Researching on the Internet General Information

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Researching on the InternetGeneral Information
www.skillsnet.sl.nsw.gov.au November 2004
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Aim

• To build
• Enough skill and confidence to use the Internet
  on your own
• Understanding about the type of information
  available on the WWW

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Objectives

• To learn about
• The Internet
• The World Wide Web
• The browser
• Searching the Internet
• Subject directories and search engines
• Evaluation of Internet resources

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The Internet

• Is a network of networks
• Allows for the sharing of information
• Includes email, the World Wide Web, chat FTP
• Our focus is the World Wide Web
• ABC Online

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The Browser

• The browser is the 'window' onto the World Wide
  Web
• Using the browser we can access and navigate web
  documents using
• Hypertext links (Hyperlinks)
• Scroll bars and mouse
• The WWW address URL
• The browser Buttons

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Example State Library
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Hyperlinks

• Allow you to jump from one place to another in
  electronic documents
• Can be text or graphics
• Cursor turns into a pointing hand
• This is a hyperlink to the State Library of NSW
• Scroll bars and mouse tutorial

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Buttons

• Parts of the browser that help you move around
  the WWW
• Navigation buttons help you get to web sites -
  back - forward - stop - home etc.
• Other buttons help you find and work with
  documents - search - refresh - print etc.

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WWW Address

• The URL Uniform Resource Locator
• Each URL is unique and case sensitive
• Can tell you something about the following web
  sites
• Examples of URLs
• http//www.infoplease.com/
• or
• http//ninemsn.com.au/

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Subject Directories

• Sites selected and organised by people
• Commercial and non-commercial
• Organised from broad to narrow
• Like using the contents page of a book
• http//www.yahoo.com
• UAL Directories
• Internet Links

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Search Engines

• Sites found by robots
• Not evaluated by people
• Full or partial index of web sites
• Specific searches a line of poetry for example
• http//www.google.com
• UAL - Search Engines

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Website Evaluation

• The WWW is a self-publishing medium
• Website evaluation checklist - things to look out
  for
• Accuracy
• Currency
• Objectivity
• Authority
• Quick Checklist

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Some websites to check out

• Buy a book?
• Looking for a job?
• Sydney Morning Herald
• Farmonline
• Online shopping
• Telstra Whitepages
• Babelfish

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Where to from here?

• Have a look at
• The State Library of NSW Internet Links
  http//www.sl.nsw.gov.au/links/
• The recommended Internet sites for the course
• What your Library has to offer
• Books, magazines, multimedia, Internet, word
  processing
• Other available BHP Billiton Skills.net courses
  Email and Advanced Search

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Summary

• The Internet and the WWW
• The browser
• Hyperlinks and documents
• Finding what you want
• Subject directories and search engines