There's More to Web Research Than Google! - (online course)

Instructor: Gary Price

There's More to Web Research Than Google!
(An Infopeople online learning course)

March 30 - April 27, 2004

• Do you really know how web search engines work?
• Are you aware of some of Google's limitations that other engines can overcome?
• What is the Invisible Web and how can you access it?

This workshop will provide you with a solid background in web engines and specialized search tools, along with a plenty of practical tips and suggestions on how best to use them. This can save you and those you assist time, effort, and aggravation while at the same time realizing the potential of the open web.

Workshop Description: During the course you will be doing exercises and taking quizzes. You will also participate in online discussion forums as part of the online learning process. The instructor will suggest a variety of web-based reading, as well as practical, useful tips that you can use and share during and after the class.

Preliminary Course Outline: Using your web browser and your Internet connection, you will log in to the Infopeople Blackboard online learning site and complete the following learning modules:

• Module One: The Role of Web Search
• • What is a web search?
  • On the web vs. via the web
  • What is it about Google?
• Module Two: Other Web Engines Exist
• • Why would you want to use one?
  • All the Web and Alta Vista
  • Hotbot
  • Teoma and Ask Jeeves
  • Yahoo
  • Vivisimo
• Module Three: The Invisible Web and Special Search Tools
• • Why are these tools important?
  • What is the Invisible Web?
  • Examples of specialized tools (including news search resources)
• Module Four: Special Issues
• • Multimedia searching
  • Federated searching
  • Favorite tools
  • Things change quickly - where and how to keep updated

Instructor: Gary Price

Who Should Take This Course: Anyone from the library community with an interest in using the web as a research tool.

Online Learning Details: This four-week course will be taught online using the web. When you register, you will receive a registration confirmation which will include the URL to get to the course, as well as a username and password. There's More to Web Search Than Google will start on March 30, 2004 end on April 27, 2004.

The workshop consists of four one-and-a-half to two-hour learning modules. You can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night. However, you will be expected to log in to the course each week to do that week's assignment. We ask that you log in sometime during the first week of the course to begin the course work.

The materials will remain available to work on for two additional weeks following the official end date, but you will be expected to accomplish the majority of the course in synchronization with your peers during the first four weeks.

Prerequisites : This course is taught over the web. You must:

• Have an Internet connection and Internet Explorer 5 or higher (some of the quiz functions do not work properly in Netscape).
• Be able to save a file to your computer and print it out using Microsoft Word or a compatible word processing program (free Word viewer available at http://www.microsoft.com/office/000/viewers.asp ).
• Be comfortable navigating on the web and navigating back and forward on a website that uses frames.

If you are not comfortable with any of the above, please consider taking this course with a buddy who does meet these requirements.

If space is available you may register for this online class up to seven days after the official start date. Please contact Linda Rodenspiel at assist@infopeople.org if you are trying to register after the official start date.