Online Search Report

Online Search Report

v URL

http://chewhui-83.tripod.com/assignment2.htm

v Search Resources:

1) General Search Engine – http://www.yahoo.com

· Reason:

I used Yahoo as my first search resource as Yahoo provides information on various types of categories and directories. Yahoo offers a large variety of information for different subjects.

· Search process:

Step 1 – Type online learning in the search query box

Syntax: online learning

Number of hits: 30 700 000

The result shown is too large amount and I will continue to refine the syntax.

Step 2 – Type “What is online learning” in the search query box

In the advanced search column, I select a few search functions in order to get a more relevant and reliable information on my topic. The search functions are all the information search are limited within the past 3 months, restricted to only .edu website and filter out the mature website.

Syntax: “What is online learning”

Number of hits : 93 800

· Examples of search result:

http://www.ncver.edu.au/online/issues/whatis.pdf (Reference 7)

http://www.discover.tased.edu.au/netlearn/support/onlinelearn.htm (Reference 5)

· Comments:

The first search result gave a large range of information about online learning but mostly it is irrelevant. The second search result gave a better quality of information as I have narrow down the topic. Basically, Yahoo is a useful search engine in searching for information.

2) General Search Engine – http://www.google.com

· Reason:

I continue my search process by selecting another type of general search engine – Google. Google provide hypertext links as search results and short briefs are provided for the search result.

· Search process:

Step 1 – Type “Benefits of online learning” in the search query box

Syntax : “Benefits of online learning”

Number of hits : 2250

Step 2 – Type “Advantages of online learning” in the search query box

Syntax : “Advantages of online learning”

Number of hits: 716

· Examples of search result:

http://resources.blackboard.com/scholar/general/pages/ictraining/Online_Learning_Benefits.pdf (Reference 2)

http://www.ocedl.com/ocedl/AdvantagesofOE.htm (Reference 8)

· Comments:

Using Google search engine, I narrow down my topics to more specific queries and I manage to get good quality articles that are useful for my essay.

3) Meta Search Engine – http://www.dogpile.com

· Reason:

I continue my search process by using a Meta search engine which I believe it will provides me a complete result as a Meta search engine is a search engine that sends the user’s query to several different search engines and returns only the top hits from each search engine.

· Search process:

Step 1 – Type “The future of online learning” in the search query box

Syntax : “The future of online learning”

Number of hits : 75

· Examples of search result:

       http://www.downes.ca/future/  (Reference 9)

      http://www.glencoe.com/norton/n-instructor-/ocm/  (Reference 6)

· Comments:

By using a Meta search engine, the Meta search engine will provide me a combination of the top hits result from various search engines which maybe overlook by me from the previous two general search engine processes. Dogpile is a useful Meta search engine that provides us a better quality search results.

4) Virtual Library – http://vlib.org

· Reason:

I used Virtual Library as one of the search tool because a Virtual Library is like a real library in electronic form which provides links to different types of information related to a specific topic. The most important is all the search result provided are accessed from the original site and this ensure the originality and reliability of the webpage.

· Search process:

Step 1 – Through the Directory in the main page of Virtual Library. Click the

“Education” link

Syntax : N/A

Number of hits : N/A

Step 2 – Inside the Education link, there are several choice for Education topic, I

choose “Distance Learning”

Syntax : N/A

Number of hits : N/A

Step 3 – It will directly link me to the Distance Education at Unixl “UniXL”

Type Online learning + Malaysia in the search query box

Syntax : Online learning + Malaysia

Number of hits : 993

Step 4 – Type “E- learning in Malaysia” in the search query box

Syntax : “E- learning in Malaysia”

Number of hits : 80

· Examples of search result:

http://www.unescobkk.org/education/ict/v2/info.asp?id=15318 (Reference 11)

http://computerworld.com.my/pcwmy.nsf/c0b0d2c7248d0b2a48256b3000406b9e?OpenForm&ParentUNID=57ECDFD8EDC72EAD48256BA400175FE7

(Reference 10)

· Comments:

Compared to search engines method, Virtual Library gave me a more direct search result. This saves me the time from searching the information from various websites. Search results from Virtual Library are more quality assurance as it divides the information into a specific topic.

5) Online Journal – Journal of Interactive Online Learning

http://www.ncolr.org/jiol/index3.html

· Reason:

I choose Online Journal as one of the search tool because it is quite hard to get information on online learning in written version. The best way is through online publication.

· Search process:

Step 1 – Through the main page of Journal of Interactive Online Learning.

Click on the Current Issue

Syntax : N/A

Number of hits : 5

Step 2 – After searching through the current issue, refer back to the main page

click on to the past issue to search for past publication located in the achieves.

Syntax : N/A

Number of hits : 41

· Examples of search result:

http://www.ncolr.org/jiol/archives/2004/winter/05/index.html (Reference 1)

http://www.ncolr.org/jiol/archives/2002/fall/02/index.html (Reference 3)

· Comments:

As this is an online journal about online learning, I can be able to search for articles written by academic profession from all around the world about their comments on online learning. This is a useful website for user who wishes to know more about the progression and development of interactive online learning.