Research on the Internet - Pleasure and Pain for the Procrastinator

by Judy Musick

I am a procrastinator.  It's not that I put things off really.  Its just that life seems to be keeping a faster pace than I am, and I am never ready to tackle a project until right before it must be done (writing this article is a case in point!).  Being a last minute sort of person has gotten easier over the years.  With the advent of 24-hour grocery stores I have been able to buy the ingredients to bake the cookies that I forgot I promised to make until a story about salmonella on the 10 o'clock news reminded me.  The cookies are done with none the wiser.  In fact, people comment to me on how they tasted like they just came out of the oven - imagine that!  When 24-hour department stores became a reality I became a creature of the night, stalking the clearance aisles in the dead of night when children and other obligations were safely in bed.  And now that the Internet is here, my last minute tendencies are making me wish I were still a student. Then I could write a 20 page term paper due tomorrow and get away with it because all my research was done at home, in my pajamas, online (the computer online, not the pajamas).

                Almost any subject can be thoroughly explored, examined and evaluated online.  Recently my son and I were reading the Little House on the Prairie series of books about life in the 1800s in Minnesota.  The author described a terrible swarm of grasshoppers that came and destroyed their farm.  My son questioned whether such a thing could really happen.  I assured him that the books were based on actual events and that catastrophic events can and do take place.  He was skeptical, it was 9:12 P.M. and all the libraries were closed; but "have no fear the Internet is here".  We started by doing a word search using the text "grasshopper".  Thousands of possible sites were listed for us.  A picture speaks a thousand words to a 7 year old, so we read the brief descriptions of the sites looking for the words "graphic" or "photo".  We got lots of pictures of grasshoppers, but almost inevitably they were close ups, not the swarm that we wanted.  We decided to narrow our search using the text "grasshopper plague".  Aha!  Now the number of sites listed was under 100, and several of them included "photo" in their descriptions.  We started at the top and poked around in a few sites.  We found newspapers chronicling the damage done by grasshoppers, Associated Press photos of swarms in the air and on the ground, personal diary accounts of what, when and how the plagues occurred, etc.  We were directed to sites run by National Geographic, Scientific American and other renowned institutions.  Not only could JonMark read about the plagues, he could also listen to the sound of grasshoppers swarming, look at 200 year old drawings of the events, examine full color dissections of grasshoppers, and order grasshoppers to be sent within two business days.  Mission accomplished, and we never had to leave the comfort of our own home. 

Here are some tips to help you and/or your child get started doing research online:

1.       CAUTION:  Do not let young children "surf" the web for research purposes without adult supervision.  It is never safe to assume that the research topic is going to be safe from perverted minds.  Recently I was looking for a catalog that provides international curriculum for children.  I knew that most of the countries represented were Asian, so I did a search using the text "Asia" and "children".  Well, I did find the catalog I was looking for, but I also found a lot of smut and pedophilic garbage.

2.       Don't use your ISP's parental controls feature as a substitute for your involvement.  The controls filter a lot of beneficial sites as well as bad ones.  When JonMark was doing research from his own screen name that has controls on it (according to the ISP, he was at a level of control appropriate for 9-15 year olds), he couldn't access some sites that were good, but were not "age appropriate".  We had to change to my screen name (with no controls) to complete our research and see all the sites we needed.

3.       Don't depend on the Internet for quick answers.  Usually surfing takes time, and there are lots of detours along the way.  It is a scenic byroad approach to research, not a superhighway.  Be prepared to meander and smell the cyber roses.  When we were researching grasshopper plagues, we also happened upon the Laura Ingalls Wilder web site and stopped for awhile to listen to some violin folk songs that Laura's father played in the books.  It had nothing to do with the grasshoppers, but it had a lot to do with the books we were reading and it was fun.

4.       Check the credit or source of information before you accept information as gospel truth.  Anyone can put anything they want on a web site, and just because it is in writing does not mean it is fact. 

5.       If you don't know where to get started, try the reference area provided by your ISP.  Most ISPs have dictionaries, encyclopedias and other helpful references.  Don't stop here though - it is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to information.

6.       Ask the experts.  Most ISPs have an online teacher available to help with research questions.  If no one is "live", you can post a message and receive a reply, often within a matter of an hour or two.  Many web sites will have e mail links to experts in one area or another.  Don't be afraid to send the expert e-mail asking for their input.  We caught a butterfly and didn't know that to do with it.  On the butterfly web site was a link to a world famous bug guy.  We sent him a brief message, and he replied with several suggestions of books, videos, and other web sites to check out.

7.       Ask the people who think they are experts.  Newsgroups exist for just about any hobby, subject matter and area of interest.  Find a newsgroup that looks like it would have people that know what you want to know and pose your research question to them.  If you want to write a paper on why model railroading is so popular all you need to do is ask a model-railroading newsgroup for their input.  Just one query could easily pay off with hundreds of responses.  Just remember that your replies from this area need to be checked for credit or source.  Joe Bloe may or may not know what he is talking about.

8.       Use a search engine.  Usually these are text based, and you can input one word or several.  Try to narrow the search by being specific as possible.  This is my favorite way to conduct Internet research.  It is adventurous and you never know what will come up next.

9.       As you find good sites, add them to your favorites and keep looking for what you need.  Later you can organize your favorites and check back for the exact information you need.

10.    If in doubt - PRINT IT.  Information in hand is always better than "I know I saw it somewhere on the web".  A little wasted paper is well worth the peace of mind.

11.    Look for graphics and sound as well as text.  They can enhance the research and learning experience.

12.     Don't expect miracles.  The Internet is not an organized, predictable or planned phenomenon.  Sometimes you won't be able to find what you are looking for, or the information will be in Balinese, or you will find it the day after your research paper is done, or whatever. 

13.     Don't wait until the last minute. 

WEB SITE REVIEWS

Trick or Treat for UNICEF

http://www.unicefusa.org/trickortreat/

"What Is "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF"?

The "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF" tradition began in Philadelphia in 1950 when a youth group collected $17 in decorated milk cartons on Halloween to help children overseas.  Since then, U.S. children have collected more than $100 million by going door-to-door with the trademark orange collection boxes on Halloween. Last year alone, more than 3 million boxes were distributed across the country! These funds help UNICEF provide medicine, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education and emergency relief to millions of children in more than 160 countries and territories." (From Trick or Treat for UNICEF home page)

This is a seasonal fund raising program by UNICEF to support needed children all over the world. Organized by this month's theme of Halloween, kids can learn how it is important to help other kids and develop their social awareness. The campaign is organized with many educational activities that kids can participate and learn. The resources and more information are available at their web site http://www.unicefusa.org/trickortreat/ .

Mrs. Alphabet

~ All you ever wanted to know about teaching the alphabet, math, phonics, and reading ~

http://www.mrsalphabet.com/

Created by a teacher, this site offers children fun and informative activities for learning the alphabet. For teachers, there are many activities and ideas already prepared for use in the classroom. Kids can have fun with downloadable games and other links. Mrs. Alphabet offers a free newsletter with each issue featuring a different letter of the Alphabet. Each issue contains a poem, a game, and other activities with the featured letter and many links you can go visit to have more fun.

You can also get yearly membership for $35 and receive; 33 Alphabet Kids Online Audio files by Mrs. Alphabet, Stories and poems for alphabet recognition and phonics, 26 up to date Newsletters a year, and Access to Classroom Themes with password.

I'm Done.Now What?

http://scrtec.org/track/tracks/s06433.html

This is a track site that lists series of sites that your students can visit for more activities. You can use these links in many ways. Some ideas that are suggested by the author are; Give Extra Credit, Award Classroom Privileges, or promote the radical idea of Learning for Learning's Sake. There are Trivial Net Quiz, Online Checkers, Mad Science Network, Inflation Calculator and more. Those activities will fascinate your students while you are relieved from the pressure to provide the "early-finishers" with more activities while others finish their work.

Ask Ed Cyber

Q.  Dear Ed,
I'm thinking of getting a new computer as my old one up and died on me last week. What kind of computer would you recommend and what things should I be looking for?
 - Ready to Upgrade

A.  Dear Mr. Upgrade,
You haven't really provided enough information for me to make a recommendation.  Let's assume you want a computer that will get you on the internet at fast speeds and will be powerful enough that you should be able to use for several years without having to upgrade.  Of course, budget is always an important factor and one that you didn't provide any input on.  Let's assume you're looking for a low- to mid-level computer.
If you are a Mac user, the answer is relatively simple.  The iMac is a great little machine that should meet your needs.  iMacs start at $999 and come with an Ethernet card which you'll need if you intend to use any of the high-speed internet access options (cable or DSL) available.  The only thing I don't like about the iMac is the monitor.  You're stuck with the one size.   If you've got a bigger budget try one of Apple's new G4 systems.  I haven't tried one yet but they're supposed to beat the "Wintel" (Windows + Intel) machines hands down.
If, on the other hand, you're like most of the rest of us, you'll be looking for a PC.  I've been a Gateway owner for several years and am quite happy with the machines I've had.  Other good makers to look at include Hewlett Packard (very durable machines) and Dell (mail order and made-to-order  just like Gateway).
If you want it to last, make sure it's at least a 400 MHz Celeron (or Athlon) and has USB ports.  I recommend getting 64 MB of RAM or more as applications are becoming memory hogs.  If you're going to have a dial up account, you'll need a 56 modem.  If you'll be using cable or DSL, be sure to check with your Internet Provider before buying a network card (NIC) as they may provide one or require a specific brand.
And when you find the deal that sounds too good to be true, remember . . . It probably is.
Hope this helps,
 - Ed

Correction: Thanks to reader Jane Arnold for pointing out a glaring gaffe in September's issue: Motorola (not Intel) make the chips that make Mac's go.