this is published 6 times a year so the information presented is current and kept up to date. The graph is easy to follow, it appears to be very clear and precise.

The fourth information sheet is Training materials: legal protection. This sheet contains information on key points such as, who creates training materials, moral rights in relation to work, and information about getting permission to incorporate third party material into training. Information on copyright and what it protects, how long it lasts before it expires, the rights of copyright, who owns copyright training materials, infringement, moral rights and reducing copyright materials. Common questions are presented and answered, and finally, where to find further information on the topic. This page is straight to the point and easy to follow for students at undergraduate level.

Finally, Research or study. This information sheet is aimed at students and other people who generally want to know what’s available to copy for research. Discussed, is what amount of information is available to copy, this is 10%, 10% or words, mages and paragraphs. Definitions of research and study are defined, and lastly, general questions and answers. This guide is clear on what is useful and how much of it.

2. http://www.apra.com.au/music-users/online_mobile/online_mobile.asp is an informative website on what we need to know about music and the web. Clearly, is the statement that ‘free’ music and downloads, mean that musicians and artists do not get paid. Although these ‘free’ music downloads are great news for us, it is unfair to musicians who are doing their job and not getting paid for it.

Copyright music is only copyright after the appropriate clearances have been made. This lets people reproduce and broadcast their work to the public. Broadcasting covers radio, television and internet.

“The reproduction of a musical work occurs in the process of operating a streaming, on-demand or download service – i.e. uploading a work onto a licensee’s central server and/or downloading onto a user’s hard drive.”
A couple of online licenses are shown, these include AMCOS and APRA. This encourages and makes it easy for users on the internet to download from these servers; webcasters, on-demand music and other services, digital downloads and mobile phone ring tones rather than other ‘free’ ones. Digital downloads and mobile phone ring tones are introduced to show the sited are useable and suitable.

3. A plan to protect myself from attacks on my privacy and security involves, using vista as it is stronger than its users. This is useful as it is actually powerful.
Protecting my PC from viruses is important. I would buy antivirus software to protect my computer from unwanted viruses and bugs. Avoiding pop-ups and unknown sites is a safe move as there is no risk of receiving a virus.
On all Microsoft applications have Macro Virus Protection enabled. Avoid as many macros as possible as it is never safe to run them in a document.
Be aware that emails can contain viruses, open ones you are positive have no viruses. Scams are used such as ‘you have won…, CONGRADULATIONS’ etc. these are all used to get your attention so when you click them you receive a virus.
Microsoft Word can need to be updated, make sure the security emergency is switched on for maximum safety and protection from unwanted viruses.

Week 11- Building Knowledge

Lecture Summary:
There was a pop quiz on how to Build Knowledge. The quiz included;

1.What is a Boolean search?
2.What strategies can you use to give a great presentation?
3.What criteria can be used for evaluation of websites?
4.What are the advantages of atom based information?
5.What was the original purpose of the web?
6.What are the 5 top things you have learnt about the use of technology at University?


Definitions and differences of Datum meaning a fact of proposition was explained. This includes factual, non-judgmental, non-inferential, transient and has no "meaning" or "value."

Information, a collection of facts or data that together create information as they relate to each other, rational, dimensional, permanent, has meaning and uncertain value.

Finally, knowledge, meaning the sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered or learned. Knowledge includes experimental, judgemental, subjective, inferential and very valuable data.

Workshop Tasks:
Browse the website http://www.success.co.il/is/dik.html to look up the terms, data, information, knowledge and wisdom on online dictionaries.
Search for alternative ways online to represent these words using a drawing toolbar in Microsoft Word to create graphical representations. Add this into the blog as a screen capture.
Type up a brief explanation as to why these terms assist in university study.
List 5 organisations that use and collect information from either clients or the public and explain why they need this information.

Readings:
The term data means, information proved to be factual by statistics or measurements. Data is used as the basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/data

Information is the outcome of processing, manipulating and organising data and arranging it so that data becomes fact.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information

Knowledge is an understanding of information.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/knowledge

Wisdom means being wise; it means being able to make sense of knowledge.
http://www.webster-dictionary.net/definition/Wisdom

These terms will assist university students as they firstly gather data and turn it into information. They do this by having knowledge on the topic. Wisdom with make the student understand whether the information gathered is correct.

Five organisations that collect information from both the public and clients are:

Education Organisation:

This organisation uses client information such as name, age, nationality, address, phone number etc so that students can get the best education from their school. Their age needs to be recorded so that they are placed in the correct year of study, their nationality often has something to do with the level of study, for example Indigenous Australians, Torres Straight Islanders, and people with English as a second language often do different levels of English. Addresses and phone numbers need to be kept record of so that if there are problems with either education or personal issues parents can be contacted.

Recreation Organisation:

Recreational Organisations need to keep track or name, age, gender, address, phone number etc so that if any injuries or any problems occur with a player, parents or guardians can be contacted immediately. Also, there are selected age groups in sport teams, players mush be placed in their correct age group. Records of players stats are also kept. This is only for the reason of presentations at the end of season, its like a reward for players.

Hygiene Organisation:

This includes doctor surgeries, dentist, orthodontist, hospitals etc. Record of age, name, address, medical history etc in case of emergencies or problems that family's will have to be contacted. Age and medical history is important as it can greatly relate or help determine the illness of problem an individual may be suffering from. Also details are kept of complaints or good feedback patients have about the doctors and dentists. Records of the amount of patients the workers have had are useful for stats on that individual as a worker.

Library:

Library cards are given out, these include D.O.B., name, age, suburb and the basic details. This is to keep record of who has their property and what time they hired it and need to return it. This makes it easy for librarians to draw up tables and pages of information as to when the property will come back so it is available for hire again. Records of what books have been taken out are kept to that librarians can see what genre and type of book or source is popular and what isn't so much. This could help them when they need to order more sources so that the customers are satisfied.

Volunteer Groups:

These groups keep record of who is in them, like the other organisations, they keep record of name, age, gender, nationality, address and phone number along with any other contact details. They use this information so that shifts can be filled out and they can be contacted if someone is sick or can not make it into work, they will be replaced.

Week 9: Communications

Lecture Summary:
Today's technology is much more advanced compared to 20 years ago, because of this, the world connects in a completely different way today.

Communication can occur through networks. These networks include, chain networks, wheel networks, circle networks, and all-channel networks.

Synchronised communication is where all participants of the conversation have to be engaged at the same time. An example of this is a telephone call.

Asynchronous is when participants take their time to reply, it is not a real-time conversation. This would orrur when writing letters.

Place dependant and place independant is where you can either be near someone in the conversation and place independant is where you can be anywere on cyberspace and holdd a conversation.

Some examples of ITC use are, mobile telephone, video and tele-conferencing, ipods, mp3 players, lap-tops, electronic Mail including e-mail and finally, multi-media communications. Examples of why these are positives were explained and discussed.

We were shown how to set up an e-mail correctly and what to put and what not to add to them.

Tutorial Tasks:

This weeks tutorial tasks revolve around finding information on a topic of interest by clicking on the 'groups' tag on google. Look through bulletins and messages posted on this topic and record my findings. Visit a podcast site such as www.podcasts.yahoo.com and search for a topic and listen to one or two podcasts that interests me. Browse through the librarys website, http://www.ecu.edu.au/library/services/podcasts.html. Record the potential benefits of podcasts for uni students.

Readings:

The topic i researched on google under 'groups' was Rihanna. My findings were pages on her clothes, such as an open top she wore and how she was told to leave her cousins wedding because her dress was revealing on the side of her chest. Messages from the public on this issue was that she was being rude taking the attention away from the couple on their special day. Critical remarks are made, bringing up her appearance and her sense of style.

Another issue was that 'Rihanna gets grabby with the girls' Some people support this as it was harmless, saying she a 19 year old girl having fun on the lens. Others say that gays aren't supported in her home town.

I listened to a podcast on Ludacris. It only came up with a song. Although this is all i listened to, university students have benefits with learning from podcasts as they can download them then listen to them whever they can. This could include on public transport, excercising, university breaks,in bed, making dinner, almost anywhere at any time. They can be played over and over agen so that the information sticks in your head. Podcasts are very reliable sources of learning.

Week 8: Presentation Strategies

Lecture Summary:

A video was shown during this lecture on
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1529637984

After watching this, I had to make a top 10 tips for a good presentation. I decided on the following:

1. Use spell check to avoid any miss spelt words, there's nothing more annoying than seeing miss spelt words and incorrect grammar.

2. Don't overcrowd slides, audiences loose interest.

3. Bullet keypoints, used to make a statement or emphasise something.

4. Don't overcrowd slides, becomes confusing and hard to follow.

5. Use animations wisely, very few, keep the slides interesting.

6. Use the correct colours, basic is always effective, emphasise the text.

7. Use an interesting but legible font, a font that relates to the discussed topic.

8. Show key points so that its easy to follow and remember for the audience. Your talking should emphasise points.

9. Only add images and audio if it relates to the topic otherwise they appear distracting.

10. Transitions should remain the same throughout the entire presentation. If more than one is used the overall presentation looks tacky.

Make the point you are presenting a strong one, keep the audiences attention. Explain points clearly so that the audience support it, not questions it.

Presentations should always be structured clearly. Start by having an introduction, body and conclusion. The conclusion should include a summary of your findings. Structure each section of the presentation clearly, much like that of an essay.

Presenting the presentation is a main point. Use the correct voice level, pitch, speak clearly and at a suitable, easy to follow speed. If this is done well, the audience will be interested and points will clearly get across.

Tutorial Tasks:

This week, the task was to look through a website and state the 'Top 5' strategies that will create an excellent presentation. Create a 6 slide slide show presenting my findings on a low impact PowerPoint presentation.

Readings:

My Powerpoint presentation on Low Impact presentations.

1. The cover page is plain, includes one image on the topic.
2. The introduction is basic, straight to the point, States what the presentation will cover.

3. The first main slide includes information on Colour.

4. The second slide is on Layout

5. Thirdly, is Text

6. The conclusion (summary) is straight to the point and sums up the entire presentation.

Resource summary on PowerPoint in the Classroom:

This website is made for students. Cartoons lead you through the information to make it more interesting. The information they say is like they are talking to you so they are getting you involved. This is a good way to involve younger students.

Areas such as Meeting PowerPoint, Creating Slides, Making Changes, Adding Images and Charts, Adding Motion, Adding Sound, Timing and Rehearsing, Taking it With You, Tutorials in Print, DEN Home, and Teachers Guide are all included in this site to deliver the best learning experience possible.

The language used is suitable for students and children's education.

Week 7: EndNote Libraries

Lecture Summary:
This weeks lecture was based on Endnote. Endnote is a flat-file database system in which you use to reference. Endnote can either run off Microsoft Word, or run as a standalone programme. Information is stored as data in tables, this table is easy to follow and you can look back at references as to where you got information from.

We reference so that other individuals ideas and you own can be distinguished in a piece of work. Their ideas may support your idea, and you support theirs by referencing the source in alphabetical order.

We were told how to start using EndNote and how to work the programme. From how to open the programme, to where to save our file. Below is an example.

Tutorial Tasks:

Complete the EndNote 11 Excercises for Vista task on blackboard. Give examples of referencing after finding examples. Save a copy of this task and add a screen print to my blog.

Week 6: Evaluation & Authentication

Lecture Summary:
This weeks lecture was based on Evaluation and Authentication of the WWW.
A quiz on True of False was completed.


I found these ideas were true;
1. Anyone can put up a Web page
2. Web pages can be about anything
3. There is no quality control
4. There are no selection guidelines for search engines



The false ideas were;

1. All web pages are kept up-to-date
2. Most sites are “peer-reviewed”
3. Website are as trustworthy as scholarly publications



Discussed, was what types of Web sites are actually useful for work at a University level. What to look for in the sites and site addresses to see if they would contain factual information and useful referencing. I was told about when and how the Internet first came about. It was first made by University students. We compared NineMSN to BBC and discovered NineMSN contains more celebrity news whilst BCC is more broad and more information can be found about other topics.

Tutorial Tasks: The tasks for this week week were to review the ICYouSee Critical Thinking page, look through the strategies for evaluating the information found in websites and in my own words briefly describe the strategies in the blog. Once completed, compare what i have written to "INCO 48" web page and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" Complete the "Reliving the Sixties Web Site Evaluation Assignment" exercise on the ICYouSee website.

Readings:
A review the ICYouSee Critical thinking page. These were my findings

1. Make sure you are in the right place: Check the dates and information on the site to see if it relevant.

2. Consider the Source: Check where the information came from, who wrote it and make sure the URL is correct for what you are looking for.

3. Understand what the site is about: Read through information and see if it is written for someone particularly like students, if it is out or your league when it comes to reading, find another site.

4. Check datails: Details such as images, spelling, grammar, set out can all indicate the site is not professional or there is a large chace the information is not up to university standards.

5. Distinguish Web Pages from pages found on the web.