Date:         Tue, 19 Oct 1993 08:19:51 EDT
Reply-To: Let's Go Gopherin' <GOPHERN@UBVM.cc.buffalo.edu>
From: Jim Gerland - Network User Support <GERLAND@UBVM.cc.buffalo.edu>
Organization: State University of New York at Buffalo
Subject:      Welcome to Let's Go Gopherin'
To: Multiple recipients of list GOPHERN <GOPHERN@UBVM.cc.buffalo.edu>

NAVIGATING THE INTERNET: LET'S GO GOPHERIN'

Richard J. Smith and Jim Gerland

WELCOME

Welcome!  This is the third Navigating the Internet workshop.  The first,
in August of 1992, attracted 864 persons from over 20 countries, the
second had 15,000+ participants from over 50 countries. As of 2pm on
Monday October 18, 1993 "Let's Go Gopherin'" has 16,111 participants
from over 50 countries.

The first workshop was somewhat frantic because I did not expect that many
people, and I administered it rather crudely. (I mailed the lessons to the
864 people from my personal mail facility using an alias.) I suspect 864
would constitute a large introductory class at a major university.  The
second workshop was more like teaching a good size university.

Therefore I got together with my board of directors, the executive
secretary, president and dean and made some demands.  Fifteen thousand to
one is a poor student/teacher ratio!

I demanded more help.  They agreed, and doubled the staff. Jim Gerland of
the State University of New York at Buffalo is a full tenured professor in
this workshop.

I demanded more money.  They agreed, and quadrupled my salary. What's 4
times zero?

I demanded more time.  They agreed, and the University of Southwestern
Louisiana complied by laying me off.

I demanded better equipment.  They did not agree.  As most know in
education-- equipment money is hard to come by.  I'm still working
primarily with my Sears laser computer, a PC XT compatible, from home;
although, I do sneak into the University of Pittsburgh's School of Library
and Information Sciences's computer lab and fight for a machine with other
students.

Well, three out of four demands ain't bad.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS

Richard J. Smith has been teaching users how to navigate the Internet
since 1989 while doing doctoral work at the University of Pittsburgh's
School of Library and Information Science.  He incorporated Internet
information in formal courses while teaching graduate courses in 1991, and
followed this by giving informal workshops called "Navigating the
Internet." In 1992 he announced that "Navigating the Internet: An
Interactive Workshop" would be given for free over the Internet.  Neither
network failure or hurricanes stopped the workshop from going to the 864
participants. He is currently giving workshops and talks on Internet and
distance education, has a book out titled "Navigating the Internet" and is
looking for employment (Hint, Hint).

Jim Gerland is the Manager of Network User Support Services at the State
University of New York at Buffalo.  He has been helping people navigate
the Internet and its various resources for almost 7 years.  He has made
presentations on Internet and BITNET use at numerous local, regional,
statewide and national conferences, including DECUS, SHARE, SIGUCCS, and
AASCU.  He instructs University at Buffalo students and faculty in
Internet use and also provides seminars throughout Buffalo, New York State
and the country (including tutorials at NYSERNet '93 and the upcoming
SIGUCCS).  He is on the Board of Trustees of the National Public
Telecomputing Network (NPTN), the parent organization of the Free-Net
movement and is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Buffalo
Free-Net.



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many are responsible for helping with this workshop.  Goergi Steinhauser
of the University of Pittsburgh for helping to edit the material.  The
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for giving me an account to send out this
workshop. Virginia Correa of the Carnegie for her assistance.  Chris Tomer
of the University of Pittsburgh's School of Library and Information
Science, David Riggins of the Texas Department of Commerce, and Rick Gates
of the Internet Hunt fame for contributing suggestions and advise.
Students of the School of Library and Information Science at Pitt, LS2061
"Microcomputers in Libraries", for providing examples from their Gopher
project they finished this summer as did the participants of the six
workshops for librarians that were held this July/August.  The University
at Buffalo for allowing the use of their IBM as a host for this LISTSERV
list.  Steve Roder of the University at Buffalo for his VM Systems
expertise.  Finally, the entire Internet community from the Gopher team at
the University of Minnesota and the Veronica developers at the University
of Nevada at Reno to the numerous Gopher administrators who provide access
to information internationally and are responsible for this workshop.

So lets go Gopherin'

and

Et laissez les bon temps rouler!


Richard J. Smith
smithr@clp2.clpgh.org
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh


Jim Gerland
gerland@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu
State University of New York at Buffalo
Academic Services, Computing and Information Technology
Manager, Network User Support Services

.