Internet & Web
Essentials: What You Need to Know
Book Review
Internet & Web
Essentials:
What You Need to Know
Book Review
| by Dale Farris, President, Golden Triangle PC Club November 2000 With the Internet integrated into literally all aspects of our lives, it has now become essential that students become not only computer literate, but increasingly Internet literate. Access to necessary information via an Internet connection has now moved beyond merely searching for answers in online encyclopedias to a total commitment by many information vendors to providing and selling their information products and services only through the Internet. The ever increasing abundance of information on the Internet has meant an accompanying growth in importance in professional information specialists, just the opposite of what one might think would have happened to this profession. Contrary to popular belief, the explosion of information on the Internet has not meant the end of information specialists. The paradox is that while the onslaught of information on the Internet continues to grow, this has overwhelmed novices and increased their need for professionals trained in how to most effectively and efficiently find their needed information. For those aspiring to become one of these information specialists, finding the right tools to assist them in acquiring these skills is a problem. While resources about the Internet may be abundant, sadly only a few of these tools meet the high expectations of professionals interested in learning how to master tapping the Internet for solid information. Although scholarly research is for the most part still dependent on hard copy texts or journals, even this esteemed process of research is now beginning to open up to knowledge hounds via the Internet. The result is an increased interest in learning how to carry out this research using the Internet either completely, or more often as a supplement to shelved books and journals. In searching for answers to questions or to broaden their understanding of a subject, serious researchers quickly find that there are few nutrients in the endless stream of visually appealing but empty calorie web sites. Even though reliable and credible information is indeed available via the Internet, knowing how to get to the sites with substance takes specialized training with the right training tools. One of these right tools is this exemplary work from Franklin, Beedle & Associates (FBA). The 2nd edition of this book, again written by two Internet research experts, Ernest Ackermann and Karen Hartman, builds on the already excellent reputation firmly established with their first edition. Luckily for us, the authors have chosen to publish a timely upgrade to this important book that continues as one of the most vital of the few resources available on learning how to search and research on the Internet. This textbook can be used as the core textbook in a course that focuses exclusively on teaching Internet research, as well as in a class designed as an introduction to Internet resources. The authors have released another new work, "Internet & Web Essentials," also from Franklin, Beedle & Associates (FBA), that would be very suitable in such an Internet introduction class. The book teaches the concepts and the practical steps involved in using various Internet research tools, including the basics of using a browser, using web sites for research, and how to use search engines. However, what signifies the importance of this book is the authors inclusion of other lesser known Internet research mechanisms, such as how to use special directories, virtual libraries and specialized databases, how to search library catalogs, searching FTP and newsgroup archives, and excellent additional sections on critically evaluating what you find and how to correctly cite Internet resources in publications. The authors also include extensive, very well organized instructions in the steps involved in working with these many tools. When you consider the many hours of extra work required to create these additional instructions, this is a remarkable feat, and the additional, time-consuming work required to assemble the hundreds of screen shots that explicitly identify for students what happens as they follow these instructions is simply amazing. Kudos to these writers and the FBA staff for this excellently produced, very impressive work that should be well received by students at all levels of experience with and knowledge of the Internet. When you also consider the ephemeral nature of their subject, one wonders if this talented group of very hard working professionals can continue to keep up this high level of quality year after year, as is going to be necessary in order to keep up with the moving target we call the Internet. Let's hope so. In response to the fact that sites on the Internet are always changing or moving, the authors also include in this work a URL to their web site where they post updates to the listings in the book, another indication of their commitment to exceed the expectations of their customer. The organization of this textbook emphasizes ease of use by the student, with great attention to the step-by-step process of using the selected Internet resources. This high degree of detail to such tedious organization of this material must have been an enormous challenge to produce, not only for the authors, but for all involved in the superb design and organization of this wealth of information. The result is a vastly superior book on how to use the Internet for research that will make it much easier to learn these tools. The book also integrates the use of both of today's primary web browsers, Netscape Communicator and Internet Explorer. The authors go out of their way to demonstrate when the use of these browsers may differ, such as when needing to see the source of the html code of a web page, or to save a web page to either a bookmark file or a favorites folder. Many prewritten sample research steps are demonstrated and highlighted by screen shots of what is happening on the screen. This added attention to this level of detail makes it very easy for students to follow along, step by step, on their own computer. The accompanying supplemental disk contains all the main URL's worked with in the chapters, coverage of all the chapters, and in itself is so completely organized that it could almost be considered as a supplemental text. This organization of the files on the disk is another example just how much the authors and FBA are willing to commit to making this learning experience as fruitful and enjoyable for students as possible. Each chapter follows an excellent outline and structure, and includes learning objectives, student outcomes, a chapter overview, followed by the chapter content. The chapters are also filled with diagrams, figures, and the highly useful activities that walk the student through the material in a manner that is exactly what students need to master these vital Internet resources. In addition to the extensive walk-through exercises, the authors also include additional comments that even further explain what is happening as students follow these examples. Table of Contents The 16 chapters include the following:
Appendix B: FYI's (Tons of links to sites with yet more information related to each of the 16 chapters) Key Features This text is designed to be used in a structured, instructor facilitated class in a college-level, three-credit Internet course, for students in a course that uses the Internet, or for people learning on their own. The book provides the steps to follow that will build the skills necessary to use the Internet and a Web browser in the areas of communicating, accessing and evaluating resources, as well as authoring and designing for the Web. The authors focus is on informing users of the basic technology that supports the Internet, effective means of using the Internet for communication, how to search for and locate information resources, how to critically evaluate information from the Internet, how to produce information that can be effectively shared with others on the Internet, and the social, ethical, and legal issues surrounding the use of the Internet and the World Wide Web. Each chapter begins with an introduction to its topic, followed by a list of goals and objectives for the reader, and a list of the major topics in the chapter. The text includes one or more guided activities or examples, step-by-step instructions students can follow to enforce and enhance their understanding of the skills and concepts in the chapter. The activities will access sites on the Web, or in the files included in the disk that accompanies the book. The FYI's in Appendix B provide lists of Web resources that relate to each chapter, used to further explore the topics. At the end of each chapter, the authors also provide a chapter summary, a list of important terms, and exercises. The book is arranged so the information is reinforced and built on subsequent chapters. The major subjects that are covered by the chapters include the Internet and Web basics (chapter 1 and 2), Internet Communications (Chapters 3-6), Using the Web as an Information Source (chapters 7-13), and Producing Information and Publishing on the Web (chapters 14-16). Chapters 1 and 2 are fundamental to the rest of the text. After these, you could go through the remainder of the book in the order presented in the book, or you could focus on any of the individual areas separately. In addition, the authors have taken the time to also suggest how the chapters could be differently structured, depending on the primary focus of a course in communications, using the Internet for research, or producing information to put on the Web. This way, teachers planning shorter courses, or desiring to use this book as a supplement to a course that uses the Internet can more easily integrate these suggested chapters. The authors also go that extra mile by maintaining a Web site to accompany this book. (www.webliminal.com/essentials) Here, the Web pages that make up the site contain up-to-date links to all the resources mentioned in the book. The authors not only have set up this site, they also regularly update these Web pages, so instructors and students are strongly encouraged to check for these updates. Since it is very likely that some of the URL's in the printed book have changed by the time one begins to read this book, this extra service is nothing short of amazing, and a true testament to how committed are these authors to making the learning experience based on this book as rewarding as possible. The disk that comes with the book contains the .html versions of the exercises, the summary, and selected terms from each chapter. These can be viewed in any browser, and these make it even easier to work on the excellent chapter exercises. In addition, for instructors using this book, a wonderful instructor's guide is available from the publisher, Franklin, Beedle & Associates. The key features of this book include: Supplemental activities disk Hundreds of student activities that are highly structured and detailed Enormous number of sample screen shots of searching procedures Extensive use of many step-by-step, detailed explanations An integrated presentation of concepts and skills Uses a self-mastery approach Built-in reference features Instructor's material available Valuable chapter discussion review questions and tests Application assignments that emphasize chapter content Appendixes The wonderful appendixes contain an annotated list of selected search tools, selected directories, virtual libraries, web sites to use to stay current, and an excellent summary of privacy and security on the Internet. About the Authors Ernest Ackermann Computer Science Professor Department of Computer Science Mary Washington College Fredericksburg, Virginia ernie@mwc.edu www.webliminal.com/ernie Karen Hartman, MALS, Director James Monroe Center Library Mary Washington College Fredericksburg, Virginia khartman@mwc.edu www.library.mwc.edu/~khartman Ernest Ackermann teaches computer science at Mary Washington College (MWC) and Karen Hartman is the director of the library at MWC. They have previously co-authored popular books on Internet and WWW topics, all of which bear serious consideration for possible use in the classroom, as well as for use in the home. Target Readers This is one of the most well organized and effective textbooks on using the Internet for research now on the market, and is tailor-made for any university or college interested in developing an Internet research class on their campus. The depth and breadth is here for those wishing to maximize the use of information sources available on the Internet and to go beyond the surface of search engines into solid, substantial data sources. A special note for instructors of these classes is worthy here. In addition to the high value you will receive from using this textbook, this publisher also makes available superb instructor resource materials that will provide everything you need to integrate the use of this text in a class. I have greatly benefited from these many helpful materials in preparing for my own Internet research class, and can highly recommend this publisher to others wishing to develop such a class. The authors' web sites will also be of great value, as these include updates to many URL's included in the text. With this venture, the Franklin, Beedle & Associates, Inc. (FBA) publishing company solidifies their rapidly growing reputation for producing excellent textbooks for computer classes that can be considered by all levels of education. Students working toward computer certification, as well as any other student, should seriously consider this superb book that thoroughly covers how to effectively and efficiently search the Internet for the right information. Recommendation While many other publishers approach works on the Internet more as introductory titles and are focused on the "eye candy," Franklin Beedle & Associates, Inc. (FBA) has designed a complete and thorough book that covers the many important Internet research tools now available to those skilled in the art of Internet research. Many of these solid tools will not be known to most students, but once they learn these reliable means of accessing valid substance on the Internet, I suspect they will forever keep close by this wonderful guide to serious Internet research. Any instructor considering the development of an Internet research class can easily consider this fine work as their first choice in the planning of their class. While this work does target use in a structured class, anyone with a serious interest in serious research on the Internet should consider this book as the primary tool to aid in their personal, self-paced learning how to use these many tools. Book Contents 608 pages; preface with acknowledgments; supplemental activities disk; diagrams and figures; appendixes; glossary; index ISBN 1st Edition, 2001 1-887902-40-6 List Price $29.95 Includes supplemental disk with the many hands-on activities. Publisher Contact: Christine Collier Marketing Representative Franklin, Beedle & Associates, Inc. 8536 SW St. Helens Drive, Suite D Wilsonville, Oregon 97070 1-800-FBA-BOOK 1-503-682-7668 FAX 1-503-682-7638 ccollier@fbeedle.com www.fbeedle.com |