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Description and Evaluation of the Web-Based Course, “Explor<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

Internet,” at the University of West Florida<br />

Background<br />

Ed Rodgers, Chair<br />

Department of Computer Science<br />

University of West Florida<br />

Pensacola, FL 32514<br />

erodgers@uwf.cc.uwf.edu<br />

S<strong>in</strong>ce the fall semester of 1995 over 500 students have completed the Web Based course, “Explor<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

Internet,” at the University of West Florida. The course, taught entirely on the Internet, was developed by faculty<br />

and students from the Department of Computer Science and the Institute for Human and Mach<strong>in</strong>e Cognition. The<br />

University offers the three semester course for academic credit or audit credit to those who want to learn more<br />

about and effectively utilize the Internet and the World Wide Web. No prior computer coursework is required,<br />

and only a basic familiarity with a student’s own system is necessary. There is no need for a student to go to the<br />

UWF campus, except to <strong>in</strong>itially pickup course materials. Students access lessons and submit assignments<br />

remotely through the Internet by us<strong>in</strong>g software provided with the course enrollment. In order to facilitate the<br />

process, a help desk is provided to answer students’ questions by telephone or email. The course has proved to be<br />

popular not only with University of West Florida students, but also with non-student members of the Pensacola,<br />

Floridda community and beyond. This paper describes the nature of the course and a critique from students who<br />

have been enrolled.<br />

Course Description<br />

The course <strong>in</strong>troduces the student to the Internet, us<strong>in</strong>g the Internet itself as the delivery vehicle. The<br />

Internet is the method for submitt<strong>in</strong>g messages and course assignments and the source of <strong>in</strong><strong>format</strong>ion required to<br />

complete the assignments. Tools, such as Web browsers, mail programs, file transfer utilities, and chatt<strong>in</strong>g<br />

programs are presented and used. After complet<strong>in</strong>g the course, a student should be able to understand the nature<br />

and extent of the Internet, advantages and disadvantages of its use, and sources of Internet -based <strong>in</strong><strong>format</strong>ion.<br />

Through the “hands-on” approach to the course, the students who complete the course should be able to more<br />

effectively utilize the Internet and the World Wide Web.<br />

Course Organization<br />

The course is organized as a sequence of modules, which the students complete at their own pace. The<br />

<strong>in</strong><strong>format</strong>ion needed to complete each module is obta<strong>in</strong>ed us<strong>in</strong>g one or more of the available Web search eng<strong>in</strong>es.<br />

Assignments and tests, <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> the course modules, are completed by the students and submitted to the<br />

professor through the Internet itself. Students who have difficulty may telephone or send email messages to the<br />

help desk at the University. The follow<strong>in</strong>g modules are <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> the course:<br />

Module One<br />

The first module provides basic <strong>in</strong><strong>format</strong>ion about the Internet and the means to navigate through it.<br />

Some historical perspective is provided, but the emphasis is on utilization.<br />

Module Two<br />

The second module covers IP addresses, URLs, and mail. It expla<strong>in</strong>s address<strong>in</strong>g for the Internet and the<br />

Web and shows how it works. The module also covers how to send and receive mail us<strong>in</strong>g Eudora.

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