internet library instruction

[Dean C. Rowan]

We provide monthly Internet training to twenty to forty interested 
(public library) patrons.  The class assumes almost no knowledge of 
Internet on the part of the attendee; you may be able to assume that 
your students have a sense of what it entails.

Our classes run about one and a half hours, including Q&A.  We 
encourage questions throughout the session.  After about two or three 
classes, you can anticipate certain questions, but there will always 
be one or two new queries.

Originally, over two years ago, we tried to introduce many of the 
technologies:  FTP, gopher, telnet and WWW.  Now, we focus on WWW, 
maybe demonstrating a gopher site, if the circumstances permit it.  
We spend time searching using "search engines," e.g., AltaVista, 
HotBot, etc.  We also talk about "how to connect" because many of the 
attendees are interested in buying a computer and finding an ISP.

We use an LCD projector to project the screen from which we're working.
There is no hands-on activity for the patrons.  Rather, we invite 
patrons back for individualized hands-on training.  Your situation may be 
otherwise; take the advice of the respondent who suggested an 
assistant per each ten to fifteen students.  Hands-on training introduces 
an additional layer of complexity.  If you are offering hands-on 
training and if you do expect that your students are already 
comfortable with computers and with the 'net, you could easily spend 
half a day going over frames, multiple sessions, searching, 
downloading, printing...  Personally, I would say that searching 
training is paramount.  Few people take the time to learn the 
intricacies of the "search engines."  Heck, few people take the time 
to learn how to search a library catalog!

Dean C. Rowan
Whittier Public Library