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LIBR3: Internet Skills, Fall 2005
Instructor Norman Buchwald
norman_buchwald@yahoo.com

Term Project

You can do this project either by yourself or in a team of two people. Teams are encouraged for this project so that you can communicate with each other and have another critical eye on your work as you progress.

Goal of the Project: Demonstrated understanding of how to research a well-defined topic using the Internet.  You will select at least 1 material originally published in PRINT format but found through the internet in full-text, AND you will select at least 5 (if working on your own), 7 (in a team) of the best sites that you find and summarize these in a coherent presentation in one of these formats:

a simple Web Page with 5-7 working links including a written evaluation of each site

OR

an organized bookmark file with 5-7 working bookmarks on a diskette and the evaluations typed/word processed on separate paper

OR

a typed/word processed paper with 5-7 correct URLs and written evaluation of each site

Note:  FOUR of the web sites you pick MUST be either academic, analytical, have in-depth information, or be textbook like in nature.  In other words, they must have substance and come from an authoritative source-- not simply fan sites or just pictures, or a site that is mainly trying to sell a product.
 
Some examples of topics with the range of issues to be researched:

Pesticides in Foods-- with links for sites describing:
-health warnings regarding pesticides
-food safety
-current regulations

DVD-- with links for sites describing:
-How DVD's and DVD players work
-How to create a DVD recording
-Whether or not the DVD will replace the VHS tape in the market

Knee Pain-- with links for sites describing:
-surgical options for arthritis of the knee joint
-diagnosis and suggested treatments for knee pain
-alternatives to knee surgery

Timeline for the Project:

October 31  (by 6:30 p.m.) --Email Instructor your proposed topic.  If in a team, must state your teammate and your agreed topic.

November 7 (through email)--Project topic revised and approved.  Teams approved.

November 14-- Have found one web site for consideration and have filled out the web evaluation checklist.  Web Evaluation checklist handed in so that you can receive written feedback.  For teams, EACH TEAM MEMBER will hand in a separate checklist. 

November 28--Have selected at least five sites, total which you will submit as a bookmark file or a web page draft.  On November 28, class will spend time focused on how to construct a web page using Netscape Composer.  Take this time to create your web page (For those opting a web page draft, you will receive a handout before class and can hand it in at the end of November 28 class.  Page does NOT have to be finished) 

November 28-- Two evaluation checklists filled out for two web sites you selected.  One of them can be a rewritten version of what you handed in for February 16.  For teams, EACH TEAM MEMBER will hand in two checklists.   Feedback for the checklists will be given through Email.

December 12-- Five to seven web sites have been selected; web page, bookmarks and paper, or paper is finished; Deliver presentation to class.

55% of your course grade is devoted to this project

Breakdown:

5% Approval of original topic Due Date: 11/7 (Approval from instructor.  Not submitting it which is 10/31)
Satisfaction includes submitting to instructor via Email topic proposal which must meet professor's approval.

5% Evaluation Checklists  One is Due: 11/14.  Two are Due:  11/28 (One can be rewrite of the one handed in on  11/14).  (Not handed in by a team, but by each student).

5% Check of Bookmark File or Web Page Draft Due Date: 11/28
Whether used in the final project or not, student has successfully created a bookmark file or web page draft of at least five web sites chosen for the project.  The web page draft must be CORRECTLY LINKED to your selected web sites.   Note: While some are expected to appear in the final project, it is okay to replace a site or two by the time the project is due.  
 
 

40%  final project Due Date: 12/12

Breakdown of points for the final product (Total points: 100):

20 Points.  Format --  If as a web page-- every site listed should have a hypertext link (i.e. name of the page is underlined and in blue because it has a link).  If as a bookmark file--bookmarks should be in their final draft form with no miscellaneous entries.  If on paper-- Each URL listed must be ERROR FREE (all characters in their proper upper or lower case, etc.)  The web page or papers (whether with bookmark file or not) are presented in a clean, readable format.  Text on web page should be easy to read (i.e. not blurred by a too "flashy" background).
 
  10 Points.  Presentation-- You are able to tell the class your search processes and your reasons for choosing your particular web sites in addition to showing us the web sites you have selected.  If the number of projects is too many to do in the final class, all must be prepared to give a presentation as names will be drawn out of a hat!
 
  50 Points.  Evaluations -- Evaluations can and should be a brief paragraph each, but should incorporate the elements discussed in class on determining the quality of a web site.
 
  10 Points.  Relevancy-- How relevant are the web sites in terms of the student's topic (which met the instructor's approval)?  Are the selected web pages filled with useful information for someone who has an interest in this topic?
  
  10 Points.  Proper Usage-- Written evaluations demonstrate proper style, grammar, and diction.  They contain correct punctuation and spelling.

In addition, you can earn extra credit for the following:

5 Points.   Ask Questions at the Presentations.  During the presentation, up to 5 points will be rewarded to students who ask questions to the presenter about his/her project in relation to issues we have discussed in class and skills we have gained.

NOTE ON THE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN PRINT MATERIAL COMMENT:

This assignment requires you to find at least one material you find online to be originally published in print.   The material can be ANY of these:

1. An article you find from a library subscription database  (Provide a citation and link to the database's entry page, NOT to the actual article)
2. Any web page that is rich in information that is in PDF format (a page read through Adobe Acrobat reader)
3. Any web page that is stated clearly that it is originally published in print format. 

For types 2 and 3, there is no limit on such sites you use.  For type 1 (articles found from a library subscription database), select no more than two articles.  The rest of your selected sites MUST come from the publicly-accessible World Wide Web (i.e. anybody from anywhere can link to such a site).