Using Search Engines

From the Employment and Learning Computer Lab:

Using search engines can be both fun and informative.  By opening ones such as google.ca, yahoo.ca or bing.ca, for example, you can type in whatever information you are seeking by keywords, and a selection will appear. This can be useful for job hunting. One way is to search for information about a particular company in which you are interested. Many job ads will state which company is seeking staff, but does not always offer much about that company. It is always best to be informed during an interview, and researching is a solid way to show that you know what the company does, and how you may help to use your skills in the ways needed.

But search engines can also be used for fun. For example, if you wanted to know how long it took to build the Tower of Pisa in Italy, you would open up the search engine and put in a few key words to help it find what you are searching. In the above example, you may put in “how long built Tower Pisa”.
Here are a few Wonders of the World practice questions you can search to answer:

India: On average, how many tourists visit the Taj Mahal yearly? __________

Peru: Name the “3 great districts” in the City of Machu Picchu? __________
Mexico: How many stairs are there on Chichen Itza? _________
Brazil: How long did it take to build the Christ the Redeemer statue? __________
Saskatoon: What does the weather network Website say is the current temperature? __________

Good luck!

Quote of the Week

What exactly is the Internet?

From the Employment and Learning Computer Lab:

What exactly is the Internet? It is a set of networks that are linked to one another to help transmit information from one place to another. Actually, the largest part of the Internet is private, used by companies, governments and learning facilities.

The public part is generally known as the World Wide Web, which is why a user usually puts “www” in front of the address.  This is actually only a small part of the Internet, but when you work for a company, you can be hooked into part of the private network via a password supplied by the organization.

The internet was started in 1969 by the Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA) and only connected a few universities together. The public part was available by 1990, and twenty years ago, in 1993, the first graphic web browser was created, making it possible to send pictures and to see images on the desktop. This became known as “What You See Is What You Get”, or WYSIWYG for short (pronounced as “wizy-wig”).

At first, Web addresses ended with .com, or communication, but as the names filled up, it was broken down into the likes of .org (organization) and .edu (schools or universities in the States). Nearly every country has their own extension, such as .ca (Canada), .jp (Japan), .ru (Russia), and de (Germany, or Deutschland).  It can make it easier to see where Websites originate by these extensions.

Quote of the Week

Job Find Club - April

Job Finding Club April 8^th -26^th 

Pre-session for Wed. April 3^rd at 9:30am 

Book into this introductory workshop no later than Tues. April 2^nd by 2pm. 

Day of Mourning: Remember the Dead, Commit to Prevention

ONE MONTH TO THE DAY OF MOURNING FOR WORKERS INJURED OR KILLED IN THE WORKPLACE Remembering lives lost or injured in the workplace In 2011, 919 workers in Canada lost their lives to a disease or injury they incurred from work-related causes. Even more disturbing, is that eight of those who died were teenagers; twenty-six were between the ages of twenty and twenty-four years. There are close to three work-related deaths each day in Canada - each one leaving a trail of pain for the families impacted by the loss of a husband, wife, father, mother, brother, sister, son or daughter. And most - if not all - are fatalities that could have been prevented. To honour those workers across the country whose lives have been lost, who have been injured or disabled on the job, or suffer from occupational diseases, April 28th has been set aside as the National Day of Mourning. The Day of Mourning is an opportunity not only to remember, but also for employees and employers to publicly renew their commitment to preventing work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths and making workplaces safe and healthy for all. This day of observance was established when the Workers Mourning Day Act was passed in December 1990. Since that time, various events are organized each year by labour organizations across the country to express remembrance for the family, friends, and colleagues who have suffered in carrying out workplace duties. The Canadian flag on Parliament Hill will fly at half-mast. Workers will light candles, don ribbons and black armbands, and observe moments of silence. Over the years, the day of observance known in most other countries as the Workers' Memorial Day, has spread to over 75 countries and is now an international day of remembrance of workers killed in incidents at work, or by diseases caused by work. In addition, the International Labour Organization (ILO) celebrates the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28th to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally. Up close and personal Statistics can be impersonal and cold. But the stories of real life people who have suffered the loss of a limb or a loved one from a work-related injury bring the statistics to life and put faces to the numbers. To this end, CCOHS has recorded podcasts with two victims of workplace tragedies who share their personal journeys. Bill Bowman lost his arm as a young worker. Now, decades later he shares his story of loss and how he and his family were impacted by this life altering injury. Listen to this nine-minute podcast: Workplace Injuries: A Personal Story. Shirley Hickman's life changed forever when her son Tim was killed on the job just shy of his twenty-first birthday. Shirley shares her painful journey and what inspired her to create the Threads of Life organization, which supports workers and their families who are affected by life-altering workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths. Listen to this nine-minute podcast: Shirley Hickman - A Mother's Story. The CCOHS website has more information about the National Day of Mourning. For further statistical information, visit AWCBC National Work Injuries Statistics Program. Update your Facebook page with the free Day of Mourning cover images. Find a Steps for Life walk in your community. SOURCE: http://www.ccohs.ca/newsletters/hsreport/issues/2013/03/ezine.html

Good Friday and Easter Monday

We are closed Friday, March 29, 2013 and Monday, April 1, 2013.

We will re-open on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at 8:30 am.