[418] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Summary to Internet training questions
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Dudee Chiang)
Thu Jun 4 09:12:49 1992
Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1992 08:09:15 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
From: Dudee Chiang <dchiang@PHAD.HSC.USC.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Subject: summary of answers to question related to Internet
training
I pose a message last week, asking people's experience in providing
INTERNET training, especially on simultaneous FTP and telnet.
Thanks to all who took time to respond. The answers were very
useful. I thought I would share them with the list.
1. Hands-on experience is the preferred approach as long as you
have the facility. However, live demo has its merit, too; if the
purpose of the session is introduction rather than instruction.
2. It is possible for simultaneous FTPing and telneting. Different
sites have different capabilities and limitations. If a site is
too busy, it will simply send a message to say so. Collective
experiences (including mine) show that most OPACs and campus wide
info systems are able to accommodate many users (30+, 50+, or 100+)
at a time; freenet(s) are a little bit difficult during peak hours.
3. Several people suggested telneting to different sites during the
workshop. Having 3 to 4 people telnet to one site, another small
group to a different site, etc. This worked well for me.
4. When having workshop attendees ftp at the same time, ask them to
ftp a SHORT document. The README file is usually a good candidate.
After they read the README file, they can go back and ftp the
file(s) they want after the workshop.
5. One person recommended a "handout intensive" workshop, so that
attendees can refer to them later on. I agree, but instead of
producing a whole set of handouts on different OPACs, I had Art St.
George's "Internet-Accessible Library Catalogs and Databases"
available for consultation. I have this manual and some other
resource guides available in my library's class reserve collection,
and I brought (and will bring) them to my workshop(s). [I still
prepared handouts on FTP and telnet in general.)
Thanks again to all those responded.
Dudee Chiang
USC Norris Medical Library
Internet: dchiang@phad.hsc.usc.edu
