Digital Transformation in the PLM domain - distrib.pdf
Searching the Internet
1. The InternetThe Internet
as a Searchas a Search
ToolTool
Prepared by Ms. Emery, Summer 2006
With billions of web pages online, you could spend a lifetime
surfing the Web, following links from one page to another.
2. Research and the InternetResearch and the Internet
The Internet can be aThe Internet can be a
great tool forgreat tool for
research, but findingresearch, but finding
quality web materialsquality web materials
and using them toand using them to
your advantage canyour advantage can
be challenging.be challenging.
3. Why do we need to evaluate webWhy do we need to evaluate web
sources?sources?
Any person can publishAny person can publish
anything on the Internet.anything on the Internet.
Web sources do notWeb sources do not
have to be professionallyhave to be professionally
accepted or edited.accepted or edited.
4. Types of web pagesTypes of web pages
Informative pagesInformative pages
Personal web pagesPersonal web pages
Political/interest groupPolitical/interest group
pagespages
Marketing-oriented orMarketing-oriented or
“infomercial” pages“infomercial” pages
Entertainment pagesEntertainment pages
5. What is a search engine?What is a search engine?
A search engine is anA search engine is an
Internet tool that locatesInternet tool that locates
web pages and sortsweb pages and sorts
them according tothem according to
specified keywords.specified keywords.
searchenginewatch.comsearchenginewatch.com
is a website that providesis a website that provides
detailed information aboutdetailed information about
different search engines.different search engines.
6. Search Engines Break Down intoSearch Engines Break Down into
Two CategoriesTwo Categories
Directories (Yahoo)Directories (Yahoo)
Indexes (Google)Indexes (Google)
7. DirectoriesDirectories
Good at identifying general informationGood at identifying general information
Classifies websites into similar categoriesClassifies websites into similar categories
like a card catalog in a librarylike a card catalog in a library
The results of your search will be a list ofThe results of your search will be a list of
websites related to your search termwebsites related to your search term
8. IndexesIndexes
Searches all contents of a websiteSearches all contents of a website
Uses software programs called spiders andUses software programs called spiders and
robots that scour the Internet, analyzing millionsrobots that scour the Internet, analyzing millions
of web pages and newsgroup postings andof web pages and newsgroup postings and
indexing all wordsindexing all words
Finds specific information such as biographicalFinds specific information such as biographical
informationinformation
9. Natural Language QueryNatural Language Query
You can ask yourYou can ask your
question in plainquestion in plain
English!English!
10. Meta Search EngineMeta Search Engine
Submit your querySubmit your query
simultaneously tosimultaneously to
multiple searchmultiple search
engines by doing aengines by doing a
metasearchmetasearch..
Momma.comMomma.com,,
dogpile.comdogpile.com, and, and
clusty.comclusty.com areare
popular meta searchpopular meta search
engines.engines.
11. Use search engines to yourUse search engines to your
advantageadvantage
Pick the right search enginePick the right search engine
for your research needs.for your research needs.
– Yahoo and Google areYahoo and Google are
common favorites.common favorites.
– Hotbot locates informationHotbot locates information
based upon the popularity ofbased upon the popularity of
the site.the site.
Refine your searchRefine your search
whenever possible.whenever possible.
12. Most Popular Search EnginesMost Popular Search Engines
50%
26%
13%
8% 3%
Google
Yahoo
MSN
AOL
My Way
13. The Top 5The Top 5
GoogleGoogle
YahooYahoo
MSNMSN
AOLAOL
ASK (Jeeves)ASK (Jeeves)
14. Your FavoritesYour Favorites
Create a folder calledCreate a folder called
Search EnginesSearch Engines
under yourunder your
Bookmarks orBookmarks or
Favorites menu. AddFavorites menu. Add
your favorite enginesyour favorite engines
to the folder so youto the folder so you
can easily accesscan easily access
them whenever youthem whenever you
want to do a search.want to do a search.
15. Limit Keywords in a SearchLimit Keywords in a Search
It is a good idea toIt is a good idea to
read the directionsread the directions
for each searchfor each search
engine to get theengine to get the
most out of yourmost out of your
search.search.
Use + or – to limitUse + or – to limit
your hits.your hits.
+panther -pink
16. Online Information—Fact orOnline Information—Fact or
Fiction?Fiction?
Anyone with a computerAnyone with a computer
and modem can becomeand modem can become
an electronic publisher onan electronic publisher on
the Internetthe Internet
– many web sources are notmany web sources are not
checked for accuracychecked for accuracy
– some personal sites aresome personal sites are
used to express individualused to express individual
opinions about issues, butopinions about issues, but
not necessarily the factsnot necessarily the facts
17. Are these valid websites?Are these valid websites?
http://www.malepregnancy.com/http://www.malepregnancy.com/
– The first pregnant maleThe first pregnant male
http://www.geoffmetcalf.com/bread.htmlhttp://www.geoffmetcalf.com/bread.html
– The dangers of breadThe dangers of bread
http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus.htmlhttp://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus.html
– The tree octopusThe tree octopus
18. You Be the JudgeYou Be the Judge
Who is the author?Who is the author?
Who is the publisher?Who is the publisher?
What is the point ofWhat is the point of
view?view?
Are there referencesAre there references
to other sources?to other sources?
How current is theHow current is the
information?information?
19. Identify the Web SiteIdentify the Web Site
Whenever possible, try to locate the home page.Whenever possible, try to locate the home page.
You can often do this by eliminating some informationYou can often do this by eliminating some information
from the end of the URL.from the end of the URL.
.org.org .gov.gov .com.com .net.net .mil.mil
.edu.edu .us.us .au.au .uk.uk .biz.biz
http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/mydoom.asp
http://www.microsoft.com
20. Domain Names—Country CodesDomain Names—Country Codes
In addition to the generic top-level domains, 244 national
top-level domains (NTLD) were established for countries
and territories, for example:
.au - Australia
.ca - Canada
.fr - France
.de - Germany
.uk - United Kingdom
21. Examine for credibilityExamine for credibility
Credibility may beCredibility may be
compromised bycompromised by
intentionalintentional
misinformation or bymisinformation or by
unintentional neglect.unintentional neglect.
Locating the name ofLocating the name of
the site’s creator maythe site’s creator may
be challenging.be challenging.
Credentials may beCredentials may be
missing even if themissing even if the
author’s name isauthor’s name is
provided.provided.
22. Final WordFinal Word
The Internet is not theThe Internet is not the
only place to findonly place to find
information. While itinformation. While it
abounds with a wealth ofabounds with a wealth of
information, it is not asinformation, it is not as
good for historicalgood for historical
information. Visiting theinformation. Visiting the
library should always be alibrary should always be a
consideration inconsideration in
conducting research.conducting research.
Visit http://tinyurl.com/pb48m to view the pros and
cons with library vs. Internet research.
Rationale: With the development of the Internet, students have found that conducting research is much easier and more convenient than searching through library stacks. While the Internet can be a great tool for research, locating quality materials can at times be a challenge. The following slides will offer tips on how to make the most of your Internet search.
Activity: To generate discussion, the facilitator may ask students about their level of familiarity with the Internet. Also, the facilitator may ask students about the types of web sites they visit, as well as if they have their own personal web pages.
Activity: The facilitator might ask students why it is important to evaluate web sources. The answers offered on this slide highlight the importance of web source evaluation.
.
Key Concepts: Books and journal articles generally go through a long process of fact-checking, editing, and revising before being published. However, anyone with a computer and Internet access can post a web site. Just because the information is published online, it does not mean it is true or reliable. The facilitator may note that web sites change frequently and sometimes disappear quickly.
Thinking about evaluation within the search process can help to make web browsing efficient and effective.
Click the mouse after the title question.
Key Concepts: There are several different types of web pages on the Internet. Students researching the web tend to think that the majority of web pages are devoted to providing information. Generally, informative sites--pages that offer information for the public good without any type of overt political or sales agenda--are few and far between.
Personal web pages tend to be devoted to an individual’s interests, hobbies, family, friends, or ideological beliefs. While researching, students may find personal web pages being used as a sounding board for a political agenda. Though some sites contain well-researched and reliable information, others do not.
Political or interest group pages generally promote some type of cause or way of thinking. These sites will educate web surfers about their topics, but they may contain slanted or biased information. Their goal is to offer information in the hopes of changing a belief, gaining a vote, or earning a political contribution.
Students have the hardest time distinguishing between pages that provide information and pages that try to sell a product. For example, a web site that informs about the benefits of aromatherapy may also sell aromatherapy products. While some “infomercial” sites clearly are promoting a product, the business agenda of other sites can be more difficult to assess.
Finally, the Internet contains many entertainment-oriented web sites. These sites can range from movie news and games to cartoons and comic book sites. Still other pages are “joke” pages--pages that look like they contain serious information, but really contain elaborately fabricated content. If readers are not careful researchers, they may mistake these “joke” pages for reliable information.
Click the mouse for each type of web site.
Key Concepts: This slide defines a search engine--a tool that can search through web pages and sort them according to specified keywords. Search engines are essential for researching the Internet: they have the ability to locate and sort through millions of web pages.
Activity: The facilitator may choose to generate discussion by asking students to explain what a search engine is.
Click after globe appears for the answer to the title question.
Activity: The facilitator may ask students about they types of search engines they use. They will list many for you--Yahoo, Alta Vista, Excite, Lycos, Hotbot, Infoseek, Northern Light, Snap, Dogpile, etc.
Key Concepts: Each search engine searches the web in a slightly different way. Also, companies or individuals often must register their web sites with these different search engines, so the list that comes up on Yahoo may be completely different from the one that comes up on Lycos. A wide variety of search engines may be accessed at the OWL web site, located at owl.english.purdue.edu.
When researching a topic, it is also a good idea to do some brainstorming about the best places on the web to locate information. Government agencies and non-profit groups may host web sites that offer useful information.
Activity: The facilitator may choose either now or after the presentation to minimize the PowerPoint presentation, access Netscape or another Internet browser, or go the the collection of search engines on the OWL web site.
Key Concepts: Some search engines work better for specific types of searches. While Yahoo will take your keyword and sort information into categories, a search engine like Hotbot will bring up the ten “hottest” (or most popular) sites for your keyword. While Hotbot might be useful for assessing the popularity of web sites in a cultural analysis paper, Yahoo might offer a more comprehensive listing of sites.
Key concepts: This slide offers tips for using search engines. Since search engines do not all work in exactly the same way, it is a good idea to read the directions of your selected search engine prior to conducting a search. Also, using Boolean operators--words like “AND” and “OR”--can help to tailor a search to your needs. It is also a good idea to brainstorm a list of keywords that might fit your topic. The slide offers an example for a search on the tobacco lawsuits and settlements. Depending on the angle of your topic, you might choose a variety of these terms in combination with each other.
Key Concepts: A good way to determine the authorship of a web site is to try to locate the home page. This can be done by deleting some of the information from the right side of the web address. If you used a search engine and linked to a page with a very long web address with lots of slashes, try deleting information to the right of the slashes until you get to a smaller base address.
Activity: Some information in the web address itself can clue you in to the type of web page you are viewing. The facilitator may choose to ask students what the five examples at the bottom of the slide indicate. A non-profit organization is indicated by .org. Government branches are indicated by .gov. Business sites are usually indicated by .com or .net. Educational institutions are indicated by .edu, but any student using a university web server will also have an .edu address. Official United States’ sites are indicated by .us. Sites published in the British Isles are designated .uk, while .au indicates Australian sites.
Key Concepts: After you identify the type of web site you are viewing, you must next assess it for credibility. Information in the web site depends in large part upon the author; unfortunately, the author’s name may not be clearly listed on the web site. If the author’s name is listed, credentials may not be provided. Furthermore, because web sites do not need to be fact checked to be published, we cannot necessarily rely upon the publisher to be honest.
