Beyond Boolean: exceptional internet research seminar
beyond boolean is an intensive three-hour seminar for confident and experienced internet users. Visitors familiar with the Spire Project will find this seminar further develops techniques and concepts touched on in our articles and FAQs. This seminar is pitched at an expert level.
Do you turn to the internet for information? Master the skills involved.

Testimonials
 
Exceptional,
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        PERTH Western Australia
        State Library Lecture Theatre

(North end of the ground floor of the Alexander Library Building)
  • May 18th (Friday) 9am to 12:30am
  • May 19th (Saturday) 9am to 12:30am
  • May 21st (Monday) 9am to 12:30am
  • May 22nd (Tuesday) 1:30pm to 5pm
  • Cost: $200 per person (Reserve a seat)
    Major Sponsor:
    The Library and Information Service of WA.
  • Love your work... The Spire Project is an outstanding piece of work - among the most under-appreciated assets on the Internet.
    John Makulowich
    USA Today columnist
    net expert and speaker.
    User education is such a critical aspect of relevancy. Thank you on behalf of search users!
    Arnaud Fischer
    Group Product Marketing Manager
    Altavista
    <further testimonials>

                  General Summary 
  • Presenter: David Novak
    Master of the Spire Project, author of the Information Research
    FAQ and a Leading Expert in Internet Research.
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Cost: $200 per person   (or $2500 + expenses)
  • Format: Lecture/Performance
    Supported with a data projector and pre-prepared webbing.
    (Hands-on time is not a feature of this seminar)
  • Current Venues:
  • Western Australia
    (May 18th-22nd 2001)
  • Melbourne
    (Late June/Early July 2001)
  • Seminar Description:
    This seminar prepares the way for confident users of the internet to further improve their search skills. This involves correcting common misconceptions (no, choice of search engine is not critical), building on existing concepts (select search engines instead for their agility) and breaking entirely new ground (jump to quick judgements and anticipate where you want to look).

    The internet is not some grand misty ocean to be trawled with a fishnet. Rather, the internet is a highly organized resource and the doorway to most other information resources. It is just that the organizing principles are not obvious. You won't pick them up staring at the computer screen.
    Course Outline:
    Module 1: (first hour)
  • Yahoo is not enough.
  • A Smorgasbord of Search Tools.
  • Example: Country Profiles.
  • Geography/Topography
  • Boolean is required. But Why?
  • Fields so Green
  • Example: UN Information

    Module 2: (second hour)

  • Information Format
  • Authority, Currency and Bias.
  • Gathering Background.
  • Facets of the Search Tool.
  • Juggling
  • Producer Traits
  • Information Migration

    Module 3: (third hour)

  • Information Flows
  • Anticipating a Search
  • Url Interpretation
  • Revolution NOW!
  • The Publisher's Perspective.
  • Internet Economics
  • Research is a Process
  • Looking Ahead.
  • Course Objectives:

  • Convey alternative avenues in internet research.
  • Demonstrate techniques to simplify the search process.
  • Refine the way you describe desired resources.
  • Persuade you to use advanced features of search engines.
  • Sketch a picture of what the internet means to research.
  • And direct your further internet skill development.

    Intended Audience:
    The course targets professionals who use the internet to gather information and answer questions. Some familiarity with the internet and with research is assumed. (Do you know what Boolean means?) Greater understanding will be advantageous.

    The Presenter:
    David Novak, master of the Spire Project and author of the Information Research FAQ, delivers this seminar in person. David is a leading expert in internet research. With strong roots in Sociology, internet development and Perl programming, David delivers a much-needed fresh perspective in a field dominated by search engine comparisons.

    As a former information broker, he has encountered the power and expense of commercial information. As a graduate in Sociology, he bends social theory to account for publishing habits and aspects of internet development. David has also delivered training for a long time, even before the web arrived. More recently, there was an enjoyable 16 hours of talk-back TV.

    Not content with simple training, the last three years have been dedicated to researching and publishing on aspects of internet research. The best praise comes from those who recognize there are few others anywhere writing anything on exceptional internet research. David, while perhaps not alone in bridging information research and internet research, is certainly unique. This perspective empowers the Beyond Boolean seminar, ensuring an valuable experience for even the most experienced of internet researchers.

    You can get a flavour of the seminar through other elements of the Spire Project - like the 100 pages of search techniques that is the Information Research FAQ, or our detailed look into specific sources like UN information and country profiles. The years of detailed study of information - a research into research - has led David to uncover many of the tenuous connections between information resources. In summary, David is an influential and deeply informed presenter. <read more>

    Reserve a Seat.
     
    Express Interest
    Want to see us come to your city? Tell us.
    Attending this seminar is a must for all who aspire to use the internet seriously.

    I look forward to seeing you on the day.

    David Novak   david @spireproject.com
    SpireProject.com   SpireProject.co.uk
    tel +61-8-92255909   fax +61-8-92255919  

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