No. 36: Introduction to the Internet
29 July - 2 August 1996
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No. 36: Introduction to the Internet 29 July - 2 August 1996 |
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1. How useful were the pre-course readings? 1: Somewhat, mostly for the latest vocabulary. Their value depends on the degree of experience with computers, etc. 2: The pre-course reading list was short but useful (and for future use, as well). Internet for dummies is good preparation. 3: Useful, though they meant more after hands-on training. 4: Useful. 5: Very  though this is primarily hands-on stuff. 6: Useful. 7: Good preliminary reading; actually consulted the readings evenings after class, which greatly increased their relevance. 8: Not too relevant. The books will be more meaningful on my return home. |
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2. Were the course syllabus and other materials distributed in class useful (or will they be so in the future, after you return home)? 1: The text written by PB and KT is excellent and reassuring at the beginning of the course. We could see what would be covered. I will continue to absorb it, but I wish it had an index. 2: Yes. I am sure that the manual will prove especially useful. 3: Useful, but a table of contents would have helped make the syllabus more so. 4: Were and will be. 5: Very useful and will continue to be so after I return to work at home. 6: Yes. 7: Definitely. 8: They will be useful when I hook up to the Internet. |
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3. Was the intellectual level of the course content appropriate? 1: Yes. Probably above my head technically, but I enjoyed it. 2: Yes. 3-4: Yes. 5: Right on target. 6-8: Yes. |
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4. If your course had field trips, were they effective? 1: The visit to the room where images were digitalized was a glimpse of how they do it and time well spent (short time and long enough). I didn't go on the trip to Comet. 2: Our field trip to Comet was helpful. Those to the Etext Center and to the Digital Center were helpful as well. 3-4: Yes. 5: Yes appropriate and informative. 6: Time was very well spent. 7: Yes. Trips to the etext facilities were very enlightening, as was one to a local ISP. 8: Yes. |
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5. Did the actual course content correspond to its RBS brochure description and Expanded Course Description (ECD)? Did the course in general meet your expectations? 1: Yes and yes. 2: Yes. 3-4: Yes. 5: Yes, yes, yes. 6: Yes. 7: Yes, but I expected it to be a bit more oriented toward books. However, I realized as the course went on, we were covering so much material that it was impossible for us to be more specialized. But, since our future use of the Net was to be similar, members of the class had like-minded questions and goals. 8: Yes. |
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6. What did you like best about the course? 1: The interaction between two charming intellectuals who communicated their enthusiasm. 2: Using both Macs and PCs. The intensity of work at the machines. Repeating exercises. 3: Hands-on training. 4: Excellent teachers: competent and intelligent. 5: Instructors and material both get high marks. 6: All the hands-on work. And the fact that it was taught by two people left one free to give individual help. Most of all, PB and KT's patience, tact, and willingness to help without making one feel stupid got me through this! 7: Excellent instruction very knowledgeable, patient, enthusiastic. Use of PCS and Macsterrific exposure. Wide variety of topics covered with take-home instruction booklet provided. 8: The good humor and patience of the instructors when dealing with my ineptness contributed to my enjoyment. |
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7. How could the course have been improved? 1: Repetition of the steps to sites, in the early sessions. Typing dictated letters is interrupted when you wonder if it was d or p, or maybe b you heard. Glancing to the big screen means that you have lost time, and perhaps the next dictation. 3: Perhaps by a quick daily review of each technology covered to that point and how they relate to each other. 4: Divided into two groups (Mac people and PC people). 5: Extend it to two weeks. 6: The one link that was difficult for those of us who were really new to the Internet was the basic getting into and out of each application. A page at the front of the handbook giving the initial and closing steps for each application on the UVa machines would have helped a lot. 7: At times, the word processing skills, or lack thereof, held up the class. The course was an introduction to the Internet, not to computers in general. 8: Two weeks long. If the course were longer, a student project could be finished and much learned in the process. |
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8. Please comment at will on the quality/enjoyability of the various RBS activities in which you took part outside of class, eg Sunday afternoon tour, Sunday night dinner and videos, Bookseller Night, tour of the Etext Center or Electronic Classroom, printing demonstrations, evening lectures, &c. 1: I didn't attend any becaue of social obligations, but other attendees were enthusiastic about them, especially the curator of the Armed Services Editions book exhibit. 2: David Vander Meulen's talk was enjoyable, as was young Daniel Miller's. He was very good (DM) and didn't need to make so many witticisms to keep his audicence's interest. (Maybe those were so we would not see how much he was shaking?) 3: Only attended one, which was fine. 4: Enjoyable. 5: I did not attend any. 6: The Monday night lecture was pretty dry. 7: I attended all three lectures because I didn't want to miss out. I greatly enjoyed two of them. My only complaint is that it makes for a long day but provides a terrific networking opportunity. 8: I enjoyed them. |
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9. Any final thoughts? 1: Come prepared with questions about your own plans to use the Internet. The instructors can answer anything, and are extraordinarily willing to do it outside of class time. Wait a couple of days to ask, but get it in. 2: The charm, patience, and knowledge of P-jB and KT helped to make this a great course. Thank you for turning on the light! 3: Do it. 4: Thank you. 5: Hope this remains part of the RBS curriculum well into the future. 6: Take advantage of any opportunities, before you come (in libraries whatever) to play around with things like Netscape, Telnet, Gopher, etc., etc.anything you can get your hands on. Just play. Everything helps. Learn what you can about email. 7: P-jB and KT could not have been better instructors. This technology is clearly something we rare book enthusiasts will have to tackle (and hopefully grow to appreciate). This course made the transition as painless as possible! 8: The course description was fine. The more familiar you are with computers, the more you will get out of this course. |
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Number of respondents: 8 |
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There were eight students, two antiquarian booksellers (24%), two library/museum administrators (24%), one book collector (12%), one rare book librarian (12%), one retiree (12%), and one teacher/professor (12%). |