Alberta NetBeat : January 1999
ISSN 1481-7640

This is a sample of Alberta NetBeat, a free newsletter designed to provide news, information and opportunities for Alberta libraries and schools to take special advantage of the Internet. January sample issues of Alberta NetBeat are the only ones we post online as the newsletter is sent monthly via electronic mail to subscribers. To subscribe to Alberta NetBeat, please complete the subscription form.

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Alberta NetBeat
An Internet Newsletter for Alberta Schools and Libraries
Vol. 1, Issue 1 January, 1999 ISSN 1481-7640
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Welcome to the premier issue of Alberta NetBeat, a free newsletter created to help libraries and schools in Alberta take special advantage of the Internet! Each month Alberta NetBeat will provide you with news, information,and opportunities to help you manage and explore the Net. Topics range from web building strategies, search engines and Internet issues, to contests and projects - anything to help you be a better Internet user and educator.

By subscribing to Alberta NetBeat you are automatically entered for a chance to win Internet training for yourself or your staff. The contest closes March 31 - good luck on your entry. Forward this premier issue to friends or colleagues that you think may find it useful so they can enter too!

In this issue:
1. Virus Hoaxes - a different kind of bug
2. Check that site! - try out the mechanics at Web Site Garage
3. Toolbox Tips - evaluating web sites, a basic skill
4. Internet Copyright - the 10 big myths explained
5. Crossing the Empty Quarter - Arabian adventure; Alberta curriculum
6. Collaborative Online Projects - join or create them
7. Enter to Win - Internet training for you or your staff
8. Your Beat - tell us what YOU think!

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1. Virus Hoaxes
There's another kind of bug out there that can be as much of a problem as a virus itself, and email messages that warn of some new virus should be suspect! Occasionally we receive warnings about email viruses, but should we be passing them on to everyone in our address book as these messages suggest? As responsible Netizens, we can check for virus hoaxes and put a stop to the spread of virus rumours that continue to burn up our precious Internet resources. Before forwarding that warning to someone else, make sure that it is not listed as a hoax:

Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability
   http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html
Symantec Anti Virus Research Center
   http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/index.html
Datafellows Hoax Warnings
   http://www.europe.datafellows.com/news/hoax/ (now F-Secure 11/03)

2. Check that Site!
Anyone can build a web site but performance is now becoming more of an issue. Not only do images compromise your load time, if your HTML isn't clean it will also slow down how fast your pages reach the end user. One answer is to use a validating tool and here's one of the best. Web Site Garage will not only check your code but will tell you how long it takes your page to load with different connection types, how to fix problems with your HTML, how to modify your pages so they get listed in search engines, and show you how your page looks in different browsers. Run one of your pages through their free tune up service to see what their mechanics recommend.
   http://www.websitegarage.com

3. Toolbox Tips - Evaluating Web Sites
Knowing how to critically assess the information received is quickly becoming a basic Internet skill required of all Internet users, but it is particularly important for library staff. This installment of Toolbox Tips looks at how they can effectively use this skill in their role as "driver's education instructors" of the Internet. You can check out this issue of Toolbox Tips at:
   http://www.inet-toolbox.com/tbtips/tbt1098.html

4. Internet Copyright
Internet copyright battles continue to be played out on an ever-changing field. What exactly are the issues? How does copyright apply to items on the Internet? This article by web pioneer Brad Templeton provides clarification on the most common questions regarding Internet Copyright with
links to Canadian and US Copyright sites.
   http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html

5. Crossing the Empty Quarter of Arabia
This month 3 Canadian adventurers will begin an amazing journey that they will share online with students around the world. This collaborative project will follow the Odyssey Exploration Society team as they attempt a foot crossing of the Empty Quarter of Arabia, the world's largest sand desert. The site provides complete details of their trek, opportunities to question the team while they travel, interactive chats, and fantastic Units of Study for K-12 written by Alberta teachers. Best of all - it's all free!
   http://www.alwaysadventure.net (now available from www.archive.org - Feb 2002)

6. Collaborative Projects - join or create?
Doing collaborative work together on the Internet is the dream of many educators, yet putting it all together can seem a huge job. You don't have to create your own though as there are many already available that will help you get your feet wet. Join in with someone else and build your confidence before embarking on the task of creating your own from scratch. Whether you are a newbie or an old-timer at doing online projects, the Telus 2learn site has great tips for teachers on how to do/create online projects.
Tips on doing or creating projects:
   http://www.2learn.ca/Projects/clp.html
Lists of projects you can participate in:
   http://www.gsn.org/pr/_cfm/index.cfm

7. Win Internet Training for you or your staff!
How do you like the Alberta NetBeat newsletter? What do you think of the Inet-Toolbox Web Site? Answering either of these questions could land you some great prizes! Everyone who subscribes to Alberta NetBeat, or provides feedback about our web site or the newsletter, will automatically be entered into our NetBeat contest. There are books, t-shirts, software, and other goodies to be won. We are also giving away Internet training sessions for individuals and groups! Check out the details on our web site at:
   http://www.inet-toolbox.com/toolbox/nbcontest.html

8. Your Beat - tell us what YOU think!
We hope you have enjoyed this issue of Alberta NetBeat. If you have suggestions or questions, we want to hear from you. Although we can't promise a personal response to every message, we guarantee that our newsletter team considers every one. Email us!
   toolboxinet-toolbox.com

Alberta NetBeat is a free newsletter created to help libraries and schools in Alberta take special advantage of the Internet! Each month Alberta NetBeat will provide you with news, information, and opportunities to help you manage and explore the Net. Topics range from web building strategies, search engines and Internet issues, to contests and projects - anything to help you be a better Internet user and educator.

If you have received this newsletter as a gift, you can subscribe by completing the online subscription form at http://www.inet-toolbox.com/toolbox/netbeat.html on our web site. Alberta NetBeat goes out in the middle of each month and is only available via email. We do not sell or share email addresses from our database.
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Alberta NetBeat (c)1999
Inet-Toolbox Training & Technology Services Inc.
phone: 403-703-4303 fax: 403-288-7148
email: newsinet-toolbox.com
web site: http://www.inet-toolbox.com/