Exercise 5 (29.09.2009)

1.) Draw the database of the hotel (similar to the library database).

The following information may be requested on check-in:
Name
Surname
Nationality
Address
Birthday
Passport No.
Arrival
Departure
Arrival by
Next Destination
Payment Method
Occupants of Room
Smoker Yes / No
Breakfast Yes / No
Room No.
Special Service?
Gender
Reason of Stay
Price
Remarks


2.) Go to the library website, search for the bibliography of database books in the library catalog (OPAC).

Link to the database results:
http://202.44.68.214/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=12541V326817D.321750&profile=main&uri=link=3100015@!53449@!3100001@!3100002&aspect=basic_search&menu=search&ri=1&source=202.44.68.214@!hzndb&term=DATABASE&index=SUBJECT#focus

3.) Go to the library e-book database of Proquest, ABI / INFORM, Dissertation & Thesis.

The following links are sample results of the Proquest, ABI / INFORM, Dissertation & Thesis websites of the university library website:

1) http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=5&did=1848654131&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1254129674&clientId=59768

2) http://tdc.thailis.or.th/tdc/search_result.php


3)http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?SQ=database&DBId=G647&date=ALL&onDate=&beforeDate=&afterDate=&fromDate=&toDate=&TITLE=&author=&SCH=&subject=&FT=0&LA=any&MTYPE=all&sortby=REVERSE_CHRON&RQT=305&querySyntax=PQ&searchInterface=1&moreOptState=CLOSED&TS=1254133579&h_pubtitle=&h_pmid=&clientId=59768&JSEnabled=1

4) http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?TS=1254133678&SST=4&sid=1&moreOptState=CLOSED&SSM=C&SQ=%28LSU%28%7BDATA+BASES%7D%29+OR+LSU%28%7BDATABASES%7D%29+OR+LSU%28%7BDATA+BASE%7D%29%29&clientId=59768&SSI=0&RQT=305

Exercise 4 (21.09.2009)

1.) Where can you find information about Nobel Prize? Who get the Nobel Prize this year?
The official website of the Nobel Prize Foundation is www.nobelprize.org.
Information can be found on this website.

This year there was none being rewarded yet, because the Awards will be held beginning of October.
For a detailed list of the Nobel Price Laureates 2008 I kindly would like to redirect you to the following link, which offers the details:
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/lists/2008.html

What is the Nobel Prize?
Many wonder why Nobel established the Nobel Prize. It has often been assumed that he sought to make restitution for creating dynamite. Nobel did catch a glimpse of a French obituary for himself when his brother died and a French newspaper thought Nobel had died. Among other colorful terms, the newspapers called Alfred Nobel a “merchant of death.” Thus the restitution to reward the positive aspects of the world remains the popular theory on the establishment of the Nobel Prize.

Alfred Nobel died in 1896. The first Nobel Prize was awarded in 1901. Nobel stipulated exactly how the prizes should be determined, and what bodies should be responsible for selecting and awarding prizes.

According to Nobel’s will, the Swedish Academy of Science was to award a yearly Nobel Prize in Physics and Chemistry. The Caroline Institute at Stockholm would award the Nobel Prize for medicine. The Academy of Stockholm would determine the Nobel Prize for literature. Five members selected by the Norwegian government select the recipient of the annual Peace Prize. The Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway, while the other Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden. Each award was to be given without regard to nationality, and was meant to represent the best and brightest contributors to each field.

Some confusion exists over a sixth category, the Nobel Prize in Economics. This is not technically a Nobel Prize because it was not listed in Nobel’s will, and it does use Nobel’s foundation to award funds. This award was established in 1969 and is awarded by the Swedish Academy of Sciences. Monies awarded come from the Bank of Sweden.

Typically the Nobel Prize means one wins a medal, international recognition, and a sum of money for ongoing work in one’s field. Often the money is not greatly important since people receiving the award tend to be at the end of their careers. Currently, those receiving the Prize may receive a little over one million US dollars (USD).

Since the Prize’s establishment, over 750 awards have been given. The Nobel Prize tends not to be awarded posthumously, which has met with some controversy. Some of the recipients of the award have also been criticized. For example, Mahatma Gandhi never won the Nobel Peace Prize despite his sterling efforts to promote non-violent protests and fair government in India.
Others have complained about the absence of a Nobel Prize for advances in the field of mathematics. In 2002, the Niels Henrik Abel Memorial Fund was created to fill in for this absence. Each year, five mathematicians from the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters select the Abel Prize recipient for his or her outstanding achievements in mathematics.

Source: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-nobel-prize.htm

What is the Nobel Prize Foundation?
The Nobel Foundation is a private institution established in 1900 based on the will of Alfred Nobel. The Foundation manages the assets made available through the will for the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and Peace. It represents the Nobel Institutions externally and administers informational activities and arrangements surrounding the presentation of the Nobel Prize. The Foundation also administers the Nobel Symposium Program.

Source: http://nobelprize.org/nobelfoundation/index.html


2.) Summarize the information you got from SPU Library.
Instead of the SPU library website, I visited the Encarta website online.
What information did I find there searching for "automobile"? The following was found on the website:
The contents about the automobile is structured in categories and subcategories as followed:
I Introduction
- containing a definition and explanation
II Power System
- introducing the power system
A Engine
- describing the engine's functionality
B Engine Types
- describing different engine types
C Fuel Supply
- describing the fuel supply
D Exhaust System
- describing the emission exhaust of the machines
E Cooling and Heating System
- describing the system of how the machine handles heat & how the cooling system absorbs it
III Drivetrain
- definition of the way the engine works
A Transmission
- describes the transfer of engine power to become a movement
B Front- and Rear-Wheel-Drive
- describes the kinds and differences of the types of wheel-drives
IV Support Systems
- raising the topic of helping components
A Suspension System
- describes the absorbtion of energies (bumps) during the drive
B Wheels and Tires
- describes the functions and tasks of the wheels and tires
V Control System
- defines the way the vehicle is controlled
A Steering
- describes the function of the steering parts
B Brakes
- describes the functions of brakes
VI Electrical System
- defining the electric energy supply and necessity
A Ignition System
- describes the duty and function of the ignition system
VII Safety Features
Defines and describes various safety features modern cars are possessing
VIII History
- this part finally gives an insight into the history of the automobile development
A Internal-Combustion Engine
- describes the development of the internal-combustion engines
B Early Electric Cars
- describes the development of first electric cars
IX Automobiles in the 20th Century
- reports the further development of cars particularly of the 20th century
X New Technologies
- gives an insight into newly invented technologies in cateories
A Antipollution Strategies
- describes developments and achievements of the reduction of pollution and emission
B Hybrid-Electric Vehicles (HEVs)
- describes the new technology of a mixed power supply of fuel and electricity
C Computers and Navigation Devices
- describes the development of electronic control units and navigation devices (1990ies)
D Other Improvements
- describes new improvements in electronics and physics of automobiles

Source: http://encarta.msn..com/encyclopedia_761576902/Automobile.html


3.) What is the difference between general book and reference book?
The reference book is usually very topic related in a professional and advisory matter. The general book on the other side is rather related to stories, free writing and expression. A general book can for example be a novel of an author, a storybook. The reference books can be dictionaries, manuals etc. We refer to reference books in order to get answers on questions, whereas the general books might rather be of an entertaining nature.

Source: personal definition


4.) When do you need to search information from the reference collection?
Anytime a question arises, may it be about an electronic device, missing vocabulary or any knowledge we want to gain, then we may refer to reference books in order to find the answers.

Source: personal definition


5.) What type of reference collection that you like to use most? And why?
Hm, actually this answer is difficult to answer, because I think that in my daily life I'm refering to a couple of reference books or reference sources. I think that in my personal life this is usually done by questions arising ona topic, for which the answer I'm trying to find online. The obnly reference book I have at home is a Dictionary, but usually when I'm home, I'm referring to the internet, looking for the answers there.
But I can say that I prefer serious and trustworthyreferences, which deliver the necessary information in a precise and user-friendly way at "first sight". Illustrated references additionally are a nice eye-candy and can help to easen up the understanding many times.

Source: personal definition


6.) Copy one page of the specific book category you chose and write what you learned from this page.
Category chosen: INDEX
Well, what can I actually learn from an index. The point here is that the index usually is not necessarily a kind of book, it is mostly a part of a book.
It can be a part of any reference book. When we talk about "learning from the index", then one would normally say that there is no specific material inside the index that can be learned. But instead of being a subject of learning and studies, the index is a very helpful and structured guide and helps to make the book it is a part of most helpful and workable for you. The index is structured usually from A to Z and offers the keywords of subjects and the pages and references these keywords belong to.
But, an index can be a book or a website as well, containing a big collection of references and contents people can refer to. One example for this could also be a website, containing many links to other websites in alphabetical order or categorized.

Source: personal definition

Exercise 3 (14.09.2009)

1.) Differences between a journal and a magazine:

Title:
Journals often (but not always) have the word "journal" somewhere in their title.

Authorship:
Journal articles are written by experts in the field, and indicate the authors and their affiliations. Articles are usually reviewed and critically evaluated by a board of experts in the field (refereed). On the other hand, some magazine articles are not signed and are not evaluated by experts in the field, but by editors or staff.

Length:
Journal articles are usually longer articles, providing in-depth analysis of topics. Magazine articles are shorter and provide broader overviews of topics.

Language/Audience:
Journal articles are written in the jargon of the field for scholarly readers (professors, researchers, or students). Magazine articles are usually written in non-technical language for anyone to understand.

Method:
Journal articles often attempt to prove a thesis by experimentation or documentary evidence, are usually more structured, and may include these sections: abstract, literature review, methodology, results, conclusion, bibliography.

Sources:
Journal articles always have bibliographies and/or footnotes listing sources consulted by the author(s).

Graphics:
Journal articles often include charts or graphics, but rarely include lots of glossy photographs or advertising.

Frequency:
Journals are usually published less frequently than magazines, often quarterly or every two months.

Page Numbers:
Journal page numbers are usually sequential through all issues in a volume. Magazine pages numbers usually start over with each issue.

Source: http://www2.gcsu.edu/library/reference/m&jdiff.html

Samples of Journals:
Various international journal names can be found on the following website:
http://www.bioscience.org/atlases/jourabbr/list.htm

Samples of Magazines:
Many international magazine names can be found on the following website:
http://www.linxnet.com/mag.html
Example:
- Time Magazine


2.) DC and LC classification:

Library of Congress Classification SystemThe Library of Congress Classification System (LC System) is used to organize books in many academic and university libraries throughout the United States and world.
The interdisciplinary nature of geography requires the use of material from a variety of subject areas. This outline, which is part of the Geography site at The Mining Company should assist you to locate areas of the library to begin your research.
The LC System organizes material in libraries according to twenty-one branches of knowledge. The 21 categories (labeled A-Z except I,O,W,X and Y) are further divided by adding one or two additional letters and a set of numbers.

The system is managed with the following system:

A - General Works
B - Philosophy, Psychology, Religion
C - Auxiliary Sciences of History
D - History: General & Outside the Americas
E - History: United States
F - History: United States Local & America
G - Geography, Anthropology, Recreation
H - Social Sciences
J - Political Science
K - Law
L - Education
M - Music
N - Fine Arts
P - Language and Literature
Q - Science
R - Medicine
S - Agriculture
T - Technology
U - Military Science
V - Naval Science
Z - Library Science & Information Resources

Source: http://geography.about.com/library/congress/bllc.htm

3.) What is the "Call Number" on the SPU Library Website?

Each book in the library has a unique call number. A call number is like an address: it tells us where the book is located in the library. Example for a call number at the SPU library: SH 456 .H45M 1986.

Reading Call Numbers:

Putting Call Numbers in Shelf Order:
To understand how call numbers are put in order in Library of Congress Classification, again look at each section of the call number.

Why is this important to know?
Because books are classified by subject, you can often find several helpful books on the same shelf, or nearby. For example, within the same call number LB2395, there are other guides for college study.

Source: http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/legacylib/callno.html

4.) What are sources of knowledge? Identify as many as you know.

The scheme above shows the factors related to turning Data into wisdom.

In regards to the sources of knowledge, there are a plenty of sources out there, which offer and provide information frequently. Examples for such sources are the following:

- Books

- Internet

- TV

- Newspapers

- Journals

- Radio

- Handouts

Source: personal definition

Furthermore we can consider the following passage when it comes to the general sources and mediums of knowledge.

1. People:

I think people are the biggest source of knowledge for anybody. Right from childhood, we have learned things by watching others. Whatever field you want to gain knowledge in, there must be many who have enough experience in that field.
So make use of this valuable source of information by learning from the experience, accomplishments, mistakes and expertise of others. Study carefully and associate with people who are experts in the field you want to gain knowledge about.

2. Books:

The next best source of knowledge can be books. There are millions and millions of books written throughout the world in every language and on almost any topic imaginable. Whatever problem you are facing must have been faced by somebody else before, and its solution is likely to have been preserved in the form of a book. If you are serious about gaining knowledge on a topic, then read any book, magazine, article etc. you can lay your hands on related to that topic. Read as much as you can.

3. Experience:

This is another important resource for the seeker of knowledge. It is said that experience is a great teacher, so learn from your past experiences and the experience of others. Learn from your and others' past and present achievements as well as mistakes.

4. Experimentation and observation:

Experimentation is to try out new things and observation is to pay attention to small and big details.
If you want to learn something new, you may have to experiment and observe a lot. You would need to explore in deep, try out new things to see what works and what does not. Observe not just your own efforts, but also of others.
Experimenting new things and observation can help you in learning very quickly. People who do not experiment or observe much may take a long time to learn. Keep in mind though, that while experimenting, you may encounter a few failures too. Do not become discouraged as failures are a part of the learning curve, specially while attempting something new. Try to learn from failures instead of becoming disheartened.

5.Thinking and pondering:

While learning a new thing, you need to concentrate a lot. Just reading lots of books is not sufficient as you need to fully grasp what you are reading. Deep understanding about a subject is likely to come only through deep thinking and contemplation.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Sources-Of-Knowledge---How-To-Gain-Knowledge-In-Any-Field&id=500120

5.) What did you read this week?

Recently I read various source websites about King Rama IV, as for the subject Thai Studies the students are requested to issue a presentation about various Kings of Thailand, where my group has Rama IV to issue a presentation about.

Due to this reason I read a couple of different websites containing data about King Rama IV, giving details about his biography and his reign as a King of Thailand. The information I read was turned into useful data I added to the presentation.

Exercise 2 (07.09.2009)

1.) What are information literacy skills?

Information Literacy Skills are skills people retreive as a lifelong experience which finally lead mankind forward with the experiences made, the lectures received and the knowledge obtained.
Source: personal definition


Source1 (internet):
http://www.uas.alaska.edu/library/services/instruction-info/info-lit-handbook.html

"Definition of Information Literacy
An individual who is information literate is able to:
- Determine the extent of information needed
- Access the needed information effectively and efficiently
- Evaluate information and its sources critically
- Incorporate selected information into one's knowledge base
- Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose
- Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally (1)

Information literacy is, therefore, being able to "recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information" (1). Computer literacy involves gaining familiarity with hardware, software applications, and databases as well as an understanding of how technology works. Developing computer literacy is necessary in order to become information literate, as information technology has become an integral part of obtaining access to information and managing it. However, learning critical thinking skills - comprehension, analysis, application, synthesis, and evaluation - is what distinguishes information literacy from the "fluency with technology" that comes with computer literacy."


Source 2 (internet):
http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/route21/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24&Itemid=170


Definition Information Literacy:
- Accessing information efficiently and effectively
- Evaluating information critically and competently
- Using information accurately and creatively


2.) What is SQRW?

SQRW is an abbreviation of the four main steps of a specialized and simplified strategy on how to read textbooks and taking notes efficiently. The steps are as followed:

S = SURVEY
This step is the preview of a chapter and topic we want to know more about. At this first step we preview an article or subject before getting into the details. This preview is done by skimming and scanning the subject's contents, attached graphs or pictures as well as titles, headlines and summaries in order to get the first insight and the picture what the text is about.

Q = QUESTION
The second step consists of questions we should have in our mind, which actually form the purpose of our reading. Those questions also maintain our interest as we are trying to find the answers for our questions within the article. Use basic questions such as "who, what, when, where, why or how to form your questions.

R = READ
This step is finally reading the article and finding the answers for the questions we defined during the second step. This step might force us to adapt our questions to the contents as we move along with the reading. Even new questions may arise.

W = WRITE
This step is the part of "preserving the information obtained". It means that here we do take the notes into our notebook in order to collect the gathered information and to refer to it later. Taking notes includes writing down the most important and relevant information only.
Source: personal definition


Source 1 (internet):
http://studyskills6.wikispaces.com/SQRW

SQRW is a strategy for talking notes and reading. SQRW stands for:

- Survey
Survey is when you just look through a sheet of paper or a book quickly and find the main ideas of
what it is all about. Read the title, summary, conclusion to get a better under standing of what it is about.

- Question
Always keep a question in mind it will help you to understand more about the thing that you are reading from for example if the title of a story is "Ways to hurt someone badly" use the words who, what, when, where, what to understand more.

- Read
Read the information on each heading to answer every questioned you asked yourself. While you are doing this activity you may need to change a question for it to be answered.

- Write
Write the answers and the questions into a notebook reread it to make sure that it is contains all the important things.


3.) Use the Big 6 Skills (Step 1-6) of the topic you know best.

- Step 1: Define the Problem, Information Requirement:

My topic is the drawing using a simple pencil and plain paper.
I did chose this topic because I used to draw as a hobby and really enjoyed doing it when I had some freetime in the Past. I am a rather realistic drawer and prefer to draw real things or places out of my own imagination - not in the way of visiting a place and copy what I see with my eyes.

Drawing can be the expression of imagination and creativity through an external mode such as the pencil and the paper, used to draw.

It can be just a hobby, a profession or the step to e.g. professional architecture.


- Step 2: Information Seeking Strategies:

Keywords for Drawing:

"How to draw" offers some websites on basic drawing exercises.
"Professional drawing" offers some advanced drawing examples.
"Drawing" offers a rather general result of drawing related websites.
"Learn to draw" offers a variety of tutorial websites with samples, exercises and hints.


- Step 3: Location and Access:

http://www.howtodrawit.com/
http://www.learn-to-draw.com/
http://www.drawingcoach.com/
http://www.drawingprofessor.com/


- Step 4: Use of Information:

The information gathered from those websites mentioned above might be helpful for people who want to learn how to draw the figures, given as samples on those websites. They partially help out with step-by-step instructions and illustrations which the interested user can follow or rather "copy" easily.


- Step 5: Synthesis: Putting it all together:

The following subtopics, in my opinion, are important to think and care about when it comes to drawing:

- Perspectives:
The way of drawing things and places with correct 3D perspectives and the right angles in order to make the drawing look as real as possible.

- Shadows:
The way of shadowing objects or places in the right way to reflect 3D effects and to show the correct lighting within the drawing.

- Creativity:
The proper drawing definitely needs creativity in order to create the picture. This might be less required in case we just copy a drawing, but even for professional copying a level of creativity is necessary as the drawing and the proper interpretion of the original is necessary to reflect it on the paper.

- Inspiration:
Inspiration is a vital thing when it comes to own creations coming from imagination. One might get some inspiration either from own ideas or from external sources such as things we saw, ideas or any other modern source.

- How to do...
I think that the "How to do..." section is a very important section which differs in questions foreach individual. And actually this is where the proper skill actually takes place, which, in my opinion, is the most important and most vital factor of proper and professional drawing. Hence this sector is the very big sector, where many questions may arise.


- Step 6: Evaluation:

At first I would like to say that I personally think that the drawing skill is the most vital part a person should possess, when it comes to drawing. As well as the imagination and the creativity skill. A person should be able to see the object or place he / she wants to draw in his / her mind in advance already and should be able to move this place and object in every angle possible only in his / her imagination already. Then it comes to the proper lighting as well, to illustrate the right shadows at the right place. And of course a person should be able to have the raw outline of the whole picture, the idea or meaning of the drawing in mind. Additional creations may develop while actually drawing the picture.

The website "learn-to-draw.com" is a nice website which offers an easy user interface and a proper menu to browse the website. It contains basics on drawing and some lectures on drawing people and caricatures.

For me, as a person with given drawing skills, those sites are very "limited", because the learners are rather forced to copy the samples only, where the drawing turns into a simple try to follow the steps mentioned as best as possible. But isn't that the way people learn as well? So I don't see anything wrong with it and for everyone who isn't lucky to possess a natural skill in drawing, these websites can help to practice and understand drawing.

For me in person these websites would be fine for a background reading or for collecting some ideas as well as to see how others do the drawing. But for my drawing itself, I prefer to let my mind be the creator and just to create my own ideas, using my free and own imagination and creating a very personal piece of work.

The website howtodrawit.com is easy to navigate as well, but is a good example on the limits of teaching drawing, because the website also possesses only specific samples such as "How to draw a parrot" and some other subjects or objects. It's a nice introduction and easy to follow. Therefore a successful way of teaching people in drawing as I am very certain that every person can follow the steps and instructions with ease.