Three, Slowly Coming Along

Here we go....

Week three, we learned about numerous online Libraries and Databases. Dr. Helen Cripps made us form pairs or groups to discuss what we thought were online databases. She then asked the students for an abbreviated definition of an online database. I think only one person spoke, everyone else didn’t know.

Online databases

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/

Face Book: http://www.facebook.com/

Itunes: Download site- http://www.apple.com/downloads/

E.C.U’s database system:

E.C.U’s website has an online Database/ Library.

Procedure for using it

1. internet page - ecu.edu.au


2. click - Library


3. click – current students


4. find – Journal Articles


5. Select your category
   

When you have selected the text, look for boxes for the full text (Either blue or red).

The little Australian symbol indicates the information source is Australian.

When searching other university’s you will have to click on a box which will find the text for you.

This process indicated there is a lot of trouble finding specific information it was indeed quite difficult. This process as a student I needed to know, definitely because I have another unit that needs online database text (journals) to research in. Now I can just refer back to my notes if I ever get stuck. You will be surprised how much information E.C.U’s online database is giving us.

To search any website or online database you need to know

helpful search tips and functions.

1. Use several search engines, directories or online databases.

2. Read the search tips or use help information at each search engine.

3. Use several words or narrowed down key words

4. Guess a location, which category e.g. Phsycology, Law etc

5. Select by thinking about what you want

6. Back up to find where you are

7. Use advances search functions to narrow down the search

8. Check authenticity by researching; author and publisher

9. Check authenticity by checking the attitude throughout site, is it bias?

10. Reference every piece of writing, even your notes.

In the tutorial, as a class Rachel Mahncke (my tutorial teacher, that will be reading this) took us through E.C.U’s database and also showed us a couple of other sites that will the useful to us.

For example:

Proquest

Mediquest

First when I searched these two online libraries I didn’t know exactly if I was on the right page. I was going backwards and forwards through all different pages, so beware that you’re in the right page, the web holds a lot of information sometimes too much.

This week wasn’t the most entertaining week but I did need to know the information so it was educational, yes I will say it “I learnt alot of interesting information that will further my studies”. Maybe this course will help me after all, no just joking. I knew this course would get me into another subject which will eventually get me a Law Degree, but the information supplied will also help me during my degree. Even the referencing, each Lecturer going over the same information is making my mind understand it clearly (its getting drilled my your head).

Readings for the week:

'Finding what you want on the web'-

BBC news published Bill Thompson’s article on the 2^nd of January 2004. This article brought up issues surrounding search engines and general searching on the www. I found there are many search engines I had never even heard of for example; Kartoo, Fazzle and Vivisimo. Some search engines you are required to pay for like FT.com, but there are benefits to these search engines that you have to pay for, “instead of having to filter out adverts or wonder whether the results you are seeing are skewed by undeclared pay-for-placement deals” (Thompson, 2004). After reading this article I felt as if I new more about search engines, as the web is growing it is becoming harder to find exactly what you want. I will need to practice my search strategies.

'Bare Bones Lesson 7: Basic Search Tips'-

This produced helpful tips to use while searching these online databases. Simple strategies like;

- Plus and minus signs in front of words

- Quotation marks around phrases

- Boolean Search- uses AND, OR and NOT to link words and phrases for a more effective narrower search.

On another note I found a joke that I thought I would share with everyone.

Are caterpillars good to eat?

Johnny: Daddy, are caterpillars good to eat?

Father: Have I not told you never to mention such things during meals!

Mother: Why did you say that, Junior? Why did you ask the question?

Johnny: It's because I saw one on daddy's lettuce, but now it's gone

(Web master, 2005).

That’s about it, did you enjoy it?

Well read about me soon.

BYE…………………

References

Thompson, B. (2004). Finding what you want on the web. BBC News. Retrieved March 3, 2008, from

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3362913.stm

Web master, (2005). Random Food Jokes. Aha Jokes.com. Retrieved May 10, 2008, from

http://www.ahajokes.com/random_food_jokes.shtml