Imagine sitting at your computer and taking a virtual tour of the Louvre Museum in Paris, or the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. When you see a particular work of art, you can simply click on it to zoom in and get a closer look. Or, you can click on the small text button in the window, and read about the history of the artist and his works.
How about a tour of the White House complete with video clips? Perhaps you would prefer to watch the Pope give his blessing to thousands of people gathered in the Vatican. Maybe you are interested in previews and post-game discussions of the Super Bowl, or you would like to check the current stock prices of your portfolio.
Finally, when you run out of time for wandering in cyberspace, you return to your job as teacher and yearbook adviser, and view a brand new Designer Series layout, upload a font needed for your theme section, and e-mail a question to your customer service representative.
The technology of the Internet already lets us become virtual world tourists, information seekers and communication experts. The Pope, the President, museums, and your neighbor already have Internet addresses. Now, the yearbook industry is ready to take advantage of this global computer network, and do something really important – make our jobs easier.
Put simply, the Internet is the “mother of all computer networks,” and has become an inexpensive means of communication that uses existing computer networks, telephone lines, fiber optics, and satellite transmissions. What began about 25 years ago in the defense industry has evolved into a worldwide form of communication and information sharing. During these developmental years the Internet has also become definitely more user-friendly. Gone are the days of archaic computer languages to access and transfer files. Now, the leading software applications for both sending e-mail and for browsing the World Wide Web are free and easily available. They provide full point and click access, automatically load photos and other images, and allow just about any type of computer file to be sent as an e-mail attachment.
GETTING CONNECTED
Establishing an Internet connection is easier than it might seem. A Macintosh or IBM-compatible computer, a modem, and an Internet service provider (ISP) such as America Online or Compuserve, is all it takes for the basic home or classroom setup, assuming you have a telephone line to your classroom. This “dial-up connection” is how many people throughout the world are currently online. The modem, an inexpensive electronic device, allows computer files to be digitized and transmitted over phone lines. If you can hook up an answering machine, you can hook up a modem, and many of the newer computers come with internal modems already installed.
The second type of connection, a “direct connection,” allows for an Internet connection from an existing computer network. Many school districts already have computer networks linked to Internet file servers, and it is possible that you currently have a connection. Check with the school or district technology coordinator so that you can get “wired” and take advantage of this educational resource.
WORLD WIDE WEB AND E-MAIL
Right now, the two leading components of the Internet are the World Wide Web and electronic mail. Perhaps you have heard someone talk about web pages, or have seen ads with an Internet address that starts with . The Web has become the cutting edge of the Internet, and in the last year has exploded in popularity and more than tripled in size. A web page is simply a page of information (often with very impressive graphics) that is stored (saved) on a computer (an Internet file server) connected to the Internet. This computer can be located anywhere in the world, and the system operators have allowed it to be accessed by anyone with an Internet connection.
Web pages have numerous links to other pages of information that might be maintained on the same server, or to other locations throughout the Web. These links are similar to those found in software programs such as HyperStudio or HyperCard. Using the point and click method to follow a link, one can explore a subject in greater detail, or possibly check a related topic. While browsing the Web, I have logged on to computers in dozens of countries, and though some pages are written in foreign languages (very good for language teachers), it seems that English is the predominant language of the Internet.
Electronic mail (e-mail) is the other leading use of the Internet. I have been corresponding with friends throughout the world for six years using e-mail, and it is wonderful. Gone are the hassles of voice mail (a major irritant), telephone tag, busy lines, postage, lost messages, delays, etc. Now, I just type and send my messages which can be anything from a quick question to the travelogue of a recent trip. I even scan photos, import them to PageMaker documents, and e-mail the files to friends in foreign countries who send scanned photos in return.
INTERNET FOR YEARBOOK ADVISERS
Now that my local Walsworth sales representative has an Internet address, we simply correspond via e-mail. It is quick, easy, and a whole lot more efficient. I keep her informed and she bugs me about deadlines – some things never change. Since our book is entirely desktop, once the plant is online, a page could be e-mailed any direction for help or corrections. Scanning and placing photos is not yet practical, but proof corrections, explanations, questions, ordering supplies, and weekly updates are just some of the immediate benefits of Internet access.
What does the future have in store? Well, Walsworth has given birth to a web page that looks excellent. It provides e-mail to Computer Support and Customer Service, presents many samples and ideas, and has a long, impressive list of links. I imagine that some of the future services will allow us to preview and download thousands of templates and Designer Series layouts, check hundreds of available fonts, and visit libraries of graphics and clip art. When Walsworth is running at Internet speed, we should be able to view and download tutorials, browse samples of award-winning books, and submit endsheet and cover designs. One last imaginative idea would be the ability to have a number of students simultaneously online and learning yearbook design and production by progressing through an Internet-based tutorial.
Networking, telecommunications, and the Internet are happening fast, and will continue to expand at a rapid rate. The yearbook industry is beginning to recognize and plan for this, and it looks like Walsworth is putting forth the effort to become and remain an industry leader. Of course I could say much more, but I am leaving soon to go skiing, and I need to check the web page of my favorite ski area. They maintain a video camera at the top of the mountain, and provide realtime photos of current skiing conditions, which for some of us is an important part of the Internet.
Article by Brian McKenna
Brian McKenna, English department chairperson at Hueneme High School, Oxnard, Calif., has served as the adviser for the school's yearbook, Voyage, for seven years. A mentor teacher of telecommunications for the California Technology Project, he is often a presenter at national and international technology conferences.
Brian has written 1 article(s) for the Idea File.
