1. Using your favourite metaphor, describe the most important lesson that you had learnt in your EIR journey.
I have decided to use "Green Horn" my metaphor. I don't like it because it's green but it best describes how i feel about EIR journey. Green Horn means:
An inexperienced or immature person, especially one who is easily deceived.
A newcomer, especially one who is unfamiliar with the ways of a place or group
I thought EIR would be a very simple and easy module. Yes, it is. It seems simple and easy. But its not. I did not know that researching can be so detailed and specific. All that boolean operators, advanced search, scholars, subject directory, invisible web and more. Yes, in the past I was a green horn.
The most important lesson I learnt was the correct way to search for information. And not just by googling everything. Now after this module, I feel that I would have the confidence to search for more better information for my future projects. This would be a skill that it would last me forever.
2. Write a paragraph summarizing your findings on your research topic.
Online gaming not only lets you come in contact with friends, it expands your social circle, enabling you to be more open with strangers or even your own friends. One might even have a closer relationship with the other party. From Stomp's Valentine’s Day Article, this couple met at an online game, Maple Story and they will be together for 4 years this Valentine’s Day. Many said that time pass very fast whenever you are using the computer, because one would lose track of time when he/she is too engrossed in the game. A Korean man dies after playing computer games non-stop for 49 hours. He was fired from his job a month ago because he kept missing work to play games. This shows the effects of online gaming, addiction.In my opinion, I see both good and bad points of online gaming for youths. I believe they must be self control over what you are doing and to know your limits. It is only good if you have control over your life, bad if it’s the game that controls your life.
a. Do you think it is more effective to search the invisible web (databases) than using search engines, meta-search or subject directories? Why?
It depends. Only if you are searching more specific subjects or topics, databases would be more effective than search engines, meta-search and subject directories. Because they are more for general topics. You must know what you want to look for when searching through the invisible web, and one must narrow down the search query for specify search. Databases results are mostly about inside information compared to search engines, meta-search and subject directories. Therefore, the information results are true comparing to other search engine results where people use Wiki to edit information.
b. Will you use the invisible web (databases) for research in your own respective Diplomas? Why?
Yes, I would. If it shows and provides me the information I want. Why not?
Being in Environment Design, we would normally research on case studies on other architects, buildings. In which, we need true information so we will not provide untrue information. Because at the end of the day, we have to present our information and of course we would not want to show the wrong information/articles.
c. What have you learnt from your wiki experience during this practical?
I have learnt that sharing information is important. Not only it saves a lot of your time, because other people have been researching about it too. All the more, we get to help users one day when they need these information. It's fast and easy.
Views can be shared too. Understanding how others feel and have a deeper understanding about the topic can give another dimension and meaning to it.
a. How has Twitter (micro-blogging) enhanced your learning of EIR? Compare this with your blogging experience using Blogspot.
Tweets are thoughts of 140 characters being posted on the internet to tell your friends how you feel. So that they know how you are feeling and what were you doing at that time. Interesting news can be shared by posting links of the article. Articles that you might not read and know if your friends did not post them. Therefore, enhancing your knowledge. Twitter is catered more for the busy people, where everything is short and sweet. And it is very interactive because you are able to tweet to your favourite celebrity in another country and this is a good interaction between cultures and countries. To be able to know more about their country and life.
Many websites I visited has twitter too. By following them you would be able to know their latest updates as soon as possible.
Twitter are random thoughts you have unlike blogging. Once you tweet you can't edit it, it can only be deleted. Whereas, blogspot's posts can be edited and deleted. In blogspots, links of related blogs can be linked to your own, providing convenience to you and other users.
b. How can you use Twitter and Blogspot for research purposes?
As said before, Twitter can be used to share information. By tweeting links, one can gain information. And now everyone is going Twitter, even companies. For example, Korea Tourism website (in my previous post). If there are new updates on the web, the company would tweet about it and we can go visit the site without having to go through the trouble of visiting the page regularly.
Blogspots are useful too. Again, links are shown to link related blogs for more information. The blogs might be relevant and it cannot be searched on a search engine. Its like searching for treasure.
1) Why did you choose to go to your Dream Holiday destination?
An Nyeong. (Hello)
My brother showed me this video about Seoul, in this music video consists of artistes from Girls Generation and Super Junior. This song is so catchy and the scenes are taken in Seoul. Of course, because it is to promote Korea.
I would really like to visit Korea. Okay, I admit it was because of the kpop craze going on now. And also previously I got hooked onto Boys over flowers drama too. So crazy, that I’m learning Korean. I stopped halfway because I don’t have the time.
I really think Korea is a beautiful country with pretty people. Even though many people are saying that most Koreans do plastic surgery. :|
Oh well, the country is nice.
2) Update your Blog with magical pictures of your Dream Holiday destinations.
Seoraksan National Park (NaeSeorak)
The mountain was named Seorak because the snow would not melt for a long time keeping the rocks in a permanent state of white.
Korean Peninsula-shaped Cliffs (Seonam Village)
Seonam village (선암마을) is a small town located on the banks of Seogang River in Ongjeong-ri, Seo-myeon, Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon-do province. The village is famous for its cliff that is shaped just like the Korean Peninsula.
Korea has a lot of villages and it is almost impossible to go to all. Decided to pick a random village to go.
Bukchon Hanok Village
Bukchon Hanok Village was once a village of aristocrats long ago, and its luxury tile-roofed houses called giwas have been preserved since the Joseon Dynasty.
Namdaemun Market
located in the very center of Seoul, is the biggest traditional market in Korea selling children's clothing, men & women's clothing, daily miscellaneous goods, kitchenware and local and imported products. Most shops have their own factories and make the products themselves offering both wholesale and retail prices which enable visitors to purchase various shopping items at extremely inexpensive prices.
Vivaldi Park Ocean World
Vivaldi Park resort is internationally renowned for its ski facilities, but they are not the only attraction in the resort, Ocean World Water Park is also very popular. The park covers 120,982,200 sq ft, which is 14 times bigger than a soccer field, and it can accommodate up to 18,000 people at the same time. It is designed to look like an oasis in the middle of the Egyptian desert, in order to give visitors the experience of a cool, refreshing swim under the bright sun. Ocean World even features a large Sphinx and pyramid, giving visitors a sense of Egypt’s mysterious past.
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3) Which evaluation criteria did you used to evaluate the multimedia websites for your dream holiday? Why?
Purpose: There isnt any aims in the website because its a toursism website about Korea and I think it is clear for those who visits the website.
Coverage: Their website covers almost anything and everything. From About Korea, Plan Your Trip, Destinations, Sights, Activities & Events, Accommodation, Culture, Food and Shopping. At the top of the home page , there are log ins for regular site visitors. Looking at the contents of the site, there is even an interactive map of Korea! There are also tour packages from which ever country you're from, exchange rates are shown, they are even keeping up the trend by using twitter.They have useful links for further information lest it isnt enough or detail. Everything you need, play can be found here. Even learning Korean, the site teaches you basic Korean to communicate with the locals. I guess what is missing from this website are reviews and good feedbacks about this website so that it wouldleave a good impression of Korea Tourism and Korea.
Authority: KOREA TOURISM ORGANIZATION is a government website and therefore its authorized. This site can be searched through various search engines.
Accuracy and Currency: The facts are true because not only it belongs to a government website, it is updated regularly and it is well maintained. They also keep in touch with users by twitter informing them about new updates or promotions going on.
Accessibility: It is easily to be searched on search engines. The site is easily accessible. It doesn’t need registration upon entering, information can be viewed as a public. Log-ins are only needed if you want to sign up to know more About Korea.
Presentation, Arrangement and Usability: There are a lot of informations but they are neatly categorized under tabs and links. Not cramming words and information into a space. Columns are used for more general subjects, topics and informations. Their search engine results are very relevant and useful for tourists, helping them to get whatever information they need.
Overall: I find that the website is well planned and organized. A lot of thought had been put into it in planning as most of the needed information and help can be retrieved and get in the website. The website is user friendly. The website also provides discount coupons, learning the Korean language for tourists arriving in Korea.
a.Which criteria did you use to evaluate Stomp.com? Why did you choose this criteria? What lessons have you learnt from this activity?
I used coverage to evaluate stomp.com.sg. Stomp’s news cover happenings and sights all over Singapore. They mostly first hand experiences from the Stompers, some were interesting news they seen on the net or in the newspapers. Stomp's news cannot be seen and heard from the tv news and newspapers and this gives Singaporeans a platform to express what they feel or what they saw. Stomp's website has mane segments for different types of news, organising the news neat and well. So usability is one of the criteria I used to evaluate Stomp too. It's website is full of information yet neat and organised. I have learnt that evaluating a website cannot be evaluated as a whole but it needs to be evaluated but the criteria taught to us. So that it is more detailed and relevant.
b.How do you feel about sharing your views via Wiki?
I feel that sharing views on the net is very interactive among other users. Not only you can feel how others view about the topic. Our knowledge expands as we read other comments and information. Because there are many things that we might not know, and would only know if information is shared around. Wiki is good because information can be edited by anyone. Information can be corrected and information are all gathered in a place.
Today is e-learning day. No lesson in school but discussion on the discussion board in Ole. :)
Yesterday, we were supposed to show our progress for our portfolio submission on Friday. Didn't show much because I accidentally deleted the screenshots I did on my thumbdrive. Big mistake. :( Haha. On that day we also learnt a little on databases. Cool stuff. Dug out treasures about my topic. I can even download the full text in pdf form. Good or what.
Briefly reflect on lessons learnt from this practical via your EIR blog (and twitter):
So we learnt on new search engines like Meta Search Engine and Subject directory. I really thought meta was cool. Because it sounded cool. The url's are cool too.... metacrawler.com and mamma.com. But I thought both was not very relevant and friendly especially subject directory. I used galaxy.com. Totally unrelevant stuffs and I tried to find something most related to it. a) What benefits do you get when using different search facilities to search for resources related to your topic?
Benefits I got is that I can find more articles that cannot be found in one search engine only. Different search engines produce different search results. Therefore, more information can be retrieved by using different search engines.
b) How do you feel about using site feeds in your blog?
Knowledge will be broaden with the introduction of site feeds, linking other blogs to yours.
c) What do you like best about collaborating on Wiki with other students who share similar research topic as you?
I will be able to know more about my topic which I may not know even after researching so much on it. It saves time as they shared their researches on the site. And I just have to edit the thread and add on more to it. The next batch of EIR students will also be able to view the information we put hard work into. All in all, I still prefer google because I'm used to it after so many years. Habit to type google.com whenever I want to search for something. hahaha.
& I'm doing my portfolio now. A bit clueless on what I'm supposed to do. But I'll figure my way out tomorrow. Thursday is e-learning. Hope it's fun.
Briefly reflect on lessons learnt from this practical by answering questions below :
a) Were you impressed by google’s search functions/features? Why?
Used google today. Faridah taught us how to use Google's shortcut keys. ;) Still a little complicating. Teeny Weeny bit with all that asterisks and N/2 (??). Google's seriously amazing and because I didn't know there was Google scholar. I thought google was just Google and they don't have other stuff other than Google. You know what I mean. =X
SO....
I used Google Scholar for the first time in my life. A tad too boring. Because it searches on articles which means words and it's really boring. And it's search results are too limited. I thought it will do more wonders than normal Google but guess not. Still prefer normal Google because it's search results are more.... by a lot. And it has more variety of resources like blogs, websites, forums and moreeeeeee. But I guess it's better to have more results than less. That's what research is all about. Isn't it?
And I didn't know that we can search google by languages. Cool. Shall explore it another time.
b) How do you feel about participation in discussion forum? Is it helpful for your research? Do you feel anxious about talking to others you do not know?
Oh... I just created an account at SGforum and I wanted to create a new thread/topic. But I didn't know how. I was so lost. You can't blame me because I'm new to forums??? But I think it's rather scary to comment/reply what others say because everyone can see what you type. How you feel and so on. So weird. I don't really like talking to strangers. Got to step out of my comfort zone soon. And that will be the time when I create a new thread or commenting on other people's thread. Will blog again when people reply to my new thread I'm going to create soon.
c) Why must you do citation and bibliography?
I think citations and bibliography are important even though they're boring. Because of plagiarism and all that. It's not good for one to copy part of what people say or write to treat it as one's own. That's not the truth and not right. So to do the right way, citation is important to let people know what you write or say is from. It's a big offence if one is caught not going these stuff. It is also an essential part when doing research. Remember all the ComDI and PcomD?? hahaha.
Speaking of that I reminded me that I still got to compile and cite url's for my last few lesson's resources I took from.
photos and description of your shopping list items
what is the purpose of the shopping website you had visited
briefly explain what you had learnt today
I decided what I want to spend my 500 dollars on and it's a compact camera. I already have one, from Canon. And it's good. It's more than a year old now. Going to be two years soon. It's features are old and so I decided to get another camera(with better features!!!). Canon of course. :D
I decided to get Canon Digital Ixus 120 IS with my 500 dollars budget!
The purecolour LCD II has a wide colour reproduction range, high resolution, wide angle of view, resists scratching and smudging, and controls reflected light.
Taken from: http://www.canon.com.sg/p/EN/322-Digital-Compact-Cameras/825-IXUS/1202-Digital-IXUS-120-IS/
Another feature is that it's 20mm of thickness!! It's Canon's slimmest Ixus with 28mm Wide-angle lens.
Do you know what's the best feature of this camera for me?
It's the 28mm wide angle!!!! I hate taking pictures of buildings and landscape that has no head and tail.
Awesome isn't it????
and it only costs SGD 469.00
;)
Pictures and information taken from http://canon.com.sg
I enjoyed today's lesson because lesson ended early!! And also because we get to 'shop' online. Even though it's not real, I still get the thrill of browsing the net to find something I like. I thought of blogging about it tonight, but I guess not because I have not found anything on the net yet. I'll shall think of something tomorrow.
It's the 2nd lesson and I guess all of us has been enjoying the lesson so far. I think.
I am enjoying it that's for sure. :)
Today we learnt about the different types of internet resources we can search from. And today is the day that I searched on a topic on a forum properly. I usually avoid forums because they're full of words and nothing really interests me there. I realise that forum's are interesting.
Oh.. and my topic is on the impact of online gaming on youths. Sounds interesting. :O
I'm Sihui, from Environment Design Year 2. People remember me for my high pitch voice. I only do the high pitch thingy when i am happy/excited. But I just do it unknowingly. :/ To my new friends, please pardon my voice for this month. To my old friends, I think you're used to it already. :)
I have a kid like face. My friends call me kiddy. Then again, I don't mean to have a kiddy face. My parents gave it to me.
It's going to be the end of my second year soon. I'm excited. Because it's senior year soon and I can't wait to graduate. :) Life in TDS is sure not easy, but I'm happy to be in this school because I get to learn alot of new stuffs. And I like it, (Y).
I'm getting very worried now, because my friends are writing a longer post than mine. Howwww?
I like penguins. :)
I don't really like 9am lessons because I have to wake up early and there will also be alot of people on the bus with me. I will feel stuffy and uncomfortable. But it's ok, because I think EIR will be fun. Blogging on the first lesson. Like fun only. hahaha.
I like K-pop at the moment. Korean songs are nice. :) I like Lee Min Ho and Kim Hyun Joong. I went Taiwan 2 weeks ago and I miss Taiwan. The very interesing fact about Taiwan is that on the streets there are no bins and the the streets are VERY clean. I'm so amazed. I will visit Taiwan another time.
Sorry for my child like post. I promise to post a better and not 'child-like' post another day. :)
