Many of us have this idea that searching for material on the Internet, is as simple as typing words into a search box. Wrong. There is a science behind searching and if you want to do it right, you should follow a process.
The Searching Process and Search Tools
Why is google so popular? It all starts with the search engine for me. One of the first steps in finding what it is that you're looking for, is to use a good search engine. All search engine providers don't have access to all web pages. Google is one of the few who has a search engine, that covers a large portion of the world wide web. This is exactly why I'm pro team google on this one. 10 powerful search engines.
Next, you want to pay attention to your search queries. It is unnecessary to query double words because the engine will only recognize a word, once. Whole sentences are not a good idea unless you're looking for something exact. If you're looking for something exact, you should quote your text or it will be treated as keywords, Ex:
Phrase: "How do I cook steak for my family?" Keywords: Cook, Steak, Recipes, How to
If you were to query the phrase, without quotes, your results will include unnecessary pages because words like do, I, for, and my are too vague. Notice the words in bold. These are the words that are driving the search query.
Advanced Searching
Don't be fooled by the word "Advanced" in advanced searching. An advanced search can be performed by a novice. Advanced searching is when Boolean tools are used. for more information on this, see Lydia's Web 2.0 tools. Lydia explains this piece pretty well.
See this YouTube video on getting more from searching:
Did you know this information before but didn't use it? Are you going to change your searching habits to get the results that you want?
While reading chapter 2 of "Discovering the Internet," by Shelly Cashman, I've come across some key information. Here is what I've learned:
Web sites
Just like clothes, Web sites come in different shapes, sizes, forms and fashions. Web sites serve different purposes and it is hard to determine how many web sites exist, because new one are constantly being added to the web, every second.
Personal websites are intended for personal use and the main page is usually the homepage, which links to other web pages.
Web portals offer different types of products and services, on the very first page. Portals are geared to deliver broad ranges of Information. Sometimes, FAQ pages are a part of a web site. This type of page usually houses all of the significant questions and answers that pertain to the specific web site.
Web Pages
What usually draws your attention to a web page? Yes, graphics, colors, shapes, pictures, and audio. Web pages are designed to grab the reader's attention. At any given time, a web page may contain links to other pages, advertisements, copyright and legal information, and contact info.
Web Servers, and IP Addresses
Web servers are what allows a web site to be seen. Web sites are stored on servers which are managed by hosts. When a web page is requested by a user, the web server retrieves and displays the contents. If your web site's server or host is down, your request will be processed but the web pages will not display. Some popular web page hosts are: Go Daddy.com, iPage, and Just Host.
An IP address identifies your computer on a network, just as an apartment number identifies an apartment in a building.
Web Browsers
One of the most popular web browsers is Internet Explorer. Web browsers contain tools that enhances the experience of a web surfer. Although features may vary from browser to browser, most are customizable and share most of the basic features. To name some:
Bookmarking - allows a page to marked for later use
Search Box- used for finding content using keywords or addresses
Address Bar- URL specific. you have to type in a full address in order to be relocated
Favorites Bar- allows an address to be saved, in a folder, for later reference
Web Surfing Risks
Surfing the web can deliver the same scenarios that are faced in the real world, sometimes worse. Whenever personal information is involved, one should always take extra precautions because the net is an unregulated environment.. It is easy to fall a victim to Phishing. Phishing is when a web site pretends to be another... the look, the behavior, but not the authenticity- the same concept as purchasing a "Coach" bag, off of a table, in Chinatown. A user is fooled because they believe to be logging into their favorite site while those on the other end have malicious intentions.
There are disclaimers that compromise privacy and personal information so "read between the line... the lines are your friends."
I feel that this is a very important topic so for more insight I've included a video, below.
Are you going to practice ways to protect yourself from the net? Why?
I love, love, love technology but I've decided to divert my attention to a different 'ology,- psychology. Prior to pursuing a career in technology, I was on a path to obtain a degree in psychology. I have an interest in this area because us human beings are very unique when it comes to our thought processes and behaviors. I have decided to design my Personal Learning Network on aspects of psychology.
Below are some basic steps that I plan to follow, ( not in any specific order) when creating my PLN. Throughout my learning processes, I will discover new information which I reflect on this blog.
1. Subscribe to other blog post- Subscribing to other blog posts will help me to stay in sync with my learning curve and it is also a way to enhance and improve my PLN. Networking with others who share the same interests is very beneficial.
2. Learn to Microblog- Microblogging is very crucial in my situation considering that my time is spread out very thin; learning to cover topics in about 140 words would be in my best interest because it will help me to sum things up, without leaving out essential information.
3. Join social networking sites- Joining professional and non professional social networking sites will give me the benefit of gathering information from different perspectives to aid in contrast and comparing. It's always good to hear both sides of the story and all information can not be found in a book.
4. Research- As in most cases, research is needed to validate and/or support opinions.
This steps will be the foundation for my PLN with the addition of newly discovered ones.
