Diigo - A web research tool

Website: http://www.diigo.com Diigo is a free, online tool that can help you while doing research. It is similar in concept to Delicious, a bookmarking tool, but in many ways more versatile. Sometimes, we feel as if there is too much information, when only some is really relevant. Diigo can help you save these snippets of useful information, add you own notes or save the entire page. Above all, it makes it very easy for you to access anywhere.

Getting started with using diigo is very easy. Simply head over to their website and click the "Get Started Now!" button. After creating an account, you will see this screen: If you want to start using it quickly, you can simply drag the Diigolet "super bookmark" to your bookmarks toolbar. From it, you can access Diigo's main features, such as highlighting and annotating: Alternatively, you can install the add-on, which provides more features such as viewing your Library as a sidebar. Once you highlight anything or add a sticky note, it is immediately added to your Library, which is stored in the cloud. That way, all relevant or useful information you find while researching is kept in one place, where it is safe and easily retrievable. This is another one of Diigo's powerful features: the ability to sync and access this data from any device, anywhere. It is compatible with iPhones, iPads, Android phones and all major web browsers. Here, you can see the bit from the article I saved, accessed from my iPad. This also allows me to easily return to the article to continue reading. Overall, Diigo is a great, easy-to-use little tool to aid in your researching, to use while working on a group project where you need to share information, or just for being able to save anything interesting you come across while browsing the web. Haihao Liu 11W

Boolify!

Go Boolify! Website: http://www.boolify.org/

'Boolify teaches it's users how to create Boolean searches into Google using operators such as OR, NOT plus AND to get very specific search results.' 

Boolify basically is an interesting search engine and what it does is that it expands your search results and gives you numerous meanings and links to go to and find your answers. The appearance of the website is simple, yet appealing. Your search keywords are typed into blocks that resemble puzzle pieces. Some of the main features you may use while researching are the 'OR' and 'NOT' puzzle pieces to be more exact, basically to refine your search to only what you want and need. 

These are the pieces you can use (left): *WORD*, AND, NOT, OR and URL.

For example you use the 'word' button as your main search base, you can limit your search by adding the 'not pice and making your search more precise. Another great tool you can use more or less to widen your search is by adding the 'and' piece. This piece helps give you more options in terms of what you are searching for (right). Suppose you are researching about sharks, you may add 'and' fish to deepen your inquiry. Maybe even to look at the relativity between the two and how they can be differentiated. 

The last additional tool included in Boolify is GLEAN (above). This is a simple tool for mathematics and science research and questions. Glean tools target critical mathematical concepts and skills to help students in areas where they face a challenge.

Well, those are the main tools that Boolify features. This search engine will much be applied to support your learning. Additional information can be learnt and used in various subjects. Plus you can actually save what you have searched, for end of class revision! This gives you an advantage as you can bookmark whatever links you need and remember facts of topics you have covered. 

Altogether the tools you can use are:

1. 'WORD' piece
2. 'AND' piece
3. 'NOT' piece
4. 'OR' piece
5. 'URL' piece
6. GLEAN
7. 'REMOVE' piece
8. 'SAVE SEARCH' piece
9. 'VIEW SAVED' piece
10. 'START OVER' piece

I am recommending this search engine as it helps ME research and gain knowledge on external information i may need to add to my main points. This is definitely worth a try for projects, assessments and maybe just a simple piece of writing.

Mallika Chawla 9E 

Quick Tip: Ads, and how to get rid of them

Are you tired of ads distracting you while you're doing research? Are you sick of having to click the "close ad" button on YouTube? Are you absolutely certain that, for the last time, you do not wish find out your credit score? Are you starting to think that this article is beginning to sound an ad itself? Well, by installing a simple add-on, you can eliminate 98%* of ads encountered in your everyday web browsing!

*Not based on actual figures.

Before you begin: It is recommended that as you follow these instructions, open the links in new tabs. That way you can still see this page after you download the relevant add-ons.

Internet Explorer 7, 8 and 9

1. Download Adblock from http://simple-adblock.com/
2. Install
3. When you run Internet Explorer the first time after installing, follow the simple instructions to configure it.

Mozilla Firefox 3 and 4

1. Go to Tools > Add-ons
   
2. Search for Adblock Plus
   
3. Install the extension
4. Restart Firefox, and just click "Add Subscription" on the configuration screen.

Google Chrome 10

1. Go to https://chrome.google.com/webstore
2. Search for Adblock
3. Install Adblock (the one with 2 million users)

• Note: Currently causes issues when attempting to block ads in YouTube videos. Go into options and untick "Block ads inside YouTube videos."

Safari 4 and 5

1. Go to http://safariadblock.com/
   
2. Download
3. Double-click the funny-looking ".safariextz" file to install.
4. Optional: Enable automatic updates by going to Safari Preferences > Extensions > Updates > Install Updates Automatically.
   

• Note: Only tested on a Mac. Procedure should be same on PC. Please leave a comment if it works for you on PC.

Opera 10

1. Go to http://www.fanboy.co.nz/adblock/opera/
   
2. Right-click the "Main List: urlfilter.ini" and select "Save target as"
   
3. Choose the correct folder based on your OS as given on the website
4. Optional: Follow instructions to install the "Optimised Element Filter".

• Warning: This has not been tested by me! Please leave comment if it works for you.
  

Final comments: The effectiveness and thoroughness of ad-blocking will vary between different operating systems and browsers. But in all cases, there should be a big improvement in the number of ads you see, namely, a lot less! If, for some bizarre reason, you actually enjoy seeing ads, then please ignore this post.

How to save Flash game files

Why would you need to do this? - While many students will probably never use this on work, there are some students whom may happen to find a flash game they really want to use in a presentation or some such. How to do it? - This is a very simple process. Go to the site with the flash game and start the game Press Ctrl+U, then Ctrl+F In the search bar that comes up, type .swf If it is really a flash game something like this (http://uploads.ungrounded.net/531000/531437_finalninja.swf)will show up with swf higlighted, copy the URL listed Download the Orbit downloader from here http://www.orbitdownloader.com/ Click File-Add URL and paste the two URL's onto it Download the FLVPlayer4Free from here http://www.flvplayer4free.com/ When it is done, click on the file Enjoy! *Note* This was done on a windows computer, not sure on Macs *Note* If there is nothing like what is shown above after typing swf in the search bar, then it is not downloadable from the site(Newgrounds is one of the sites confirmed to work) *Note* This is only for the Google Chrome Browser, it WILL NOT WORK on Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Safari

The Awesome Library What is it?  The Awesome Library is a simple directory based search tool aimed at students.

Why should I be interested? Although not the necessary the nicest thing graphically The Awesome Library is aimed at supporting students and their work so it might save you some time getting to resources you can use at school more quickly that google. The Awesome Library is featured in Island School's own Research Tools site which is a must see destination for all IS students. If you think it's a good resource then why not bookmark with your Delicious or Diigo account?!