MODULE 4 - Evaluating The Web

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Unfortunately I can't access the tutorial for this task...the message I keep receiving states that the page has moved but there is no forward to it OR it has been deleted. So, I'm just going to type the information requested in the curriculum in a way that I think I would understand if reading about a source/website for the first time.

Source/site: ampcu.com.au

Reliability of the source: As this is straight from the horses mouth, so to speak, I would judge this to be the most reliable of sources when requiring information about the AMP Credit Union.

Main purpose: This site's main purpose is to provide most if not all banking needs for both members and investigators of the AMP Credit Union. This includes online banking.

MODULE 4 - Organising Search Information

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My usual method of organising search information is through 'Favourites'. I usually create a temporary folder with the title of my search and then 'add to my favourites' all the relevant websites. I find this method very easy to add to and to access once saved. It's also very easy to delete once I've finished with those chosen sites. Even after my first experience with Bookmark Buddy which I donwloaded for previous tasks, I still perfer to use 'Favourites'.

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Following are the best 3 results from my previous search done on the AMP Credit Union which I have saved under 'Favourites':

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URL: www.ampcu.com.au/ - 6k

Author: AMP Credit Union (individual author unknown)

Institution: AMP Credit Union

Summary: This is the official home page of the AMP Credit Union website. This was the 1st hit on Google.

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URL: www.ampcu.com.au/logon.html

Author: Unknown

Institution: AMP Credit Union

Summary: This is the AMP Credit Union's Internet banking page from their website. This result is the 1st hit from Copernic.

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URL: www.ampcu.com.au/loans.html - 11k

Author: AMP Credit Union (indvidual author unknown)

Institution: AMP Credit Union

Summary: This is the loan section of the AMP Credit Union. This was the 2nd hit on Google.

MODULE 4 - Boolean Searching Task

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I found this task very interesting. Had I read about it before I completed the previous search for the AMP Credit Union, I would have changed my search criteria. But I didn't want to waste any time as I'm so far behind as it is.
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Google - I tried using the Boolean NOT search eg; AMP Credit Union not Credit Union and actually got more hits! The previous amount was about 304,000 and the new amount was 364,000. So I tried it another way. I typed in AMP not Credit Union to see what would happen. This cut the hits down to 268,000 but the very first hit was still for the AMP Credit Union.
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Copernic - I did the same here as I did with Google but this time I received a surprising message; "You do not have to use Boolean operators (or, and) since Copernic Agent automatically manages them." With this search, AMP not Credit Union, there were only 61 hits and 3 of the first 5 had changed.

MODULE 4 - Search Engine Task

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My usual search engine is Google so I used that for this task as well as my newly downloaded Copernic searcher. I searched for the AMP Credit Union.

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Google - The first hit was dead on. There were about 304,000 hits.

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AMP Credit Union - Transaction Fee Free Banking
AMP Credit Union - Freedom to do your banking with NO FEES and NO UNNECESSARY RESTRICTIONS.www.ampcu.com.au/ - 6k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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AMP Credit Union - Transaction Fee Free Banking
At AMP Credit Union loans have been designed to specifically benefit our members. There are no Credit Union fees or charges, on applications or loan ...www.ampcu.com.au/loans.html - 11k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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AMP Credit Union's Website
Welcome to AMP Credit Union's Verified by Visa service. Maintain Your Account. Forgot your Visa Password Change your Visa Password ...https://cardholderregistration.onlineauthentication.com.au/802355v - 4k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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Banks, building societies & credit unions: contact details & name ...
AMP Employees' and Agents' Credit Union Ltd (AMP Credit Union), AMP Employees' and Agents' Credit Union Ltd (AMP Credit Union) PO Box R313 ...www.fido.gov.au/fido/fido.nsf/byheadline/Banks,+building+societies+&+credit+unions:+contact+details+... - 90k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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This page contains a List of Authorised Deposit-taking Institutions

Alliance One Credit Union Ltd; AMP Credit Union Ltd; Austral Credit Union Limited; Australian Central Credit Union Ltd; Australian Country Credit Union Ltd ...www.apra.gov.au/ADI/ADIList.cfm - 64k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

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Copernic - The first hit was for AMP shares, not the actual AMP Credit Union website and there were 68 hits. I wasn't able to copy these hits as I did with the Google list so I've just listed the actual URL's.

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https://invest.etrade.com.au/cms/viewcmsarea.aspx?key=Bulletin+-++55&_$ja=tsid:414ckid:FEWS2_dgm_Jump_a6538d6b-68d3-42a0-b961-d782d569b4ba - Buy AMP Shares Online

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http://www.echoice.com.au/mortgage/home_loans?b=1689 - Credit Union Home Loans

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http://www.musoscorner.com.au/site/index.cfm - Huge Classic Guitar Sale

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http://www.abacus.org.au/ - Abacus Internet - Australian Mutuals Home Page - Credit Union

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http://www.ampcu.com.au/ - AMP Banking Transaction Fee Free Banking

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Differences - The biggest difference was obviously the number of hits. Google had 304,000 and Copernic only had 68. The other major difference was what the first hits were. Google was dead on with the AMP Credit Union website whereas the other one had an unrealated site that only had AMP Shares to sell. However, rather than sift through 300,000 odd hits, Copernic's 68 was more efficient and would be much more quicker and the AMP website was in the first 5 hits.

MODULE 4 - Tools & Plug-ins

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I have many of the listed programs already installed on my PC but I had never heard of Copernica, Bookmark Buddy or Page Sucker so I downloaded all three.

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Copernica - Love this software, never knew it existed until now. My first search was Plato and

Copernica retrieved information from 12 different search engines from AltaVista to Yahoo and even numbered how many items were available on each. This is much quicker than going into different search engines individually.

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Bookmark Buddy - I have so many "favourties" listed that it's a wonder I haven't come across

Bookmark Buddy before. Can't wait to add all my lists when I have more time. This will also be a big time saver and make it much easier to locate favourite sites.

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Page Sucker - Wow! I had no idea you could bring sites to your hard drive to read offline!

MODULE 3 - Web 2.0

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Web 2.0 is more user friendly for those who are technically challenged. A good example of this is Wikipedia. You don't have to use HTML and more than one person can edit or add to the site. The downside to these types of websites is the uncertainty of the quality of the information provided.

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The new Web 2.0 technology may enable more user input from ordinary internet users who know nothing about HTML, therefore opening the internet up to even more of the world's population.

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The main differences: Well, I think Web 2.0 is more interactive, easier to update and change whereas with HTML a site has to be maintained to be updated by, ususally one individual or company.

MODULE 3 - Blogging

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I love blogging! It's so instant, easy, fun and it can be used for so many different things eg;

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1. Excellent as a journal/journey as we have used it throughout this unit; to log our experiences.
2. I have also read a few personal blogs that keep friends and family updated on one's life.
3. You can start up a blog for just one theme or idea and receive feedback from all over the world with different opinions and ideas etc.
4. Blogs can also be great for news, upcoming events, dates of events etc

Best of all, anyone can blog!!!