This site works best with a browser equivalent to Netscape Navigator (version 4.0 or above) or Microsoft Internet Explorer (version 4.0 or above). In addition, some resources require Macromedia Shockwave Player (version 7.0 or above), Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 4.0 or above) or Apple Quicktime (version 4.0 or above) plug-ins. The latest versions of these programs can be downloaded, free of charge, by click on the icons below.

Browsing

Make a new folder for this course.  For Internet Explorer, you would go to Favorites, Organize Favorites, and then click on the Create Folder button.  If you want to get really organized, make sub-folders inside that for each section of the course (human, physical, Russia, Europe, etc.).

When you are out browsing, add to your favorites list liberally. You can always go back after the class is over and delete them, but it's often impossible to remember where that useful site was you found two weeks ago.  Even the history list will be of only limited usefulness in that case.

Remember that, when adding a new site, you can change the name.  Whatever is on that input line is what will appear in your favorites list.  If the title is too long or too cryptic, change it to something meaningful. 

If you find a site you think is good, and you want to tell the class about it, go to the page you want to cite. Highlight the address shown in the Location line of your browser. Copy that by pressing Ctrl-C (=Edit, Copy) once the address is highlighted.

Now switch over to Discussion Board and start a message. When you get to the part where you want to cite the address, press Ctrl-V (=Edit, Paste). You should see the address get pasted directly into your message. This works equally well when you want to cite an on-line source in a report--just paste it into your word processor.

Need to find something and wonder what the Net has on the subject? Try one of the search engines available. Remember that every search engine has its own peculiar rules for entering a search, so take a few minutes to visit each one's Help screens.

I'm not going to go into those details here. Here you should only know that the same search string is going to yield different results at different search sites, so you can't really say you've looked thoroughly until you have checked at more than one. I use Hotbot and Dogpile most often, followed by AltaVista, Google, NorthernLights (which lets you filter for higher ed sites only) and Yahoo  (remember that a search there normally only searches Yahoo's own pages).  Excite and Lycos form a kind of backup crew.

Online Discussion

Take time to read the online Help for Blackboard. It's reasonably clear and will answer some of your questions quickly.

Introduction to Discussion Boards

Accessing Discussion Boards

Creating a New Message

If you have problems, email or call me. I will try to help.

Attachments

Make sure your attachment file is in the right format (HTML, Word, RTF, or plain text are the only formats I accept).  If you are worried about the procedure, feel free to ask me to confirm receipt of the document.

When you save your file, make sure your name is in the document itself and include your initials in the file name. Example: pr_senseofplacepaper.doc

If you have suggestions for things to add to this tip sheet, please email me.