Tools of the Trade: Inquiry

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Tools of the Trade Inquiry
CECS 5030 Introduction to the InternetDr.
Cathleen Norris Jennifer Smolka
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Essential Questions

• What tools do I need to be familiar with to
  search on the Internet?
• How are these tools different? How are they
  similar?
• How do I choose which tool to use?
• What are the techniques needed for a good search?

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Objectives

• Develop skills for using the Internet for
  educational research purposes.
• Obtain uniform resource locators (URLs) and
  distinguish among the protocols including
• Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
• Gopher
• File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
• Telnet
• Wide Area Information System (WAIS)

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Objectives

• Construct a Web search using Boolean constructs
  including AND, OR, and NOT.
• Compare the relative strengths and weaknesses of
  leading Web search engines and their popular
  implements in terms of breadth and relevancy.
• Use the APA Guide to correctly write citations.

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Objectives

• Use strategies to locate and acquire desired
  information from collaborative software and on
  networks, including the Internet and intranets.
• Apply appropriate electronic search strategies in
  the acquisition of information, including keyword
  and Boolean search strategies.

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Tools for Inquiry

• Navigating
• Browsing
• Searching
• Bookmarking
• Research
• Citations

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Navigating
Get to the sites by

• Hyperlinks (Click and Go)example

• URL (Uniform Resource Locator)example

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Navigating

• Web sites can be
• Linear
• Hierarchical
• Webbed

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Browsing is

• The Im Just Looking Theory
• Having a Key Place to Start
• The Scent of Knowledge

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Searching

• Search Engines
• Google
• Yahoo
• Excite
• Altavista
• Ask Jeeves
• Northern Light
• And many more.

A list of search tools is available on the
Resources page.
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Searching

• Keywords
• Boolean
• AND
• OR
• NOT
• Search Math
• -

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Bookmarking

• Remember important URLs.
• Saving favorite places.
• Organizing bookmarks.
• Sharing bookmarks.

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Research

• Online Libraries
• UNT Electronic Resources
• The US Library of Congress
• Subscription Services
• Online Journals

Links are available on the Resources page.
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Citations - APA

• Why Is There a Specific APA Style?
• An author writing for a publication must follow
  the rules established by the publisher to avoid
  inconsistencies among journal articles or book
  chapters.
• APA style focuses on the needs of presenting
  psychological information.

More information is available linked on the
Resources page.
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The Big Six

• Skills for Informational Problem Solving
• Task Definition
• Information Seeking
• Locating and Accessing
• Use of Information
• Organizing and Communicating
• Evaluation

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Big SixTask Definition

• Know the purpose.
• Formal or Informal
• Casual or Concrete
• Qualitative or Quantitative
• Personal or Professional
• Education or Business
• What is the finished product?

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Big SixInformation Seeking

• Match the inquiry technique with purpose.
• Include other sources.
• Primary
• Secondary
• Favorite starting places.
• Structured vs. Unstructured.

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Big SixInformation Seeking

• Do students
• search,
• browse or
• follow instructions?

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Big Six Locating Accessing Resources

• Computer Literacy Skills
• Skills with the browser
• Downloading and installing plug-ins
• Trouble shooting
• Scaffolding tasks
• Build into authentic tasks
• Sharing search topics

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Big SixUsing Internet Information

• Processing Extracting
• Reliable sources
• Personal, Professional, and Government
• Slant or Bias
• Commercialization
• Critical Thinking
• Citing Internet Sources

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Big SixEvaluating Web Information

• Is the information
• Accurate?
• Relevant?

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Expected Outcomes

• Use of Netscape or Internet Explorer.
• Ability to gather sites for a particular topic.
• Familiar with research information.
• Utilize Boolean and other search strategies.

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Credits

• The Technology Leadership Institute (TLI) is
  funded by the United States Department of
  Education's Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to use
  Technology (PT3) Program (Catalyst grant -
  P342A990323).

The Technology Applications Certifications
Program is funded in part by the Technology
Infrastructure Fund.