Personal Learning Network

I have created a PowerPoint presentation using Google Docs to present my Personal Learning Network and have also created a sound cloud to go along with the presentation.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1brH3bclQ09cUImPEga469l61jKYFhrxmQNKfPoyclsQ/present#slide=id.p

https://soundcloud.com/farr4342/personal-learning-network-1

Communicating Online

With today's technology and fast paced society, more and more people are communicating with one another via online.  E-mail is one of the most popular online communication tools.  Benefits of using e-mail to communicate include the fast delivery of messages, low cost, easy access, convenience, and ease of management.  An e-mail address consists of a user ID, host name, and top level domain. 

There are four main steps involved in sending and receiving an e-mail message.  First, the sender creates and sends a message using an e-mail client.  An e-mail client is any program used to create, send, and receive e-mail messages.  Some examples of e-mail clients include Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, and Yahoo.  Next, a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMPT) server determines the best route to the message's destination.  The third step routes the message through multiple Internet routers.  Internet service provider's incoming mail server contains recipient's mailbox.  The forth and final step is when the recipient receives the message using an e-mail client.  The make-up of an e-mail address includes a to line, a courtesy copy line, a subject line, an attach line, message body, and a signature file.  The first four components of an e-mail make-up are all parts of the message header.

Mobile Devices

I recently came across an advertisement supplement of Buffalo Business First newspaper called the Business of Technology that gave a look at Western New York's tech sector and ways businesses are using mobile devices within their company.  One of the advertisements within the insert promoted ShoreTel Mobility Solution.  This system integrates existing enterprise communication applications and infrastructure with leading smartphones and tablets securely, simply, and cost effectively.  This system makes it easy for the workforce to communicate on any device, whether it be a cell phone or tablet, from any location within any network device.  With mobility, work is no longer a location.  Instead it is an activity.  Tablets are transforming the nature of work as companies are turning to mobile applications to enable worker to be productive anywhere. 

Also within the Business of Technology, was an article about the growing security concerns with more people accessing corporate information from personal devices.  A rise in popularity among clients makes it difficult to troubleshoot where a problem is coming from.  It can be challenging to manage and secure a device where the user has total independent freedom to access data wherever and however.  Companies should create a guest network for visitors to use without accessing shared files and folders.  Also companies should create firewalls and secure passwords that can be changed regularly.

Bertola, David.  “Array of Devices Elevate Data Security Concerns.”  Business First: The Business of  Technology 20 Sept. 2013: 11. Print. 11 Nov. 2013.

Personal Learning Network

I've decide to focus my personal learning networking on Accounting. After finishing school, I hope to work within the accounting field as a Certified Fraud Examiner.  I have been networking on Facebook and Twitter but I most recently have joined the Young CPA network through Facebook and LinkedIn.  The goal of the Young CPA network is to create a community in which young CPAs can seek answers and advice regarding career challenges and opportunities while also building a professional relationships.  The AICPA website has been very helpful and informing with guiding me towards my designated career choice.

Chapter 3 Searching the Web - Search Tools

Specialized Web based search tools are used to locate Web pages, businesses, people, multimedia files, documents, databases, and more.  The three main search tools are directories, search engines, and metasearch engines.  Directories are a human-compiled hierarchical list of Web pages organized by category.  You can drill down the directory categories by clicking a number of links to move from a general category through additional subcategories, to the main Web page line, and finally to the main Web site.  

Search engines help to enable users to research the directory's index by keywords instead of drilling down through categories and subcategories.  They include general-purpose search tools, such as Google, and use software called a Web crawler that browses the Web automatically adding the URL's and other information about Web pages to a searchable index.  The Web page information retrieved by a Web crawler is stored in a database on one or more servers.  This creates an index.  The search engine compares the keywords with its index and complies a list of Web pages for which the keywords are relevant and arranges the list in a specific order.

The third main search tool, metasearch engine, is a special type of search tool that compiles the search results from multiple search engines into a single search results list.  This allows one to perform multiple search engines at once.  Examples of metasearch engines are MetaCrawler, Dogpile, KartOO, and Ixquick.  A good metasearch engine should eliminate duplicate entries, categorize the hits based on topic, order the hits by relevance, and indicate which search engines provided the search results.

Chapter 3 Searching the Web - The Search Process

One of the most useful features of the Web is being able to search for information.  To begin the search process, you must choose a search tool such as Yahoo, Bing, or Google.  I myself use Google as my personal preference for a search tool.  The next step is to formulate a search query or question with a keyword that defines the information you are interested in.  The more words entered will allow a more specific search.  Perform the search by pressing the ENTER key on the keyboard or by clicking a button depending on the search tool being used.  Next examine the search results that your question or keyword has formulated.  Usually the more relevant hits will be at the top of the search results.  Evaluating the credibility of search results is a key step in the search process.  There is no guarantee that all the search results will contain useful or accurate information.  To assess the credibility of a Web page, you should look at the authority of the source, the objectivity of the text, the scope and quality of the content, and Web site's design and functionality. View this GoAnimate video to review the search process http://goanimate.com/videos/0BYXSQt2i4RM

Symbaloo!

Here are a few of the websites that I use most and have posted to my Symbaloo.