What Do I need to know about the Internet?

Compiled by Western Institute of TAFE Libraries

What is on the Internet?

Information comes onto the Internet from a variety of sources, which include:

  • Companies - their products and services
  • Government Departments - their activities
  • Universities - research activities
  • Media organisations - news etc
  • Individuals - general interest or hobbies

World Wide Web

The WWW or the Web is the Windows-style part of the Internet. Its ease of use is the main reason for the increased popularity of the Internet. On the Web, you just 'point and click' to call up a page of information from anywhere in the world.

A Web Browser is the software package we use to access the Web. The two most popular browsers today are Netscape and Internet Explorer.

What does it cost?

There is no charge for TAFE students to use the Internet at your library.

Most of the information on the Net is available for free access.

However, some commercial sites may offer software, goods or services for purchase.

How do I Search?

The amount of information on the Internet can be overwhelming, and finding the useful parts can be difficult. However, there are many useful tools to help.

Directories

These are lists of Internet sites grouped according to subject.

They give you a useful overview of what is available.

Yahoo! is the largest directory, covering all topics, and lists 100's of thousands of sites. Although the information should not be used for academic papers.

Search Engines

These are keyword-type indexes to the information on Internet sites.

They are created by computer programs which search out and index the sites. They list millions of individual pages.

The search engine finds web pages which match your search request and ranks them according to the frequency and prominence of your search words on those pages. A useful search engine is www.google.com

Searching Tips

As the index in a search engine is so large, it may often give you too much information or include irrelevant items. Try these tips to improve your results

  • Enter more search words to define your query better, e.g. wheat industry Australia forecasts.
  • If your topic is really a phrase, put it in quotation marks, e.g. "drug abuse"

Evaluation Criteria

I. Accuracy

  • Is the information reliable and error-free?
  • Is there an editor or someone who verifies/checks the information?

Rationale

  1. Anyone can publish anything on the Web
  2. Unlike traditional print resources, web resources rarely have editors or fact-checkers
  3. Currently, no web standards exist to ensure accuracy

II. Authority

  • Is there an author? Is the page signed?
  • Is the author qualified? An expert?
  • If the page does not include a signature is there any other way to determine its origin?

Look for a header or footer showing affiliation.
Look at the URL. http://www.fbi.gov
Look at the domain. .edu, .com, .ac.uk, .org, .net

Rationale

  1. It's often hard to determine a web page's authorship
  2. Even if a page is signed, qualifications aren't usually given

III. Objectivity

  • Does the information show a minimum of bias?
  • Is the page designed to sway opinion?
  • Is there any advertising on the page?

Rationale

  1. Frequently the goals of the sponsors/authors aren't clearly stated.
  2. Often the Web serves as a virtual "Hyde Park Corner", a soapbox.

IV. Currency

  • Is the page dated?
  • If so, when was the last update?
  • How current are the links? Have some expired or moved?

Rationale

  1. Publication or revision dates not always provided.
  2. If a date is provided, it may have various meanings. For example,
    • It may indicate when the material was first written
    • It may indicate when the material was first placed on the Web
    • It may indicate when the material was last revised

V. Coverage

  • What topics are covered?
  • What does this page offer that is not found elsewhere?
  • What is its intrinsic value?
  • How in depth is the material?

Rationale

  1. Web coverage often differs from print coverage
  2. Frequently, it's difficult to determine the extent of coverage
  3. Sometimes web information is just-for-fun or outright silliness.