Learning to Use the Internet and World Wide Web
With Revitalized URLs
Book Review

By Dale Farris, Vice President Golden Triangle PC Club August 2004 Brief Synopsis Authors Ernest Ackermann and Karen Hartman add to their superb "Searching and Researching on the Internet and the World Wide Web, 4th Ed." this text that is designed primarily for students in a college-level introductory Internet class. This important book gives the reader the skills necessary to use the Internet for communication; to search for, access, and evaluate resources; and to design, author, and publish Web pages. The book is based on the best elements of the authors's successful "Internet and Web Essentials: What You Need to Know." Each chapter includes a statement of objectives for the learner, an activity that shows step-by-step instructions for using necessary software, a list of important terms introduced in the chapters that are then defined in the extensive glossary, several chapter review questions, and exercises that give the student practice using the concepts and tools covered. The authors also include information about supplemental material that is on the accompanying CD. Previous experience with the Internet and the Web is not necessary to successfully use and learn from the text. Students in any discipline will find the book useful. The text is always interesting, informative, and accessible. The authors first explain the fundamentals of how to get connected to the Internet and then summarize the basics of Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer, two Internet Web browsers. This is followed by a review of the basics in the search process, integrating the important 10-step basic search strategy these authors also cover in their other excellent works. The basics of search engines are covered, and the authors explain how to develop the best search terms to obtain the needed information. In addition, readers will learn how to use Internet directories, virtual libraries, specialized databases, and how to find commercial databases. Other chapters cover effective Internet communications and how email works, and the authors review how to find and use information in newsgroups. The authors also cover using FTP to find and download resources, how to write Web pages, and how to post information for access on the Web. "Learning to Use the Internet and World Wide Web" is an excellent primer text for anyone wishing to learn how to use Internet resources, and serves as a super preparatory text to the author's equally impressive Internet research text, "Searching and Researching on the Internet and the World Wide Web, 4th Ed." Important Features of the Book Each chapter begins with an introduction to its topic. This is followed by a list of goals and objectives for the reader and a list of the major topics in the chapter. The text of each chapter includes one guided activity that includes step-by-step instructions learners can follow to enforce and enhance their understanding of the skills and concepts introduced in the chapter. In most cases the activities access sites on the Internet. In some cases the authors have provided the files needed for the activities on the CD included with the book. Each chapter also contains several short lists of Web resources titles "FYI." A reader can use these as a means to further explore some of the topics introduced. A summary, a list of important terms, and exercises conclude each chapter. The book includes a glossary of the important terms listed in the chapters and three appendices. The first appendix is an extensive section on how to manage and use information found the Internet. The second is an informative essay on how to evaluate and cite information from the Internet and the Web. The third appendix is an overview of Internet privacy and security issues. Both the Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer Web browsers are used for activities and examples. The browsers are similar enough that using one or the other makes little difference in most cases. The authors do point out the differences and give specific and separate instructions for using the features of each when it is important to do so. General Overview 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. 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. This textbook can be used as the core textbook in a course that focuses exclusively on teaching the basics of working with the Internet and the Web, and is excellent for a class designed as an introduction to Internet resources. 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. 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. While other titles on "finding it fast," or "finding it on the Internet" certainly do exist, none of these other related titles goes to the extreme lengths these authors and this publisher have in designing a textbook that focuses on the special, unique needs of students in the classroom who need the extra attention devoted to the many step-by-step explanations that dominate this work. This attention to the learning process makes this book not only a super reference filled with extraordinary Web sites of substance, but in addition a marvelous instructional textbook that is the perfect for the classroom. Consider those "other" works as supplements to this standard. 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 book contains the following ten (10) chapters: 1.   Quick Start — Getting Connected and Using the Internet 2.   Internet and Browser Basics 3.   Searching for Information 4.   Beyond Search Engines 5.   Communication on the Internet 6.   Electronic Mail 7.   Discussion Groups & Usenet Newsgroups 8.   FTP and Downloading Web Resources 9.   Writing Web Pages 10. Web Publishing: Putting Information on the Web In addition, the book contains three appendixes. Appendix A: Managing and Using Information from the Internet and the World Wide Web Appendix B: Evaluating and Citing Information from the Internet and the World Wide Web Appendix C: Security and Privacy on the Web Target Readers This is one of the most well organized and effective textbooks on using the Internet now on the market, and is tailor-made for any university or college interested in developing an Internet 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 establish a firm foundation of understanding how to find and use resources on the Web. This book is best suited for use in introductory classes on the Internet and the Web. 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. With this venture, the Franklin, Beedle & Associates, Inc. (FBA) publishing company continues to solidify their rapidly growing reputation for producing excellent textbooks for computer classes that can be considered by all levels of education. 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 aspects of establishing a solid understanding of how to use the Internet. Many of the solid tools and techniques explained in the book will likely 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 the Internet. Any instructor considering the development of an introductory Internet 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 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 314 pages; oversize 8 1/2" by 11" format; supplemental activities disk; preface with acknowledgments; diagrams, figures, and screen shots; appendixes; glossary; index ISBN 2005 1-59028-35-0 (paperback) List Price $25.00 Includes supplemental disk with the many hands-on activities. About the Authors Ernest Ackermann Computer Science Professor Mary Washington College Fredericksburg, Virginia Karen Hartman, MALS, Director James Monroe Center Library Mary Washington College Fredericksburg, Virginia Ernest Ackermann teaches computer science at Mary Washington College and Karen Hartman is the director of the library at Mary Washington College (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. Franklin, Beedle, and Associates (FBA) Franklin, Beedle & Associates (FBA) is a publisher of high-quality materials that advance the knowledge and skills of the computer science and information technology communities. To accomplish this goal FBA builds alliances with authors, educators, and students.  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