Conceptual Research & Reflection Project


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Concept #7 – NETIQUETTE
Netiquette Quote. Don't reserve your best behavior for special occasions. You can't have two sets of manners, two social codes - one for those you admire and want to impress, another for those whom you consider unimportant. You must be the same to all people”. (Watson, 2007)
“Netiquette refers to the set of practices developed over the years to make the internet experience pleasant for everyone”. (Unknown, 2009)
There are many different ways in which we use the internet whether via social networking sites, emails or discussion boards and netiquette plays a big part of this usage. Netiquette takes form in the way of manners or etiquette on the Internet.

Possessing good netiquette could be the difference between you having a positive and enjoyable experience on the internet as opposed to an unpleasant experience and this all comes down to the way in which you display your netiquette.
Whilst there seems to be no governing body creating rules and regulations, it seems there are several factors or rules to practice or remember,
  • Be considerate of others opinions:-
    Everyone is entitled to express their opinions or point of view; even though at times you may or may not agree with these opinions;
  • No insults; whilst a good argument or debate is acceptable, starting a fight is not welcome;
  • Patience and Understanding of new users; everyone has to start somewhere;
  • Swearing or Vulgar chat is not acceptable; some websites want to you agree to their disclaimer prior to joining, which usually asks that you refrain from cursing – Face-book Disclaimer; (Face-Book, 2008)
  • No yelling – when typing text in capital letters, this is called “yelling” I was not aware of this term “YELLING” until informed by my son to this fact;
  • No Flaming or Spamming, which I refer to as “someone else’s garbage” mail.
    Think about what you are writing before you send it, think before you type now replaces “think before you speak” rule;
  • Polite:- remember how you treat others should reflect on how you wish to be treated;
    When entering a discussion or chat group, ensure you know what the topic is, rather than “interrupting” and start a pointless conversation, be constructive not destructive;
  • Grammar; sometimes you might be judged by the way in which you use grammar;
When entering the discussion board for the first time I had no idea where to begin, I sat back and observed how others were posting threads. I did not attempt to answer the posts I could not answer confidently.

Emails were also a bit daunting at first. All Net 12 students were asked to post our assignment through the blackboard feature, due to an unknown system failure on my end this could not be done and my tutor requested I email the assignment direct, I did this, unfortunately without including the attachment which was the assignment, I discovered my error and re-sent the email with the attachment, this could be considered bad netiquette on my behalf.

We were also asked to join a list through List-Topica, I joined “Secret to Health Living” list, which was open to all, no pre-approval and had unmoderated discussions. Upon joining this list, I had received useless spam and a large amount of worthless emails, needless to say I unsubscribed within 3 days of joining and have not looked back
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Websites - 1.http://www.kidsdomain.com/brain/computer/surfing/netiquette_kids.html
Safe Surfing!
A Kid's Guide to Etiquette on the Net
This was a well set out point by point website. Easy to remember terms, whilst giving good explanation about the Do Do’s and Don’ts of Kids Netiquette. This site encourages children to learn the rules and to remember that they are dealing with other people and how to become good “Netizens”. It focuses on such issues such as respecting others privacy, bad language. It covered such topics as positive participation in discussion groups and emailing, the correct way to send emails and attachments, what to include in the subject box and always avoid flame wars.

2. http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ia_nq.htm
Netiquette (Internet Etiquette)
This website is set out in the way it showed different topics and encourages the reader to investigate the topics further.
Topics that were included the basics, sending and receiving and confidentiality, which included several important points on how to reply and forward emails as well as giving mention to copyright in regards to copying someone’s email and then forwarding this as your own.
This site mentions the use of white space being the use of placing blank lines between paragraphs and the differences between good and bad subject matter. This site also refers to trolling or starting a flame war, which seems to be of concern.

Concept #13 – COMMUNICATION IS NOT COMPLETE UPON RECEIPT
Quote.If you have a web site, it makes your small business look big”. (Sequera, 2009)
The need to visit websites varies from education purposes to personal use. Different sites bring about different conclusions on usage.

Social network sites encourage the possibilities of chatting, playing online games and interacting with others when present, as opposed to online research sites. When researching informational sites even though you are not the only entity viewing or searching this site, you are not able to interact with others.

From a web designer’s view in order to have an effective website, the user needs to feel they have gained something from visiting the site. There is no point having a fantastic webpage but no visitors. The page needs to be appealing and informative. Research what topics to include in your site, current links, credible information which is always helpful to the user.

As an internet user I need to have my questions answered, this is the reason for my search. I also look for the words “free”. Directory listings are also helpful. I want to be in control of the way in which I move around the site, whilst also being entertained.

Now I need to consider what I will do with supplied information. Will I reference it, copy it to a document, download and save it or forward it to another user. Netiquette would again be involved when forwarding information or resources to others.

When using emails we have control of sending and receiving, where to store them, how to file them, when and how to reply or the choice not to read and just delete. Even though you receive an email this does not necessarily mean that you have read or acted on it. The writer might have requested a “read reply” to which you have just clicked, without even reading the contents of the email.

Upon sending an email you cannot assume that the recipient is in receipt of the email, as many different factors are involved, time, geographical placement, slower computers.

When sending larger files, consider the fact that they take up more internet usage on both the senders end as well as the receivers, and these files take a longer time to download. When sending files consider using a zip manager such as WinZip or Winrar, ensuring that the recipient has installed these programs on their computer so as to unzip the files.

Website communication can be found in the ways of a blog, advertising sites or social networking; the user will find different ways in which the site has effectively communicated with them.

The different ways in which websites and emails both communicate are through text, whether found in the subject line or the heading. Images allow the visitor to see what the site is about. All searches will vary depending on the individuals conducting the searches.

Am I communicating clearly when sending my emails or setting up my website, will the receiver comprehend what I am asking, do they use the same programs, these topics should be taken into consideration prior to creating sites or emails.

Websites - 1. http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/02/03/clear-and-effective-communication-in-web-design/ (Snell, 2009)
This site sets out the effective ways in which communication can be included when designing websites.

It covered the different methods of communicating through websites. Text and graphics should be kept minimal but used effectively to obtain the visitors attention. The different styles used to design sites should be taken into account. The style can, in these cases, indicate to visitors something about your website and how it fits their needs. For example, a website that sells skateboards would likely feature a grunge style design.

The author mentions the use of Audio and Video content can determine the way the visitor views your site.

This site was a blog. It advised me that Branding and Logo’s communicate effectively with the visitor by allowing the visitor to consider things about the advertising branding.

Layout also plays an important part in designing a site; it shows the visitor the main points associated with the site. The need to include Testimonials on your site, this allows the visitor to view other visitors perspectives and comments about the content of your web.

A FAQ’s page was suggested to be added into your site. This eliminates both the need for visitors to email and the need for you to read emails, unless the answer is not listed in your FAQ’s page.

Concept #2 – Your Audience’s Use of Communication
Quote.The Internet is just a world passing around notes in a classroom”. (Stewart, 2009)
When using my web browser I already have a predetermined idea of what subject matter I am going to search for or email. It can become time consuming and frustrating when you know what information you want to search only t be faced with a list of websites claiming to be able to supply the relevant information and then discover there is little or no relevance at all. For example http://astalavista.box.sk/ this site claims to be able to provide cracks and serials for programs, it does not pre-warn you that upon opening the site you are confronted with pornographic images. The inclusion of a disclaimer stating that this site contains “Adult content” would be useful in ensuring you fully understand the content that will be shown if you decide to continue onto this site.

The contents of emails also need to be considered prior to sending and receiving. On many occasions I have been the recipient of emails claiming to be of a particular “subject” only to open it and discover the contents are not related or unwanted. Prior to sending an email we need to take into consideration what the recipient will do with this email upon receipt, will they reply?, and if so when will they reply?, do I require an urgent reply?, and is this the information they require? For these reasons, careful construction not only of emails but websites needs to occur. This can be done by pre-planning on the senders or creators behalf, without the need to give step by step instructions to your recipient.

I had encountered system trouble with the blackboard feature. I therefore emailed my tutor requesting assistance. When sending this email, I needed to consider the Subject of the email which I referred to as “Flecs Blackboard problems”, I then set out my problem, and any further questions, then requested the tutor reply to this email, indicating to the receiver that further action is required on their end. I received a prompt answer, informing me what steps need to be taken to rectify the problem; therefore, I was fully able to understand what actions were required.

Emails need to be clearly set out. Subject matter should state the contents or intention of the email. Keep emails short and to the point. Remember to think of yourself as being the recipient. Have you clearly set out what you require? Grammar is important. When typing a statement the receiver might consider this as a being asked a question. We need to remember the receiver cannot hear our tone of voice, so you need to indicate clearly how the statement is read, grammar plays a major part in constructing your emails.
Same can be applied when constructing websites. It becomes frustrating when searching for a particular subject, only to discover the site has limited or no relevant information.

When constructing a useful website you might ask yourself,
  • · is the information and or links included in this site useful,
    · are there dead links;
    · Does this site cater for the disabled;
    · Is my information current;
    · How accessible is this website;
    · Have you included Terms of Use of your site;
    · Current contact details;
    · Is there a disclaimer that should be attached to my site;
    · Have I clearly set out what my site is about, so not to offend others?

Websites - 1. http://create-website.org/support/sitemap.html (Altaviser Communications Ltd, unkown)
How to Create a Website.

This website clearly shows how to create a website. It advised me many people respond better to graphics and images than they do to text. http://create-website.org/architecture/elements.html

This site also included information on Internet Concepts, which included a diagram to show “how a website is built and how the server computer will host the site, by connecting the 2 with the World Wide Web or Internet”.

A Table of Contents is included listed under Web Terminology Tab. Some of the contents included were Screen Resolution, HTTP Protocol and File Transfer Protocol. It also included webhosting advertising.

2. http://www.smartisans.com/articles/web_writing.aspx
Writing for a Web Audience, (Petersen, 2001)
This website focused on the audience of your web. How to capture your audience and keep them interested in coming back and gain their trust in your site.

This site advises that most visitors do not read the contents of a site but instead scan them. It went on to include the “Top 10 Tips to keep my audience coming back”:-
· Keep headings meaningful and included graphics;
· Emphasize on key concepts;
· Include Lists, keeping them easy for the audience to scan

I saved this site for future reference for myself.

Concept #4 – Reflective Communicative Practice
Quote·One of the Internet's strengths is its ability to help consumers find the right needle in a digital haystack of data”. (Sandberg, 2009)

There are many search engines available. When choosing a search engine e.g. Google or Ask-Jeeves, the user normally has the choice to make this site the default search engine.

Search engines work by you asking questions and they supply the information. The more detailed the question asked the more detailed information will be received. It is now up to the user to decide if indeed this information supplied by the search engine is what I require, if so, is the information current, is your questioned answered, and is the information reliable. Does the information relate to my circumstances, which may include social or geographical?

It is therefore up to user to ensure that the communication between the searcher and the search engine are specific. Effective communication results in effective answers. EffectiCommunication can be referred to in many different ways. Body language and gestures are a good way to show self expression, text and verbal are other forms of communication. It is up to the user, how they chose to use these different ways of communication. You will need to consider the benefits or outcome in the way you communicate. Will the outcome be beneficial or detrimental?

Communication is absolute when searching the internet. Whilst there are no rules for correctly searching, there are ways in which we can search effectively.

Search engines are a great way to research information, although the way in which you communicate your requests, the result can vary each time. With internet being so large, it is easy for the searcher to be easily distracted and therefore not continue on with the initial search so you need to stay focused.

effective search methods would include the following:-

Decide carefully which search engine to use;
Do not use words that are common;
Include exact phrases;
Do not limit yourself to one word searches; more words equal a more extent to results;

Yahoo has been updated, “it has now re-instated the Add URL free function that allows users to submit a site for inclusion in the index”. "We think we should be able to find all of your content just by following links," says Yahoo Search Director of Product Management Tim Mayer. (Kerner, unknown)

Ask-Jeeves search ranking system is called Subject Specific Popularity. The system is based on social networking theory and the notion that communities are formed around certain subjects and Google is based on rank. Page Rank is a rating of how important a page is relative to the rest of the Web. (Kerner, unknown).

We were asked to create a webpage and upload it to a free-webhosting site. I searched Google and chose the site
www.free-webhosts.com/ which was the first listing. To use this site, I was required to register then reply to a confirmation email. I then setup my initial page only to discover I could not alter the content of the site or upload my own content. To get the broader answer I required, I should have narrowed down my search to include the words uploading or ftp access.

Websites
1. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/992/1/Reflective_Internet_Searching.pdf
This was not a site but a PDF. (Bruce, 2002). It clearly shows that the internet does not just exist based on world wide web and email, it does have others factors such as social networking, education together with the use of “commercial trading and marketing” .

This sites explains in detail how the internet is continuously changing and evolving and therefore, so to must our ways in which we search for information. This article included an Action Research Model for Reflective Internet Searching shown below:-

This article also explains how to Plan for your results, how to act on the results provided, and the different way in which we can record our results and how to reflect upon the results provided
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2. http://www.windweaver.com/searchguide.htm
Windweaver's Search Guide - Using the Best Directories and Search Engines. (TRACY MARKS, 2005)
This site caters for all users including new users to the internet. It advises how to search the internet, through different search engines, how to find and use a search engine or directory.

It included hints for searching the internet, which included “Determine your aims: Do you want a specific hard-to-find document on an esoteric subject, or general information on a broader topic? Do you need to search the entire Web, or is what you are seeking likely to be found on a number of sites, or only the most popular sites? This would be classified as good “reflecting”.

Bibliography
Altaviser Communications Ltd. (unkown). How to Create a Website. Retrieved july 4, 2009, from Create-Website.org: http://create-website.org/concepts/introduction.html
Bruce, S. L. (2002). REFLECTIVE INTERNET SEARCHING: AN ACTION RESEARCH MODEL. The Learning Organisation . Queensland, Australia: School of Information Systems Queensland University of Technology.
Chasty, N. (n.d.).
Face-Book. (2008, May 8). Ecominds: Ecominds Facebook Disclaimer. Retrieved July 15, 2009, from Face-Book: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=17343675745&comments&ref=mf
Kerner, S. M. (unknown). Search Engines: What's the Difference? Retrieved July 7, 2009, from Internetnews.com: http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/3353971
Petersen, C. J. (2001). Writing for a Web Audience. Retrieved July 15, 2009, from Smartisans.com: http://www.smartisans.com/articles/web_writing.aspx
Sandberg, J. (2009, June 07). Welcome to the Quote Garden. Retrieved July 6, 2009, from Quote Garden: www.quotegarden.com/internet.html
sea. (n.d.).
Sequera, N. (2009, June 07). Quotations about the Internet . Retrieved July 10, 2009, from Quote Garden: http://www.quotegarden.com/internet.html
Shea, V. (1990-2006). The Core Rules of Netiquette. Retrieved July 3, 2009, from Albion: http://www.albion.com/netiquette/
Snell, S. (2009, February 3rd). Clear and Effective Communication in Web Design. Retrieved July 8, 2009, from smashing magazine: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/02/03/clear-and-effective-communication-in-web-design/
Stewart, J. (2009, June 07). Internet Quotes. Retrieved July 5, 2009, from Quote Garden: www.quotegarden.com/internet.html
TRACY MARKS, M. (2005, May 21). Windweaver's Search Guide Using the Best Directories and Search Engines. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from Windweaver: http://www.windweaver.com/searchguide.htm
Unknown. (2009). Netiquette (Internet Etiquette). Retrieved July 2, 2009, from Livinginternet: http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ia_nq.htm
Watson, L. E. (2007). Netiquette. Retrieved July 2, 2009, from The Quotation Page: http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Lillian_Eichler_Watson/
Woods, G. (2001). English Grammar for Dummies (For Dummies). New York: For Dummies.