Searching Internet Directories:
DMOZ, the Open Directory Project

Online Tutorial Plan

Tutorial Description | Learning Objectives | Length
Audience | Format and Methodology | Outline

Tutorial Description

This tutorial will introduce the concept of hierarchical directories for information retrieval on the Internet to scientists at the EPA-RTP library. The tutorial will be designed to be very basic, short, and support interactive and active learning styles . The main point emphasized will be how to navigate the hierarchical structure of directories in order to find information on a defined topic. This may become one of several tutorials associated with the "Basic Internet Searching" class taught by librar y staff on a semi-annual basis.

Learning Objectives

Participants will learn the structure of an Internet directory of websites and be able to navigate comfortably within that structure in order to find information on a topic. By the end of the tutorial, participants will have practiced three different way s of finding information in a directory; moving vertically through the hierarchy, moving laterally between hierarchies (including the difference between @ and "see also" links), and searching full-text of the database to find appropriate categories in the hierarchy.

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Length

This tutorial will last the typical participant roughly 15-30 minutes, depending on his/her interest and pace.

Audience

The tutorial is aimed at researchers and support staff at the EPA-RTP facility who either need a basic introduction to Internet searching in general or who desire a refresher on Internet directories in particular. These are adult learners distributed thr oughout a very large building, and who (in general) are not heavy users of library services. While the EPA has excellent Internet connections, many offices have severely out of date computers. This, coupled with the inexperience of participants, necessi tates a simple interface.

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Format and Methodology

The tutorial will be presented in a frames setup. There are two types of screens: instruction and practice, both of which consist of three frame windows in slightly different alignments. The Instruction screens will have a vertical window for the tutori al title, a vertical window for the table of contents, and a large main window for the instructional materials proper. The Practice screen will have three horizontal windows for the title, DMOZ directory (main window), and "return to tutorial" link. Par ticipants will be given opportunities to practice skills in the DMOZ directory at various points in the tutorial. When they select the "return to tutorial" link it will take them back to the screen they had last seen. In addition, the table of contents will have an arrow for the current page and different colors indicating what areas have already been covered and what is left to cover.

Outline

Follows is a rough outline of pages covered in the main Instruction window. This outline will correspond with the Table of Contents as seen on the tutorial itself. The practice notation marks points in the tutorial where parti cipants have the option of practicing their own searches in DMOZ (in the Practice screens).

  1. Home page (Introduction to tutorial, objectives, time frame)
  2. What are directories? (Definition, when to use them)
  3. What is DMOZ? (Brief history and organization, topic strengths, URL)
  4. How do I use a directory? (Importance of finding subcategories)
    1. Moving vertically (up and down) practice
    2. Moving laterally (@ and "see also" links) practice
    3. Using search to find categories practice
  5. Conclusion (Review of what you've learned, links to print guide, other tutorials in series, library's homepage)

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Copyright 2000 K.T.L.Vaughan