Newsgroups: bit.listserv.pacs-l
Date:         Tue, 7 Apr 1992 09:25:56 CDT
From:         Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS@UHUPVM1.BITNET>
Subject:      Internet Users Support

4 Messages, 158 Lines
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From: ULJTC@brolga.newcastle.edu.au
Subject: Internet Training/Support

At the University of Newcastle we decided to treat network promotion and
training as a special project within the Library using dedicated research/
training staff. We were fortunate in reaching agreement with the University
Computing Service that the Library would have responsibility for value added
services relaing to the Internet, particularly training and resource guides.
We have also benefited from substantial research infrastructure funding
allocated to the Library to staff the project. This has been renewed for 1992.

In our first six months of the project, a planning document was drawn up and the
 following components of a training program identified: a promotional seminar
for faculty, elementary and advanced technical tutorials, information resources
on the network seminars for specific disciplines and directory/access tools
tutorials. We had one hundred faculty turn up at short notice for a lunch hour
promotional seminar outlining what the Internet was and the services it could
provide. A ShowPartner display module was produced for this seminar.
 Registration forms were handed out for the technical tutorials which ran for
 two hours eachin computer laboratories outside the Library.

The elementary tutorial covered basic email commands on the Vax system, getting
started, News, accessing remote databases and a brief introduction to email
lists. The advanced technical tutorial covered file transfer, advanced email
commands, further information on email lists etc. The content was checked by
the Computing Service Network Support Group to ensure there were no errors but
the training was carried out by contract librarians with a flair for teaching
technical material. A photocopied users' manual for Vax/VMS was produced to
complement the tutorials. This has since been revised and printed as the UNL
AARNet User's Guide Vax/VMS System and circulated to faculty. Unix versions
of the documentation and tutorials are being prepared.

We had a very strong response with around 100 faculty attending the tutorials
over a four month period (15% of the total). A survey of faculty use of the
Net indicated 15% were using it and another 8% were unsure. This level of use
on Australian campuses has been confirmed by Greeve and Stanton's 1991 survey
of two West Australian universities.Their usage figure was 20% even though
59% had access. We received strong expressions of appreciation for our
initiative from faculty who indicated feelings of inadequacy re technology for
teaching and research support generally. Our technical tutorials have also been
attended by Computing Service Help Desk staff so that they can answer basic
questions about the Internet. The response to oue our information resource
seminars has also been positive. We intend to continue the technical tutorials
for the rest of 1992, adding new topics such as directory tools as we go along.

One benefit of the Library capitalising on its marketing and instructional
skills has been the increased visibility we have gained and a greater
readiness by faculty to approach us about resources on the Net. It has also
meant that we have n been able to use the project to train all the librarians
on using the Net and spread an awareness throughout the Library. It is
essential that librarians master and instruct in the technical skills because
it is no good telling someone an electronic document is available by FTP
without being able to show them how to access it.

Due to tight staffing, we could never have got the project off the ground
without special funding and dedicated staff who spend their time exploring the
 networks and developing expertise. We now hope to continue with a mix of
 contract and permanent staff to enhance the dissemination of network skills and
knowledge. In February we ran two national workshops for fifty librarians from
around Australia to "train the trainers" and share our experience and
 knowledge.Much more needs to be done as most librarians do not have the time to
 reskill
on the job. In the online revolution we had Dialog with a commercial interest
in creating a market by promotion and training. At this point the public sector
has to generate marketing and training programs for the Internet without the
plentiful resources of the private sector. We hope to have a national
marketing and training program in Australia with a clearinghouse to distribute
materials.

At the December Networkshop in Australia it became evident that the network
engineers and computer scientists have enough on their plate developing the
technical infrastructure of the Net . The library community should be taking
the lead with directory tools, marketing and training. We have the experience
to assess the information needs of users and evaluate proposals to put
newswire services etc. on the Net. It requires bold decisions by library
administrators to redirect resources to new services and seek out funding
in a competitive financial environment.
                                Jim Cleary,Information Services Librarian,
                                Auchmuty Library, University of Newcastle.
                                uljtc@cc.newcastle.edu.au
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From:Ann Feeney <AFEENEY@carleton.edu>
Subject: Re: Internet Users Support

Dan Lester said
>that is why kids and students do so well [learning about
the Internet]--they take the time

This is undoubtedly true, but another factor (from my personal
experience) is social involvement.
At Carleton College, where I first learned most about the net,
there was no formal internet instruction.  However, a large
group of individuals became very competent with using it,
because there was a "computer clique" of people who taught
one another tips and tricks.  Eventually, it reached a point
of absurdity, in which the computer center student help consisted
almost entirely of this clique, but that's a side effect of
informal organizations (good old Hawthorne observations).
I'd imagine that in many other situations, there is a degree of
social teaching, rather than formal teaching, particularly where
the subject matter is one that has an esoteric sub-culture.
(Look at net vocabulary, the emoticons, etc.)

So it's not only that students have time--there are often other
rewards.
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From:         Carolyn Argentati <CDADHHL@NCSUVM>
Subject:      Re: Internet Ease of Use, Pt. II

At North Carolina State University, Libraries and Computing Center staff
have taken a "team" approach to helping campus users learn about the
Internet.  An 8-member "Internet course group" was appointed, consisting of
both librarians and computing personnel, some of whom regularly engage in
teaching as part of their jobs.  This group developed a pilot course
which was offered for the first time in February 1992.  We try to
emphasize the "exploratory" nature of using the Internet, encouraging
users to "try things out" and not be too discouraged at the constant
changes they encounter on the network.

All of the team members had the opportunity to present a portion of
the course, and then the group met to discuss student feedback and possible
revisions for subsequent sessions.  The course has gone from a three-day
(mornings) schedule to meeting for about 3 hours two afternoons in a week,
and it is offered every one or two months (this will depend on demand).

What has been really exciting about this project, as a (librarian) member
of the course development team, has been the way that the librarians and
computing center staff have gotten to know each other, to understand more
about each other's worlds, and to cooperate in anticipating and meeting
a campus need.

Carolyn Argentati
Head, Natural Resources Library
North Carolina State University
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From: S02337%FLC@VAXF.Colorado.EDU
Subject: Re: Using Internet

I'm trying hard to learn nets.  I've had an interlibrary loan reguest in
for going on three weeks for that "!%@"ing book everone is talking about.
I like Zen, Achery to Zyxlaphones, but alas the knowledge of postscript
printing in my sector of the galaxy remains aloof.

It's like trying to learn auto maintance and driving by reading the bill
boards as I tool down the interstate.  But that's cool; I see folks with
cellulars seem to be doing better than me; but that's cool too!

Thanks too all who post the tiny pages of interChilton's Netman on the
billboards!

Mitch S02337@FLC.COLORADO.EDU
A Dios:)
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU