Undergraduate Instruction and the Internet

TODAY’S UNDERGRADUATES VARY GREATLY in their information and computer skills. Few are motivated, or even see the need, to improve these skills yet are excited and curious about the information superhighway. Several projects which integrate the Internet and specific Internet resources into undergraduate teaching and learning and the problems involved are described. Few technology-oriented undergraduates have not heard of the information superhighway. From what they read and hear, students believe that taking the wheel is simple. They are frequently unprepared for the complexities of the network, the difficulties with equipment and connections, and the overwhelming amount of relatively unorganized information. Students, particularly those with little computer experience, may run off the road quickly due to sheer frustration despite their competing desire to be an Internet cruiser. Librarians and faculty members who are having students use Internet resources are still grappling with the best way to assist them. This article will describe activities which may assist student learning. Using the Internet involves several types of activities (Abernathy, 1993) including electronic mail (e-mail) ,obtaining text or software from online libraries (FTP),real-time roundtable chats (IRC), mail groups (listserv, usenet groups, newsnet), and browsing gophers or World Wide Web (WWW) pages to find specific information resources and searchable

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