28/08/07 WK 5 Infromation Management

Week 5 Lecture

Information Management

Managing information needs to be quick and easy. Books and paper are referred to as atom based and electronic content and digital formats are referred to as bit based.

Bits: Pro's - very flexible, very cheap and easy to manipulate. Con's - privacy protection, authenticity, unsolicited broadcast.

Atoms: Pro's - easy to see, locate, conceal and protect. Difficult to change and copy. Con's - bulky, expensive, inflexible, difficult to edit and distribute.

Tips on managing your bits: be familiar with file extensions, use metadata for more in depth search options, keep file names relevant to function rather than content and employ the use of a desktop search engine.

Workshop Summary

Create folders in MS IE favourites - three folders containing at least two websites marked

Write a review of 'The DNA of Information' in about 250 words

The chapter titled ‘The DNA of Information’ from Nicholas Negroponte’s Being Digital is a look at the comparisons and contrasts between Bits versus Atoms and some of the issues associated with accessing and using these formats.

Negroponte compares that the cost associated with using bit based information is considerably less and that delivery is instantaneous and essentially cost free. Where as with atom based most of the cost associated with buying books is due to shipping and returns. He uses the example of a failed delivery of atom based material compared to the hassle free, instantaneously delivery of bit based information.

Another contrast is the weight and useability of each form. Bit based is weightless to view and store, whereby atom is costly to store in size and weight and information can be hard to locate.

Negroponte promotes that atom based material such as books are ‘easy to thumb through’, have a ‘high contrast display’ and that bits are not likely to replace all atom based businesses as food and clothes are still essential items to the consumer.

While there is a sense that Negroponte preferrs bit based information, he has given a fairly weighted argument in expressing the pro’s and con’s for each side. The information contained in this chapter is informative as looking at the different areas where these two formats co-exist it’s easy to see why they are in such competition.

Week 5 Reading

Information Management and Electronic Environments - This article outlines the need for the organisation of electronic material. It suggest the use of a hierarchical structure, the employment of sub folders, bookmarks and the use of EndNote. It also favours bits over atoms but reminds that the pitfalls of bits can be an overload of information and the risk of plagiarism.

21/08/07 WK 4 Communications

Week 4 Lecture

Communications

ICT: Information Communication Technology is used in many ways in our professional and personal life; including emails, mobile phones, video conferencing, ipods, mp3's and many more.

Types of communication:

Synchronous (same time) - same time and same place or same time and different place

Asynchronous (own time) - different time and same place or different time and different place

Cyberspace
Place dependent eg. online gaming
Place Independent eg. MSN messenger

Netiquette and Email - Use formal language and salutations when contacting business associates, don't use email to air grievances as emotions can be easily misunderstood.

Netiquette and Chat - When using MSN messenger and texting ect. becoming familiar with the short hand such as emoticons and abbreviations which will allow for better and more efficient communication.

The lecturer suggests becoming familiar with the different interfaces of electronic communication. These include different email clients like iscribe and Pegasus. Other areas to be familiar with include IM clients, ICQ, Trillian, discussion boards, podcasts, blogs, wikiwebs and social networking clients such as Frienstar an Myspace.

Workshop Summary

In ECU email create a folder for each of your units



Google a topic under the search tab 'Groups'

I entered 'Gilmore Girls' as a search term and found the 'Little Corner of the World' Gilmore Girls newsletter. Within the discussion board I discovered a post called 'Favourite Memories', where fans have shared their favourite moments of the show. As a devoted fan, this notice board was of particular interest as it brought back enjoyable moments. As the show is now finished, reading posts like this is very nostalgic for me.

The next successful search term I entered was 'unlock nokia 6680' which took me to - uk.telecom.mobile group. In this forum the question ('can the phone be unlocked from the three network?') was raised which lead me to links of suggested sites to visit. I love not having to locate pages where the information I'm after is limited and difficult to find. I prefer to receive recommendations from those who have tried and tested them. Even if the information I'm after can't be found in a linked page it often gives me new search terms to use, leading me further in the right direction.

Potential benefits of Podcast for university students

• Enhance the learning ability of auditory style and disabled learners
• Time efficient (asynchronous) - wasted time such as commuting can be used to listen to a lecture. Also there are no distractions, from other students and electronic failure etc. As the published podcast is the final edit any mistakes or hold ups can be deleted from the recording.
• Once downloaded the podcast audio file can be paused, rewound and listened to repeatedly. This enables the listener to better remember the content as well as make better notes
• The podcast once saved to your computer can be referenced at a later date
• The lecture can be enhanced the use of interviews and commentary added to the podcast

Weiss, A. (2006). Podcasting Lectures: Pros and Cons. Retrieved 11/09/07, http://www.podcastconsultant.net/2006/10/24/podcasting-lectures-pros-and-cons/

Day, J. (2006). Podcasting Lectures - Pros and Cons. Retrieved 10/09/07, http://www.educateinnovate.com/blackboard/2006/02/has_anyone_else.html

Week 4 Reading

14 Email Do's and Don'ts - This instructional article of the etiquette of email covers all the vital areas that should be addressed when using asynchronous communication. Essentially it instructs: be clear - use clarification, spell out what your asking and get straight to the point. Don't use email for emotional issues and respect privacy. Also be sure an email is suited to your purpose as it can be too indirect and time consuming to use and the most important thing to remember is that you don't have to respond right away.

Essential Email Etiquette - Expresses the intricacies of the semi-informal tone of emailing. The complications of being too informal or not enough. Use a specific subject line, use peoples names, select a tone appropriate to your audience, avoid emotional innuendo's, use good grammar and spell check, be as brief as possible and don't pass on chain-mail.

The IRC Prelude - This article introduces IRC (Internet Relay Chat). It covers all areas including what IRC is (synchronous communication on the web), who is involved with IRC, eg. 'OP's (the guys in charge of each channel), where - networks such as EFnet, IRCnet ect. and the do's and don'ts of IRC etiquette - be polite and don't 'flood' or use capitals at the risk of becoming banned from a channel, the use of language like emoticons and abbreviations, as well as problems that may be experienced whilst chatting.

The Problem - This article explains the complications of the ever increasing amount of spam and the related cost to it's recipients. It demonstrates how there is an unlimited amount of recipients vs a very low cost in distribution. The presentation of this argument makes spam sound like an unstoppable monster that will some day drown out all the legitimate electronic mail. It's solution is to have an enforced legislation which prohibits transmitting spam, the tools designed to do it and compensation rights to those who are victims of it.

14/08/07 WK 3 Presentation skills

Week 3 Lecture

Presentation Strategies

Types of presentations

• Self contained eg. video, online presentations
• Written eg. essays
• Stand and deliver eg. oral presentations

Oral Presentations
- Structure your presentation into three parts: the introduction, the body and the conclusion and rehearse well.
- Be familiar with using audio visual tools including MS power point and overhead projectors
- Include strategies for audience involvement such as attention getter's, make use of pause where appropriate, remember to make eye contact and speak clearly.

Some Important Concepts to Remember When Structuring a Speech

Intro: Start with a question or a story to gain the audiences attention. State your thesis statement clearly, concisely and adapt your presentation to the audience by including why it is important to them. Preview what you are going to say and then transition from the intro to the body.

Body: Present main ideas (usually three main points), arrange your speech in some form of logical order, either chronological, spatial or cause and effect. Use connective devices to change between ideas smoothly and make reference to outside sources to show thorough research and credibility.

Conclusion: Should be brief, re-assert the thesis, review the main points and close effectively by making an impact.

Workshop Summary

My top 5 list of presentation strategies

• Keep it simple. Which means be clear, use pause and follow the K.I.S.S. rule when presenting.
• Be prepared. Which includes being well read and researched and knowing your presentation inside and out.
• Use attention getter's. Simple things like asking a question which will make the audience think. Opening with an interesting piece of pop-culture relevant to your talk. Using colour in your power point slides and limiting the words used per slide.
• Repeat key concepts. Basically Forecast what you will say, say it and then summarise what you said.
• Know your audience. From my own personal insight- audiences will be as smart as you allow them to be. As an audience member I know what bores me and that is a presentation that doesn't challenge me. So know who you are presenting to and keep it relevant to their age group, expertise in the subject matter etc.

Construct a Power Point presentation

Week 3 Reading

Oral Presentation Advice - The information under the 'things to think about' heading, was very useful in studying this module as it reinforces what was said in the lecture and covers all the necessary points when presenting a talk.

Power Point in the classroom (website) - This site is informative with great step-by-step instructions which include screen shots. I have booked marked this site to use in conjunction with the power point presentation I will be giving soon.

Also I viewed the web site (given as a reference in the lecture slides) Colorado State University - 'Writing Guides on Informative Speaking' - This site was amazingly useful as it goes into detail on every aspect involved in giving a speech. I have book marked it to use at a later date.

17/08/07 WK 2 Office Applications

Week 2 Lecture

Application Skills

Some common PC tasks to be familiar and efficient with include:

• File Handling - storing and retrieving data, file saving formats
• Word Processing - creating and using word, formatting, document mapping, templates, inserting graphs etc.
• Spreadsheets - creating and using excel spreadsheets, formulas and functions, creating graphs
• Presentations - using power point, keeping presentations appropriate to situation-K.I.S.S rule, using the notes section, electronic mishaps
• Internet Access - using multiple search engines, determining information is valid eg. recent, reliable
• E-mails - Do's and don't including email etiquette, news groups, security
• Viewing PDF's - updating acrobat, viewing and note taking, bookmarks

Skill in using these applications will be useful in all areas of life including education, professionally and socially. Whether it be word processing for reports or spreadsheets for data collection or emails for communication, becoming fluent with computers is a necessary skill.

Workshop Summary

Office Applications: Produce University standard office applications in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.

Week 2 Reading

Microsoft Word Tutorial Includes:

• Getting familiar with Microsoft Word
• Basic Features of Microsoft Word
• Working with paragraphs
• Microsoft Word tables

Microsoft Excel Tutorial Includes:

• Entering text and numbers
• Formatting text and mathematical calculations
• Numbers and calculations
• Creating charts

Adobe Photoshop Includes:

• Bitmap: the standard image format for PC's
• GIF: a compressed format to minimise transfer time, which supports moving animations
• JPEG: Common for displaying images on the internet compresses images but does loose some image quality
• Tiff: Used to exchange files between Macintosh and PC's, supports LZW compression eg. no quality is lost when the image is compressed
• PSD, PSP, SPP: Are forms of layered image formats mostly found in Photoshop and PaintshopPro where images can be edited one layer at a time