internet library instruction

[Nathalie Parent]

Hi Dean

Thank you for you're input, it's verry valuable information you gave me I 
appreciate it.


Nathalie Parent
Université de Moncton
parentn at umoncton.ca


On Mon, 22 Sep 1997, Dean C. Rowan wrote:

> 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
>