g7reports409b.htmlour concrete solutions about how the GC can be made more available to both students and public. It's required you discuss these in class before you finalize it to get the instructor's comments and the comments of the other students.

d) Create a demo, or part thereof, to illustrate what it would look like.

Note: you are allowed to work in teams of either two or three, for this demo, thus sharing ideas and implementation.

5. Conclusion and Recommendations

a) Review what some of your classmates have done in terms of proposals. Link to them and summarize their ideas and demos. What do you think of their likelihood of success? How do they compare with yours?

b) Give advice and suggestions to G8 students. What expectations do you have of how far they'll be able to take this effort? What last minute words do you have for the Instructor, Dr. James who'll be continuing to create and mange the GC?

Reminder Note 1: Be sure you answer every question and point (sometimes several questions are asked in one sub-section). I advise you to check off or cross out the specific lines you already did, as you progress in your writing, thus showing you what you might not have answered or dealt with.

Reminder Note 2 : Be sure to spell check your documents BEFORE you upload them. Just make it a habit before quitting, each time you use the file.

. 2. Web Search Engines and Me


xxx

Sections

(be sure to have a tagged sub-title for each):

First, be sure there is a link to these instructions (this section), at the start of your report. There also needs to be a clickable Table of Contents. Be sure your <title> field is correctly filled in and you have a Nav Table at the bottom of the file.

1. Data Collection:
xxx

a) Before reading generational reports on search engines you need to collect some data on yourself. Do at least 5 to 10 searches with two different search engines. Search the same words or phrases with both of them so you can compare. Prepare enough Data Sheets (print or duplicate) and have them with you as you search. It's best to put these in Table format, so use the HTML <table> tag. When it looks right in Netscape, print a copy and duplicate it. It's heading should be: Search Report Data Sheets. The Table should have the following info in this numbered order:

1--Day, date, location

2--My mood or affective state

3--Name of search engine and number of times I've used it before and whether I like it or not and why

4--Search statement I typed in (exact copy of wording) and why I chose those particular words, whether it contained Boolean operators, why not or why yes (was it a first search or a response to another search?)

5--Number of expected hits or results

6--Number of hits actually gotten

7--My reaction to 5/6

8--My evaluation of the hits: what proportion were relevant and how I found this out

9--How I felt about it. Did your mood influence how you searched or browsed? Did the topic influence your search strategy? Did you make use of search engine instructions or help documents? Why?

10--Give these quantitative ratings of the search experience:

stressful____:____:____:____:____:____:____pleasant

-3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3

dissatisfied____:____:____:____:____:____:____satisfied

-3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3

wasted____:____:____:____:____:____:____valuable

-3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3

confusing____:____:____:____:____:____:____clarifying

-3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3

discouraging____:____:____:____:____:____:____hopeful

-3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3

Explain your interpretation of each of your five ratings.

Note: If you do other searches in the same session, start each time with a new Data Sheet.

2. Prior Generational Reports on Search Engines

a) Consult Report 3 of G4 in 409a students in Fall 1996 on their learning to use Web search engines. Summarize and link to 3 of them. What problems did they experience? How did they handle it?

b) Discuss their problems in the light of your experience with your searches. Do the data you collected support their view? What is your view?

3. Conclusion

a) What did you gain from this experience?

b) What suggestions do you have for future generations?

Reminder Note 1: Be sure you answer every question and point (sometimes several questions are asked in one sub-section). I advise you to check off or cross out the specific lines you already did, as you progress in your writing, thus showing you what you might not have answered or dealt with.

Reminder Note 2 : Be sure to spell check your documents BEFORE you upload them. Just make it a habit before quitting, each time you use the file.

Sample Table for Reporting Results here


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