RESOURCES:  The following are only basic resources. You may have to search for others for additional information.

Basic definitions: A. http://whatis.techtarget.com/
B. http://www.atis.org/tg2k/
C. Basics of how almost all technologies work (How DVDs work, how digital television works, and much more).  You might start with the tabs “computer stuff ” or “electronic stuff,” or maybe do a search:  http://www.howstuffworks.com/

Each of the above has advantages and disadvantages. For example, A provides a definition for “frequency ” but not “frequency response” whereas C provides a definition for “frequency response.” A,B and C are good for simple definitions, but D is good for explaining the applications of technical devices.

Goal: To understand why you need to be in COM 260. To do more effective, efficient and useful searches.

I. Listen to what communication professionals say about the need to know technologies: http://www.wsu.edu/~reagan/ProfCommentsPage.htm

II. Read about Boolean Logic (for searching and as the logic of computer operations). Search the basic definition sites.

III. Try out the different search engines: http://www.internettutorials.net/choose.html

Come to class prepared to answer the following questions about the topics above:

1. Why is it important for you to know about technologies?
2. What is Boolean logic? How does it relate to searching? How does it relate to computer logic?
3 . If you were to search for information about how to do a successful media campaign when you have to move elderly tenants out of an apartment building what keywords would you use? Try a search. Does it work? Modify your search with different Boolean operands; how do the results of your search change.
4 . If you wanted to find a train whistle to download which search engine would be best?