Canoga Park Computer Classes

5 Websites You Might Not Know About Yet

2008-05-12T17:21:00.000-07:00

1. National Geographic - http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ - A world leader in geography, cartography and exploration, with amazing stories and photography.

2. Quote DB - http://www.quotedb.com/ - This database is full of great quotations for any occassion.

3. Cafepress - http://www.cafepress.com - CafePress.com is an online retailer that produces and dispatches user-customized products on demand. Opening and operating a basic CafePress shop is free.

4. Internet Archive - http://www.archive.org - Nonprofit organisation established to preserve Web sites by taking regular "snapshots". The Wayback Machine provides links to older versions of a webpage.

5. Blogger - http://www.blogger.com - Free weblog publishing tool from Google, for sharing text, photos and video. In fact, you're using a site created by Blogger right now - this one!

Powerset vs. Google - the future of search?

2008-05-12T17:10:00.000-07:00

Powerset is an attempt at creating a next-generation search engine, attempting to enable computers to understand searches in more natural language.

Powerset’s goal is to change the way people interact with technology by
enabling computers to understand our language. While this is a difficult
challenge, we believe that now is the right time to begin the journey. Powerset
is first applying its natural language processing to search, aiming to improve
the way we find information by unlocking the meaning encoded in ordinary human
language.

Powerset’s first product is a search and discovery experience for
Wikipedia, launched in May 2008. Powerset’s technology improves the entire
search process. In the search box, you can express yourself in keywords,
phrases, or simple questions. On the search results page, Powerset gives more
accurate results, often answering questions directly, and aggregates information
from across multiple articles. Finally, Powerset’s technology follows you into
enhanced Wikipedia articles, giving you a better way to quickly digest and
navigate content.

Visit http://www.powerset.com/ and conduct a few searches for yourself. Take a look at their sample searches for ideas on where to begin.

What do you think?

How does it compare to Google?

Do you think the idea of natural language searches is a good one?

How to find images on the Internet

2008-05-12T17:05:00.000-07:00

Check out this very thorough page of resources for finding images on the Internet. Many of these images, such as Creative Commons licensees, are copyright-free and can be used however you like.

http://randomknowledge.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/how-to-find-images-on-the-internet/

20 Websites in 60 Minutes

2008-04-29T11:00:00.000-07:00

Goals for the class:
1. Increase Internet skills through doing
2. Discover interesting and innovative ways people are using the Internet
3. Find new resources you can use in your life
4. Have fun!

1. Los Angeles Public Library - http://www.lapl.org/ - Provides information and entertainment resources, web site indexes, databases, virtual library links as well as links to its central library and branches.

2. StumbleUpon - http://www.stumbleupon.com/ - The Internet is all about chance, so use this site to "stumble upon" something new, unknown and exciting.

3. All Recipes - http://www.allrecipes.com/ - Just like the title says, with more than 40,000 recipes.

4. WebMD - http://www.webmd.com/ - Find a comprehensive index of trusted health and medical information on common topics from A to Z.

5. Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/ - Online shopping from a huge selection of books, magazines, music, DVDs, videos, electronics, computers and much more.

6. eBay - http://www.ebay.com/ - Online auctions and shopping, for just about anything under the sun.

7. PhotonHead - http://www.photonhead.com/ - Offers a blend of photographic concepts and tips for film and digital cameras. Features a camera simulator, tips and image editing tutorials.

8. Wikipedia - http://www.wikipedia.org/ - The biggest multilingual free-content encyclopedia on the Internet. Over 7 million articles in over 200 languages, and still growing.

9. Internet Movie Database - http://www.imdb.com/ - an online database of information about movies, actors, television shows, production crew personnel, and video games.

10. Pandora - http://www.pandora.com/ - Pandora radio is the personalized internet radio service that helps you find new music based on your old and current favorites. Create custom web radio stations and discover new music.

11. Digg - http://www.digg.com/ - aa website made for people to discover and share content from anywhere on the internet, by submitting, voting for(digging), and commenting on each others links and stories, in a social and democratic spirit.

12. Expert Village - http://www.expertvillage.com/ - A large how-to video site, on a wide variety of topics.

13. Farecast - http://www.farecast.com/ - Search multiple travel sites, compare airline prices, search our travel deals, and receive free fare predictions.

14. Fark - http://www.fark.com/ - Interesting, bizarre and amusing news stories, along with regular photo manipulation contests.

15. How Stuff Works - http://www.howstuffworks.com/ - explains hundreds of subjects, from car engines to lock-picking to ESP, using clear language and tons of illustrations.

16. USA.gov - http://www.usa.gov/ - Home page of the US Government's Official Web Portal for all government transactions, services, and information.

17. US Postal Service - http://www.usps.com/ - Postal and shipping information, and the easiest place to find a zip code online.

18. FactCheck.org - http://www.factcheck.org/ - Monitors the factual accuracy of what is said by major US political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases.

19. National Geographic - http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ - A world leader in geography, cartography and exploration, with amazing stories and photography.

20. Quote DB - http://www.quotedb.com/ - This database is full of great quotations for any occassion.

Mouse Exercises

2008-04-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

Here's another exercise to help you get more comfortable using the mouse.

http://www.seniornet.org/howto/mouseexercises/mousepractice.html

Mouserobics

2008-04-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

Practice using the mouse and navigating different websites in this fun exercise.

Mouserobics

20 Websites in 60 Minutes

2008-03-17T16:12:00.000-07:00

Goals for the class:

1. Increase Internet skills through doing
2. Discover interesting and innovative ways people are using the Internet
3. Find new resources you can use in your life
4. Have fun!

1. StumbleUpon - http://www.stumbleupon.com/ - The Internet is all about chance, so use this site to "stumble upon" something new, unknown and exciting.

2. cRANKy - http://www.cranky.com/ - A search engine tailored to users 50+.

3. Earthcam - http://www.earthcam.com/ - Check out webcams from around the world

4. Epicurious - http://www.epicurious.com/ - A great cooking website with a focus on gourmet foods.

5. All Recipes - http://www.allrecipes.com/ - Just like the title says, with more than 40,000 recipes.

6. Webtender - http://www.webtender.com/ - Get the recipe for every drink imaginable, with or without alcohol.

7. Local Hikes - http://www.localhikes.com - Los Angeles has many great hikes, and this site can be your guide to great outdoor adventures.

8. Los Angeles Times Calendar Live - http://www.calendarlive.com/ - Find out about live music, theater, movies, museums, and just about everything happening in the Los Angeles area.

9. US Postal Service - http://www.usps.com/ - Postal and shipping information, and the easiest place to find a zip code online.

10. Dictionary.com - http://www.dictionary.com/ - A dictionary, thesaurus and more, all online and all free.

11. Dial a Human - http://www.dialahuman.com/ - Bypass that robotic answering service and talk to a human being at your favorite company, corporation or conglomerate.

12. Lonely Planet - http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ - Travel information, pictures and more from around the world

13. CNET - http://www.cnet.com/ - Computer news, articles, reviews, buying guides and free software downloads.

14. WebMD - http://www.webmd.com/ - Find a comprehensive index of trusted health and medical information. It is your ultimate guide to reliable health information on common topics from A to Z.

15. Pandora - http://www.pandora.com/ - Pandora radio is the personalized internet radio service that helps you find new music based on your old and current favorites. Create custom web radio stations and discover new music.

16. Charity Navigator - http://www.charitynavigator.org/ - Follow the money trail and learn more about a charity organization before you give with this website.

17. Project Gutenberg - http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page - Free eBooks, audio books and more

18. Bartleby - http://www.bartleby.com/ - Free eBooks.

19. DealCatcher - http://www.dealcatcher.com/ - with new postings every day, you never know what deals you'll find on this site.

20. Quote DB - http://www.quotedb.com/ - This database is full of great quotations for any occassion.

Gmail tutorial videos

2008-03-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

These excellent Gmail tutorial videos will help illustrate how to use your new e-mail account. Learn how to compose, send and receive e-mail, add attachments to your messages, search your e-mail archives and much more.

List of Search Engines

2008-03-04T11:14:00.001-08:00

Here is a comprehensive list of search engines of all kinds, from around the world. Try out a few and see how they compare!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_search_engines

20 Websites In 60 Minutes

2008-02-26T11:49:00.000-08:00

Available through LA Public Library

1. Los Angeles Public Library databases - http://databases.lapl.org/

Search Engines

2. Yahoo - http://www.yahoo.com/
3. Google – http://www.google.com/

Encyclopedia

4. Wikipedia – http://www.wikipedia.org/

Video on the Web

5. YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/

Classifieds

6. Craigslist - http://losangeles.craigslist.org/

Books and movies

7. Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/
8. Internet Movie Database - http://www.imdb.com/
9. Rotten Tomatoes - http://www.rottentomatoes.com/
10. Metacritic - http://www.metacritic.com/

Maps and Directions

11. Google Maps - http://maps.google.com/
12. Mapquest - http://www.mapquest.com/

Reference resources

13. Internet Public Library - http://www.ipl.org/
14. How Stuff Works - http://www.howstuffworks.com/

News

15. CNN - http://www.cnn.com/
16. Google News - http://news.google.com/

Health

17. WebMD - http://www.webmd.com/

World

18. NASA - http://www.nasa.gov/
19. National Geographic - http://www.nationalgeographic.com/

Fun

20. The Onion - http://www.onion.com/

100 Websites

2008-02-26T10:53:00.000-08:00

Goals for the class:

1. Increase Internet skills through doing
2. Discover interesting and innovative ways people are using the Internet
3. Find new resources you can use in your life
4. Have fun!

This is a list of the 100 websites we covered in the "20 Websites in 60 Minutes" classes, categorized and sorted for your convenience.

Some sites may appear more than once, but that's because they have more than one use.

Los Angeles Public Library resources

Los Angeles Public Library databases - http://databases.lapl.org/ - LAPL's databases are an amazing resource, and they're free with your library card.
LAPL e-Downloads - http://audiobooks.lapl.org/ - You can download music, audio books and movies with your library card, right to your computer.

Search Engines

Google – http://www.google.com/ - The Internet's most popular search engine, and one of its best. Google's not just a search engine - check out their numerous services as well for more.
Open Directory Project - http://www.dmoz.org/ - The Open Directory Project is the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory of the Web. It is constructed and maintained by a vast, global community of volunteer editors.

Yahoo - http://www.yahoo.com/ - Still very popular as a search engine, and offers a variety of services as well.

cRANKy - http://www.cranky.com/ - A search engine tailored to users 50+.

Web Tools

del.icio.us - http://del.icio.us/ - Use del.icio.us to save important websites and access your bookmarks from any computer.

Zoho - http://www.zoho.com/ - Free web-based word processing, spreadsheets and office tools.

ThinkFree - http://www.thinkfree.com/ - Similar to Zoho, another free online alternative to Microsoft Office

Online Conversion - http://www.onlineconversion.com/ - Over 5000 units and 50,000 conversions. Convert just about anything into anything else.

Guess The Google - http://grant.robinson.name/projects/guess-the-google/ - This game will help you hone your search skills, as you try to guess what is being search for in the picture.

Arts

Artsjournal - http://www.artsjournal.com/ - A daily journal of culture and ideas, covering a wide variety of art around the world.

All Posters - http://www.allposters.com/ - This is not only the place to find cool posters, it also serves as a default image gallery and way to search for art online, as long as it's in poster form.

Books

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/ - New and used books for sale, as well as a great resource for

Metacritic - http://www.metacritic.com/ - Check out book reviews around the world.

Project Gutenberg - http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page - Free eBooks.

Bartleby - http://www.bartleby.com/ - Free eBooks, audio books and more.

Cars and Automotive Information

Carsurvey - http://www.carsurvey.org/ - A great source of information on cars, with reviews and advice from owners.

Kelley Blue Book - http://www.kbb.com/ - Guage the value of any vehicle online.

Classifieds

Craigslist - http://losangeles.craigslist.org/ - Classified ads for everything from jobs to housing to selling just about anything.

Computers and Technology

CNET - http://www.cnet.com/ - Computer news, articles, reviews, buying guides and free software downloads.

Stop Badware - http://www.stopbadware.org/ - Learn more about stopping badware, which can cripple your computer if you're not careful and vigilant.

iLounge - http://www.ilounge.com/ - Learn about iPods, iPhones and more at this site dedicated to portable music players.

Wired - http://www.wired.com/ - Computer and technology news and articles, as well as science and culture. Always a thought-provoking read.

Internet Wayback Machine - http://www.archive.org/index.php - This archive of the Internet lets you visit

Alexa - http://www.alexa.com/ - Tracks popularity of websites online.

Concise Freeware - http://www.concisefreeware.com/ - A great source of free programs, many of which can be very useful.

Cooking

Allrecipes.com - http://www.allrecipes.com/ - Just like the title says, with more than 40,000 recipes.

Cooking By Number - http://www.cookingbynumbers.com/ - If you're not much of a cook. this site has some great simple recipes.

Epicurious - http://www.epicurious.com/ - A great cooking website with a focus on gourmet foods.

Dictionaries

Dictionary.com - http://www.dictionary.com/ - A dictionary, thesaurus and more, all online and all free.

Urban Dictionary - http://www.urbandictionary.com/ - Slang dictionary where users write the definitions, often with hilarious results.

Double-Tongued Dictionary - http://www.doubletongued.org/ - A growing dictionary of words from the fringes of English, including jargon, slang, and loan words.

E-mail tips

Gmail Tips - http://www.gmailtips.com/ - If you have any questions about your Gmail account, this is the place to go.
Ten Tips For Effective E-mail - http://www.mindtools.com/email.html - Learn more about writing effective e-mail that will get read and responded to.

Employment

Monster - http://www.monster.com/ - Popular job-hunting website where you can post your resume online.

Encyclopedias

Wikipedia – http://www.wikipedia.org/ - An amazing online encyclopedia, user-written and maintained.

Snopes - http://www.snopes.com/ - The definitive Internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors, and misinformation.

Artcyclopedia - http://www.artcyclopedia.com/ - The Artcyclopedia is an index of online museums and image archives: find out where the works of over 8000 different fine artists can be viewed online.

Free E-books and Audio Books

Project Gutenberg - http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

Bartleby - http://www.bartleby.com/

Fun

The Onion - http://www.onion.com/ - America's premiere parody newspaper, witty and inventive as they mock our modern times.

StumbleUpon - http://www.stumbleupon.com/ - The Internet is all about chance, so use this site to "stumble upon" something new, unknown and exciting.

Expert Village - http://www.expertvillage.com/ - Lots of good information here, as you can watch video demonstrations on a huge variety of topics by self-proclaimed "experts."

Webtender - http://www.webtender.com/ - Get the recipe for every drink imaginable, with or without alcohol.

Patently Silly - http://www.patentlysilly.com/ - You'll be amazed at the ideas people patented. A fun and twisted look into the human psyche.

We Feel Fine - http://www.wefeelfine.org/ - This art project calls itself "an exploration of human emotion" on a global scale, as defined by people's writings on the Internet.
iVillage - http://www.ivillage.com/ - the daily destination for women, with horoscopes, health and pregnancy information, message boards and blogs, celebrity gossip, beauty and more

Government

US Postal Service - http://www.usps.com/ - Postal and shipping information, and the easiest place to find a zip code online.

U.S. Government Manual - http://www.gpoaccess.gov/gmanual/index.html - You always knew they had one, now you can read it online. Cures insomnia instantly.

Project Vote-Smart - http://www.vote-smart.org/index.htm - Find information on your local representatives and government, voting information and everything you need to know as an informed citizen.

United Nations - http://www.un.org/ - The website for the United Nations, with many interesting articles on international issues facing us all.

Health

WebMD - http://www.webmd.com/ - Find a comprehensive index of trusted health and medical information. It is your ultimate guide to reliable health information on common topics from A to Z.

Go Ask Alice (Columbia University) - http://www.goaskalice.com/ - Medical information from Columbia University's medical school, with an irreverent side.

Home

How To Clean Anything - http://www.howtocleananything.com/ - Just like the title says, this site shows you how to clean just about anything.

Home Envy - http://www.homeenvy.com/ - Home improvement tips and hints, as well as regularly updated columns.

Invitations

eVite - http://www.evite.com/ - Send e-mail invitations for your next big party, free and easy.

Los Angeles Activities and Entertainment

Weather.com - http://www.weather.com/ - More about the weather than you'd ever possibly need to know, courtesy of the Weather Channel. Daily and weekly forecasts and much more.

LA Hikes - http://www.lahikes.com/ - Los Angeles has many great hikes, and this site can be your guide to great outdoor adventures.

Los Angeles Times Calendar Live - http://www.calendarlive.com/ - Find out about live music, theater, movies, museums, and just about everything happening in the Los Angeles area.

CitySearch Los Angeles - http://losangeles.citysearch.com/ - Use Citysearch City Guides to get reviews and directions to top restaurants, events, night clubs, shops, services and more, in cities across the country.

Maps and Directions

Google Maps - http://maps.google.com/ - Online maps, satellite images, driving directions and more.

Mapquest - http://www.mapquest.com/ - Another good site for directions and maps.

Google Maps Mania - http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/ - This blog tracks innovations in Google Maps and finds cool new uses for this powerful tool.

Movies

Internet Movie Database - http://www.imdb.com/ - Everything about movies and TV you were afraid to ask.

Rotten Tomatoes - http://www.rottentomatoes.com/ - Reviews, show times and articles, all with an irreverent touch.

Metacritic - http://www.metacritic.com/ - Reviews from around the world.

Films 101 - http://www.films101.com/ - Great information resource on film around the world, for all you cinephiles out there.

Music

Last.FM - http://www.last.fm/ - The world's largest social music platform. Show off your taste, see what your friends are listening to, hear new music, get personal radio, recommendations and more.

Pandora - http://www.pandora.com/ - Pandora radio is the personalized internet radio service that helps you find new music based on your old and current favorites. Create custom web radio stations and discover new music.

KCRW.com - http://www.kcrw.com/ - One of LA's best radio stations, you can listen live online or to archived programs.

Museums

Virtual Library Museums Page - http://vlmp.museophile.com/

News

Google News - http://news.google.com/ - Compiles news from many online sources around the world. Yet another great use for Google.

CNN - http://www.cnn.com/ - CNN's website has video clips, up-to-the-minute news and much more.
Fark - http://www.fark.com/ - Interesting, bizarre and amusing news stories, along with regular photo manipulation contests.

BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/ - A great source of international news that the US media often misses.

IndyMedia - http://www.indymedia.org/ - Read about the stories the corporate media doesn't want you to hear.

Pop URLs - http://popurls.com/ -Keeps track of many popular sites and shows you the headlines and hot topics on the Web.

People Search

Dial A Human - http://www.dialahuman.com/ - Bypass that robotic answering service and talk to a human being at your favorite company, corporation or conglomerate.

Get Human - http://www.gethuman.com/ - I don't want to talk to a machine! Get me a human!

Anywho - http://www.anywho.com/ -

411.com - http://www.411.com/

Photos

Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/ - Use Flickr to share and store your photos online, for free.

Reference Resources

Internet Public Library - http://www.ipl.org/ - Online public library, maintained by librarians, full of reliable information.

How Stuff Works - http://www.howstuffworks.com/ - Explains hundreds of subjects, from car engines to lock-picking to ESP, using clear language and tons of illustrations.

Digital History - http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/ - Uses primary sources, an online textbook, extensive reference resources, and interactive features to make history come alive.

Library of Congress - http://www.loc.gov/index.html - The nation's oldest federal cultural organization, offering online access to their catalogs, articles and more.

Quote DB - http://www.quotedb.com/ - This database is full of great quotations for any occassion.

Expert Village - http://www.expertvillage.com/ - Lots of good information here, as you can watch video demonstrations on a huge variety of topics by self-proclaimed "experts."

Charity Navigator - http://www.charitynavigator.org/ - Follow the money trail and learn more about a charity organization before you give with this website.

Nolo Press - Law Books and Legal Information - http://www.nolopress.com/ - Nolo Press's legal books are excellent resources, and so is their website, which features legal information on many subjects.

Info Please - http://www.infoplease.com/ - free reference information, providing a comprehensive encyclopedia, almanac, atlas, dictionary and more.

Religion and Spirituality

BeliefNet - http://www.beliefnet.com/ - Features articles on God, faith, prayer, the nature of spirituality, society and ethics, with numerous resources. All religions respected.

Reviews

Metacritic - http://www.metacritic.com/ - Reviews on music, movies, books, DVDs and more.

50 Word Review - http://www.50wordreview.com/ - Brevity is the soul of wit, as users prove here as they write 50 word reviews of just about everything.

Shopping

DealCatcher - http://www.dealcatcher.com/ - with new postings every day, you never know what deals you'll find on this site.

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/ - Great deals on books and more, often with free shipping.

Zunafish - http://www.zunafish.com/ - This unique site lets you trade your unwanted books, CDs and DVDs with other users.

Wine Commune - http://www.winecommune.com/ - The eBay of wine, when you're looking for

Sound Effects

Find Sounds - http://www.findsounds.com/ - All kinds of hilarious and weird sound effects for any occassion.

Travel

Weather.com - http://www.weather.com/

Lonely Planet - http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

Airfare Watchdog - http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/

Mobissimo - http://www.mobissimo.com/

Video

YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/

Google Video - http://video.google.com/

World

NASA - http://www.nasa.gov

National Geographic - http://www.nationalgeographic.com/

Weather.com - http://www.weather.com/

Google Earth - http://earth.google.com/

Earthcam - http://www.earthcam.com/

Basic Internet Quiz

2008-02-11T12:10:00.000-08:00

This quiz will help further your computer skills and familiarize you with terminology. The more you know about the Internet, the easier it becomes to navigate.

http://www.classzone.com/books/research_guide/page_build.cfm?content=prequiz

Google

2008-02-11T12:00:00.001-08:00

Google is one of the Internet's top search engines, and it does a lot more than just help you find websites. Learning to use Google is a great way to get your feet wet searching the Internet and to learn the basic skills necessary to search.

Let's explore Google's many functions.

Google - http://www.google.com/

Google News - http://news.google.com/

Google Maps - http://maps.google.com/

Google Earth - http://earth.google.com/

Google Image Search - http://images.google.com/

Google Video - http://video.google.com/

Gmail - free e-mail through Google - http://mail.google.com/

And there are many more! Look at all these different logos signifying a different service! And this is only a portion of them! Explore for yourself and discover how useful Google can be.

Mouse Games

2008-02-05T17:26:00.000-08:00

Try out some of these games, which will help you practice your mouse skills.

http://www.pbclibrary.org/mousing/games.htm

Gmail Tips and Tricks

2007-10-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some links that will help you get used to Gmail and show you more about all its capabilities:

http://blog.taragana.com/index.php/archive/5-things-i-like-most-about-gmail/

http://www.reviewsaurus.com/2007/07/05/10-reasons-why-i-like-gmail/

http://kylescove.com/2007/01/05/ultimate-guide-to-googles-gmail/

http://email.about.com/od/gmailtips/tp/pop_gmail_tips.htm

http://email.about.com/od/gmailtips/Gmail_Tips_Tricks_and_Secrets.htm

http://lifehacker.com/software/gmail/gmail-tips-and-tricks-monster-roundup-198488.php

http://g04.com/misc/GmailTipsComplete.html

http://www.starkstate.edu/computing/academic_computing/print/Gmail_basics.pdf

Google Gadgets in the sidebar

2007-09-10T17:03:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Google Gadgets, we have now added new and exciting features to the class website.

You can do the following in the sidebar to the right:

-search Wikipedia. Just type in your search, click "Go" and a new window will open with your search results.

-Search Google. And not just any old Google web search! Choose from 8 different options to hone your search and find exactly what you're looking for (and maybe a few things you weren't). Just type in your searches in the search window, click "search", and a new window will open with your results.

If these features don't open at first, just click the "Refresh" button. "Refresh" is at the top right of your browser window, between "Stop" and "Home." This will reload the page.

Evaluating Web Sites

2007-09-07T13:25:00.000-07:00

As you've already learned, anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can create a website and publish on the Web.

That means it's up to you to determine which sites are reliable and which aren't worth your time.

How do you go about doing this in a sea of online information?

A little detective work.

The following sites and activities will go through the basics of evaluating a web site and deciding whether it's authoritative, or if it suits your purposes.

Criteria for Evaluating Web Sites - http://www.classzone.com/books/research_guide/page_build.cfm?content=web_eval_criteria&state=none - Use the 5 W's (who? what? when? where? why?) as your guide as we go through some basic guidelines for evaluating web sites.

Activity: Evaluating a Web Site - http://www.classzone.com/books/research_guide/page_build.cfm?content=activity_eval_site&state=none - Applying what we just learned, let's evaluate a website. Pick one of your favorites, or choose one from the list in the above link. Use the "Evaluating a Web Site" handout to jot down your answers, or for future personal use.

Activity: Guess the URL - http://www.classzone.com/books/research_guide/page_build.cfm?content=activity_guess_url&state=none - Using your knowledge of domain names (the address of a website) and extensions (the three-letter suffix that is part of a URL, such as .com or .org), try to guess the URL for each site in the activity. Type your answers directly into the address bar to see if you're right.

Quiz - How much do you know about the Internet?

2007-09-07T11:22:00.000-07:00

Even if you're an online novice, you may be surprised at how much you already know about cyberspace. You can test your knowledge now by taking this brief quiz.

http://www.centerspan.org/tutorial/quiz.htm

Internet Fraud Tips

2007-08-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

You might think you're getting a bargain, but if you're not careful you can become a victim of fraud online. Remember, if it sounds too good or too far-fetched to be true, it probably is.

This site offers great tips and information on how to avoid these scams. Become a savvy Internet user and save yourself a lot of trouble.

http://www.fraud.org/tips/internet/

The Wonderful World of Wikipedia

2007-08-27T17:27:00.000-07:00

Wikipedia is another wonderful resource online, and it's growing all the time. It's the biggest multilingual free-content encyclopedia on the Internet. Over 7 million articles in over 200 languages, and still growing.

http://www.wikipedia.org/

Wikipedia’s Fundamental Mission statement: Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge.

What is Wikipedia?

An encyclopedia collaboratively written by many of its readers
It uses a special type of website called a wiki, which makes collaboration easy
The world’s largest encyclopedia project – in over 100 languages
One of the most popular sites on the Internet
A very useful information source
A fun tool for learning and discovery

The Philosophy of Wikipedia

Wikipedia is built on the assumption that most people are well-meaning
Collaboration will gradually improve the encyclopedia
Lots of people are constantly improving Wikipedia, making thousands of changes an hour, all of which are recorded on article histories and recent changes
Inappropriate changes are usually removed quickly, and repeat offenders can be blocked from editing.

Things you can do with Wikipedia

Search for a specific topic and learn more about it
Edit an entry and add your knowledge to Wikipedia
Browse, click links within articles or discover a random page
Check out the topic-specific portals
Find links to other websites on the same subject at the bottom of most articles

Future Goals For Wikipedia

Quality vs. Quantity – improving quality rather than emphasizing numbers
Catch up to Encyclopedia Britannica – Wikipedia compares favorably in sciences but is behind in arts and literature
Create free online learning tools – Wikiversity?

Other free services available through Wikipedia

Wikibooks – free textbooks and manuals
Wiktionary – online dictionary and thesaurus
Wikiquote – quotations
Commons – shared media repository – copyright-free pictures, videos and more

Go check it out! http://www.wikipedia.org/

2007 Web Map

2007-08-20T11:14:00.000-07:00

Check this out. This map represents the 200 most successful and influential websites, imagined like a subway map. Follow each line and see where it leads.

Here's the 2007 Information Architects Web Map.

Here's a clickable online version of the map, which shows you screenshots of each website and is a lot more fun to navigate on your computer.

20 Websites in 60 Minutes - part 5

2007-08-06T14:09:00.000-07:00

1. Guess The Google - http://grant.robinson.name/projects/guess-the-google/

2. Internet Wayback Machine - http://www.archive.org/index.php

3. Eons - http://www.eons.com

4. Earthcam - http://www.earthcam.com/

5. Artsjournal - http://www.artsjournal.com/

6. Nolo Press - Law Books and Legal Information - http://www.nolopress.com/

7. 411.com - http://www.411.com/

8. Alexa - http://www.alexa.com/

9. Info Please - http://www.infoplease.com/

10. United Nations - http://www.un.org/

11. Virtual Library Museums Page - http://vlmp.museophile.com/

12. Open Directory Project - http://www.dmoz.org/

13. All Posters - http://www.allposters.com/

14. Pop URLs - http://popurls.com/

15. cRANKy - http://www.cranky.com

16. Concise Freeware - http://www.concisefreeware.com/

17. Gmail Tips - http://www.gmailtips.com/

18. iVillage - http://www.ivillage.com/

19. Wine Commune - http://www.winecommune.com

20. Google Maps Mania - http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/

20 Websites in 60 Minutes

2007-07-02T16:10:00.000-07:00

Goals for the class:

1. Increase Internet skills through doing
2. Discover interesting and innovative ways people are using the Internet
3. Find new resources you can use in your life
4. Learn that some people have way too much free time on their hands
5. Have fun!

1. Zoho - http://www.zoho.com/

2. ThinkFree - http://www.thinkfree.com

3. Stop Badware - http://www.stopbadware.org

4. iLounge - http://www.ilounge.com

5. Go Ask Alice (Columbia University) - http://www.goaskalice.com

6. Double-Tongued Dictionary - http://www.doubletongued.org

7. Expert Village - http://www.expertvillage.com

8. Find Sounds - http://www.findsounds.com

9. Films 101 - http://www.films101.com

10. Home Envy - http://www.homeenvy.com

11. KCRW.com - http://www.kcrw.com

12. Patently Silly - http://www.patentlysilly.com

13. We Feel Fine - http://www.wefeelfine.org

14. Get Human - http://www.gethuman.com

15. eVite - http://www.evite.com

16. Airfare Watchdog - http://www.airfarewatchdog.com

17. Mobissimo - http://www.mobissimo.com

18. Zunafish - http://www.zunafish.com/

19. Online Conversion - http://www.onlineconversion.com/

20. BeliefNet - http://www.beliefnet.com/

20 Websites in 60 Minutes - Episode 3

2007-06-16T17:20:00.000-07:00

1. del.icio.us - http://del.icio.us

2. Artcyclopedia - http://www.artcyclopedia.com

3. Digital History - http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/

4. Library of Congress - http://www.loc.gov/index.html

5. Project Gutenberg - http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

6. Bartleby - http://www.bartleby.com/

7. How To Clean Anything - http://www.howtocleananything.com

8. U.S. Government Manual - http://www.gpoaccess.gov/gmanual/index.html

9. Project Vote-Smart - http://www.vote-smart.org/index.htm

10. Allrecipes.com - http://www.allrecipes.com

11. Cooking By Number - http://www.cookingbynumbers.com/

12. Dial A Human - http://www.dialahuman.com/

13. Anywho - http://www.anywho.com/

14. Quote DB - http://www.quotedb.com/

15. IndyMedia - http://www.indymedia.org

16. Webtender - http://www.webtender.com

17. Wired - http://www.wired.com

18. Charity Navigator - http://www.charitynavigator.org/

19. DealCatcher - http://www.dealcatcher.com/

20. LAPL e-Downloads - http://audiobooks.lapl.org

20 More Websites in 60 Minutes

2007-05-15T17:06:00.000-07:00

1. Weather.com - http://www.weather.com

2. Urban Dictionary - http://www.urbandictionary.com

3. LA Hikes - http://www.lahikes.com

4. Fark - http://www.fark.com

5. BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation - http://www.bbc.co.uk

6. Los Angeles Times Calendar Live - http://www.calendarlive.com

7. CitySearch Los Angeles - http://losangeles.citysearch.com/

8. US Postal Service - http://www.usps.com/

9. Dictionary.com - http://www.dictionary.com

10. Carsurvey - http://www.carsurvey.org

11. Kelley Blue Book - http://www.kbb.com

12. Lonely Planet - http://www.lonelyplanet.com

13. CNET - http://www.cnet.com

14. StumbleUpon - http://www.stumbleupon.com

15. 50 Word Review - http://www.50wordreview.com

16. Last.FM - http://www.last.fm

17. Pandora - http://www.pandora.com

18. Flickr - http://www.flickr.com

19. Monster - http://www.monster.com

20. Snopes - http://www.snopes.com