The Power of a Self-directed Learner
CONTEXT: It has become a vitally necessary survival skill to be able to find information upon a topic, reliably, competently, and at a moment's notice. Never before in human history have learners had the fingertip access to the global knowledge that they have today. Software on the Internet generally referred to as 'search engines' can search millions of resources for very specific information in seconds and are very easy to learn and use.
Minutes spent learning search engines will save hours, even weeks, of time. Learning effective techniques for use of search engines is one of the most important skills we can learn.
All software today includes thorough help guides, and since software keeps changing and improving, the skill of being able to teach oneself new software using these help guides, on an ongoing basis, is vitally important! One can observe youth being very aware of the usefulness of these help guides, while many adults are often unaware of their usefulness.
"Knowledge is of two kinds: we know a subject ourselves, or we know where to find information upon it."
Samuel Johnson 1709-1784
Quickstart Awareness Activities
Regardless of your current skill level with the Internet, you're likely to find the enclosed self-directed hands-on activities helpful.
ACTIVITY: Use the following Browsing Basics
Checklist to master web browsing.
ACTIVITY: Explore "Gearing Up With Free Web
http://lone-eagles.com/currtour.htm and get
your own free email account if you dont
already have one!
ACTIVITY: Explore the enclosed hands-on
"Quick Web Tours"
which interest you most, to get a taste of
the best of the best!
ACTIVITY: Use the following Searching Basics
Checklist to master Internet searching skills!
ACTIVITY: Practice translating Web pages
different languages to see how easy it is!
Details are in the Searching Basics
ACTIVITY: Use the following tutorial to
create your own webtours!
ACTIVITY: Use the following tutorials to create your
own web tours!
ACTIVITY: Read the Internet Style of Learning Essay
ACTIVITY: Review the Teachers' Tools Web Tour
ACTIVITY: Review the web-based curriculum created by
educators during the online course "Making
the Best Use of Internet Resources for