Professional Skills in the Digital Age: Internet and Email Report

This report, created for a professional skills course, analyzes the positive and negative aspects of internet usage, focusing on its impact on students and the challenges related to security and privacy. It discusses measures to mitigate these challenges, emphasizing the importance of strong passwords and awareness of cyber threats. The report further compares and contrasts two email providers, Gmail and Yahoo! Mail, evaluating their features, business applications, and suitability. It also explores the skills needed to evaluate online resources effectively. The analysis highlights the significance of internet and email in a professional context, providing insights into their usage and implications for businesses and individuals. The report underscores the importance of digital literacy and responsible online behavior.

Professional Skills in the Digital
Age

Table of Contents
ASSESSMENT 1: INDIVIDUAL ESSAY.....................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................1
Compare and Contract between the positive and negative aspects of the internet.................1
Challenges and measures of security and privacy that would taken while using internet.....2
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................4
ASSESSMENT 2: INDIVIDUAL REPORT ..................................................................................4
Introduction............................................................................................................................4
Two different email providers to compare and contrast features and discussing their
applications and suitability for businesses.............................................................................4
Discuss what skills do you need to evaluate resources online...............................................7
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

ASSESSMENT 1: INDIVIDUAL ESSAY
INTRODUCTION
Internet can be defined as a network which is rapidly offering a range of data/information
consist with different range of facilities (Communication channels). Along with this, it is being
found that internet basically consist with three different elements like LAN, MAN and WAN
which interconnects different networks in all over the world. It can be said that, internet helps in
staying connected with people across nations (Huda and et. al., 2017). Present essay is going to
show positive and negative aspects of internet. On the other hand, measures and challenges of
both security and privacy that would taken while using internet will going to be discuss.
Compare and Contract between the positive and negative aspects of the internet
If it is talked about internet, it is enclosed with ample number of positive and negative
aspects which an individual while working, sitting at the house or while studying at the
university goes through. Basically, internet is a global network where data gets transfer from a
range of communicational media. It is being analysed that this type of network helps in
exchanging all the cultural values, important documents linked with academics as well. Wireless
along with fiber-optic technologies are the two main tools or features through which internet can
be accessed within different range of gadgets like computer, mobile phone and other electronic
tool. Away with this, it is being found that internet has played a crucial role in 21st century and
impacted in both positively and negatively upon universities where all the individual students
learns with different range of topics. According to Huda and Teh (2018), internet has always
been an inherently educational tool. Indeed, many people has given ample number of
contradictory statements on some of main characteristics of the Internet align closely with the
core concerns of education. This could be understood with an example where, both internet and
education are basically being interlinked which shows different range of elements like
communication, information exchange and creation of knowledge. Since present world shifting
from books to phone and other tools, internet has helped people (students) in learning through it.
It is being found that, every single book is available on the internet and this shows both time and
cost as well. Therefore, it can easily be said that internet is having both positive and negative
impacts over a students like in present time (List of 10 Positive and Negative Effect of Internet,
2019).
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Considering internet as the base there are a range positive aspects that can be seen and it
can be anything for university students, like they can gather information for conducting an
investigation (research project) and in near future, there will be no requirement to visit libraries
for gathering information related to particular topic. Not only a research could be conducted
easily but for some other subjects like Mathematics, Economics and more easily solutions can be
pulled out regarding quantitative theorems (Ellaway and et. al., 2015).
Away with this, another benefit which can be found within present topic and i.e. it is
helping in increasing accessibility of students. This is being said because in past, a student used
to have just the materials that were being provided by lecturers along with the books for a
particular topic. This has helped student of Universities in expanding their own mindset and
developing their own values with the help of internet. On the other hand, if it is talked about
negative aspects of internet, then it can be said that there are a range of effects over students that
basically impacts upon their overall performance level of within the university. The primal most
negative impact which was carried out and i.e. internet makes a student to become unable to keep
schedules. Paying bills, corresponding, looking for information, communicating with both
known and unknown and doing financial transactions are some of the things that usually youth
performs with the help of internet (Gandini, 2016). This consumes a lot of time which majorly
impacts upon overall their learning. Away with this, social isolation can be considered as another
issue which takes place in front of individuals (students) as they started spending a lot of time on
the Internet tend and it has basically became as a part of online communities. They end up
developing close friendships or intimate relationships with a lot of individuals on the internet
(virtually) and this led them to face a range of issues like isolating themselves from their families
and peers.
Challenges and measures of security and privacy that would taken while using internet
Internet is being utilised in all over the world where people shares personal stuff with
each other (professional documents, images, videos and many other stuff). Along with this, it is
being found that use of internet (Internet of things) is rapidly increasing among public. This has
raised both security and privacy issues due to shared stuff over internet stays on the net only
even when it is deleted (backup of different applications like Whatsapp, Facebooks, LinkedIn
and many other). If it is talked about universities, it can be said that students also faces a range of
challenges while using internet that are linked with security and privacy at the same time.
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Therefore, it has become vital for them to understand both challenges and measures in regards to
avoiding privacy related issues. It is being found that, University's online websites contains
information related to students. This information can be pulled out by ethical hackers in regards
to offer them with a range of courses that they can done and along with this, all the information
taken out by them can used against them as well (threatening messages) and more. It is being
found that, there are many cases came in front where students of different universities started
getting threatening sort of messages and calls which led them to face problems like depression,
suicide and many other issues (Kasemsap, 2016). Although, loss of internet of things device
generate large amount of data which result in high level of risk in terms of data and identify
theft, device manipulation, data falsification, IP theft, network manipulation or any other cyber
crime. In regards to the same, all of this could be considered within cyberbullying and it can be
taken as one of the most challenge which students goes through. Many of students has also got
obliged for attempting the cyberbullying even when they have not done anything. Because, not
all the time shared information over internet stays true. A few challenges in the same case of
phishing, tricking and many other things as well. It can be said that, cybercriminals majorly uses
these type of techniques which aid in collecting the data out of secured portals or URLs.
Along with this, a few measures that could be taken by students to reduce the chances of
facing issues regarding both security and privacy of the information that they have shared with
others. In present context, not sharing content on the internet could be considered as one of the
crucial step which could be taken by individuals within the university. Along with this, just after
entering the password and username id on whatever the site they have opened in the computer
systems of University needs to be logged out in a rightful manner. Away with this, it will also be
required for individuals to develop a much more strong password in order to developing a much
more secured situation for themselves (Tømte and et. al., 2015). On the other hand, online
purchasing has also enhanced and took place as a customer do not require to go anywhere to buy
products and services. But, this has raised cybercrimes as well because individuals (hackers)
started facing issues regarding shared information of Master and Visa Cards. Therefore, this can
also be considered as one of a crucial approach where it will be required for students to fill the
fees at universities in cash only.
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Conclusion
With the help of above mentioned information, it is being summarised that internet is
helping in both communicating across the world and sharing all the data considering different
range of investigation and more. Away with this, cyberbullying within the university or in all
over the world could be reduced through changing passwords from time to time. Away with this,
internet challenges can also be minimised through considering all the laws and updating the
technology which is coming in front.
ASSESSMENT 2: INDIVIDUAL REPORT
Introduction
Internet can be considered as one of the best and foremost approach, which is being
utilised in order to fulfil all the needs and requirements in a short span. If it is talked about a
business organisation, than it can be said that a company could use different range of plans and
procedures which are linked with the internet that may aid in reaching to new heights in specified
time frame (Collins and Halverson, 2018). Companies basically uses different range of
communicating methods and these could be anything from email services, official website chat
box and more in building communication platform among a range of platforms. Away with this,
an organisation effectively uses a range of aspects, that might required by an individual
considering specific skills that may aid in evaluating data with the help of different online
sources.
Two different email providers to compare and contrast features and discussing their applications
and suitability for businesses
Electronic Mail is being considered as a digital mechanism which is being utilised by a
business organisation in order to transfer the data or information from one employee to another
(as per the requirements). This mainly consist with a range of plans and procedures where all the
information basically transmitted among different dedicated server folders which are sender and
recipient (Huda, 2019). In present context, it can be said that a sender stays as the individual who
sends the information to others. On the other hand, it also consist with a receiver as well who
receives the information sent by sender. It mainly stays consist with different factors and these
are :-
 Message envelope: Describes the email's electronic format.
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 Message header: Includes sender/recipient information and email subject line.
 Message body: It involve text, file attachment as well as images.
Along with this, it majorly includes a range of email application providers which
basically delivers a range of services and these are :-
 Gmail – This online application was found in the year of 2004 it was basically
formulated or propounded by Paul Buchheit. In present, company is upholding upto 1.4
billion clients. Alongside this, Gmail offers 10GB of free stockpiling and having
astounding spam channel likewise and empower access through cell phones. Their are
some character additionally that, Gmail worked in talk permits voice and video visit or
likewise normal visiting alternative through content (Le, 2015). This is why, Gmail is
apparently considered as the best free email specialist organization in the present
situation just as Gmail is straightforward and easy to understand. Along with this, it can
be said that, misfortune along with old messages can be found out and could be kept
within trash storage are some of crucial services which Gmail gave to its clients for the
first time. This has directly grabbed a good position in the online market in short span.
 Yahoo! mail – Another crucial online application, introduced to the world for the first
time in 1994 and till 2005 this online services was been crucially played a good role
among people's life all around the globe. Jerry Yang and David Filo are the two
individuals who found Yahoo! mail. There are a range of products which are basically
offered by its founders are sending information, Yahoo! News, fund, ambassador, sports,
seek, Tumblr, answers, etc. They offers boundless email stockpiling, SMS messaging,
texting, person to person communication, etc (Tour, 2017). 50 documents or 100MB size
record can be send in single email through Yahoo! Sends. Along side this, Yahoo! Mail
remains inside best email administration offers accessible on the web just as cell phones.
Alongside this, individual can see photographs, recordings and slide indicates
straightforwardly from the post box (Le, 2015).
Different features of both of the Gmail and Yahoo! and these are given beneath :-
Basis Gmail Yahoo
Integration of instant messages Instant messages are being
sent to the receivers (Micro
seconds) which could be
Since the IM system of Yahoo!
is a separated from its e-mail
service, it can be said that a
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considered as a plus point that
Gmail is having over Yahoo!
Mail.
user could only send
information or messages
within a quick chat messages.
Along with this, it can be said
that in the form of e-mail,
Yahoo! Has not given any sort
of storage capacity for
themselves (Goldie, 2016).
Flexibility with attachments Just when users are done with
sending the data considering
the feature, that Gmail could
effectively deliver a good
range of attachments as well.
If it is talked about Yahoo!
mail than it could easily be
understood that there is a
possibility of going on separate
screen in order to put up the
attachments within the single
time person and it could
directly put only 5 attachments
in it.
Size of attachment Gmail allow bigger attachment
size up to 20 MB on its free
version.
Yahoo mail don't facilitates
large size attachment it is up to
10 MB on free version.
Folder Organization Gmail allows to label folder
but keep all the folders in same
area.
If it is compared with, Gmail,
than it can be said that Yahoo!
has shine in the area of folder
organization. As it allows to
label as well as organize folder
which is liked for making mail
system better for such people
who need large amount of
folder.
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Discuss what skills do you need to evaluate resources online
The criteria of carrying out investigation on different types of websites and sources of
internet that can be considered as better option for a person in order to boost up their own
abilities, richness with nuggets of required information as well as knowledge, extraction of
reliable data & fact and many more. However, it has been analysed that internet is responsible
for giving various types of sources in respect of gathering data which is ether helpful to render
reliable or not reliable information accordingly (Wild and Kydd, 2016). In this context, it can be
known as an important aspect to for people for developing their own capabilities in respect of
extracting the reliable data with the help of authentic websites. In addition to this, it is essential
that hey should possess proper awareness regarding utilisation of websites that are authenticate
along with measuring accuracy of data described on selected sources of internet for before using
the same.
At the other hand, books, it has been observed that journals and articles which are
accessed by an individuals from different sites of internet are always consist details of their
authors or researchers respectively. It includes another fact that a proper citation of sources can
be found on number of suites. However, if in case there is no citation presented in articles then
these websites are considered to be failed in context or providing accurate, reliable and
authenticate data as well which should not be used. Meanwhile, people are required to gain
proper information in respect of using different types of web browsers in order to explore the
online data in appropriate manner. In context of this, there are number of modern technologies
which can used by an individual such as Firefox which can be described as an effective software
having a capability in respect to add-ons extend abilities of the web browsers accordingly. In
addition to this, this will provide support in terms of finding accurate citations in various online
sources, word counting and more websites such as Westlaw, Google Scholar and many more
(Kaushik, 2018).
Moreover, it has been evaluated that online researchers are also required to gain learning
that in what manner, the advanced search engine techniques can be utilised in more effective as
well as efficient way which consist keywords that matches atopic of particular investigation
respectively. In case of generating such abilities, an individuals can prefer to read “My Tutorial”
the Google Analytical toll in terms of web searching. People can gain knowledge of the fact of
using search engine in correct manner to find appropriate data from the help of authenticate sites
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more quickly. Basically, the investigators are also required to posses proper abilities for
organising bookmarks at the time while they trawling a lot of data on online websites. They can
also generate specified folders and sub folders in order to manage bookmarks on covered specific
title.
It has been studied that, in order to become a highly efficient investigator who is capable
to explore the accurate data in proper manner from authenticate websites, it is important for
them to gain appropriate skills on different aspects. It involves the criteria of checking the
resources from where the desired data has been gathered, develop and refine search doubts in
respect of exploring better results (Filippaios and Benson, 2018). It will also facilitate to display
persistent through continual pursuing information; must posses emotional resilience at the time
of searching data; respect intellectual proper including sites where copyright is presented then
information can be collected from there only.
Conclusion
Considering the above mentioned report, it can easily be said that email is being
considered as the best source through which large amount of data can be shared in form of
picture, word document, slide shows and many more. On the other hand, it is being found that
there are a range of email service applications like Yahoo or Gmail that may aid students in
communicating within the university with others. Apart from this, there are several skills as
discussed above which is required for evaluating resources online.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Huda, M. and et. al., 2017. Empowering children with adaptive technology skills: Careful
engagement in the digital ınformation age. International Electronic Journal of
Elementary Education. 9(3). pp.693-708.
Huda, M. and Teh, K. S. M., 2018. Empowering professional and ethical competence on
reflective teaching practice in digital era. In Mentorship Strategies in Teacher
Education (pp. 136-152). IGI Global.
Ellaway, R.H. and et. al., 2015. Exploring digital professionalism. Medical teacher, 37(9),
pp.844-849.
Gandini, A., 2016. Digital work: Self-branding and social capital in the freelance knowledge
economy. Marketing theory. 16(1). pp.123-141.
Kasemsap, K., 2016. Utilizing communities of practice to facilitate knowledge sharing in the
digital age. In Organizational knowledge facilitation through communities of practice in
emerging markets (pp. 198-224). IGI Global.
Tømte, C. and et.al., 2015. Educating online student teachers to master professional digital
competence: The TPACK-framework goes online. Computers & Education. 84. pp.26-
35.
Collins, A. and Halverson, R., 2018. Rethinking education in the age of technology: The digital
revolution and schooling in America. Teachers College Press.
Huda, M., 2019. Empowering application strategy in the technology adoption: insights from
professional and ethical engagement. Journal of Science and Technology Policy
Management. 10(1). pp.172-192.
Le, B. P., 2015. Academic library leadership in the digital age. Library Management, 36(4/5),
pp.300-314.
Tour, E., 2017. Teachers’ self-initiated professional learning through Personal Learning
Networks. Technology, Pedagogy and Education. 26(2). pp.179-192.
Goldie, J. G. S., 2016. Connectivism: A knowledge learning theory for the digital age?. Medical
teacher. 38(10). pp.1064-1069.
Wild, D. and Kydd, A., 2016. Digital skills training in care homes: achievement. Nursing older
people, 28(5).
Kaushik, A., 2018. Skills of Library and Information Science Professionals in MOOCs
Environment. In Library and Information Science in the Age of MOOCs (pp. 205-219).
IGI Global.
Filippaios, F. and Benson, V., 2018. Agile Digital Skills Examination for the Digital Economy:
Knowledge and Social Capital Management Frameworks through Social Networking.
In The Future of Innovation and Technology in Education: Policies and Practices for
Teaching and Learning Excellence(pp. 55-69). Emerald Publishing Limited.
Online
List of 10 Positive and Negative Effect of Internet, 2019.[Online].Available
through:<https://websitesecurity.knoji.com/list-of-10-positive-and-negative-effects-of-
the-internet/>
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