Netskills-News Update
NETSKILLS UPDATE * NETSKILLS UPDATE * NETSKILLS UPDATE
Issue: 48
Date: 15 October 2001
>>>From the Netskills Team<<<

In this issue:
1. TONIC Updated
2. Training Materials System
3. Forthcoming Regional Workshops
4. Training Module of the Month
5. Training Module Updates

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1. TONIC Updated
The popular Netskills TONIC internet tutorial has recently undergone a major
rewrite. TONIC has been providing a basic introduction to the internet to
thousands of users for a number of years. This JISC funded online tutorial
covers topics such as, using the web, how to find information on the
internet and online communication, including email, chat systems, telephony,
videoconferencing and discussion boards.

The first changes, which were implemented a few weeks ago, involved updating
the tutorial's interface and navigation making it easier to use and giving
it a more contemporary feel. Other administrative and structural changes
have been made to provide a faster and more robust service.

The interface change was followed by other changes including:

Updating of the content
Removal of out-of-date information
Inclusion of new material
Streamlined login process
Update of the self test quizzes
A complete new section was added to the tutorial called - Creating Web
Pages - this section covers use of html, images and multimedia, the
importance of standards, validation and accessibility, as well as how to
publish web pages.

Other new material added to TONIC includes:

Increased use of images and added examples of multimedia such as audio,
video and animation.
Information on eCommerce, privacy and security
Use of interactive web pages, multimedia and virtual reality modelling
language (VRML)
Information about managed/virtual learning environments (MLEs and VLEs)
Personalised services such as customisable web portals and search engines
Use of the web for telephony
TONIC is particularly useful in introducing students to the use of the
internet beyond surfing for fun. Please pass this information on to
colleagues who may be interested.

Find TONIC at:
http://www.netskills.ac.uk/TONIC

2. Training Materials System
By popular demand, we've now made Netskills Training Materials easier to
find out about, buy and download. You can now add modules to your 'shopping
basket' by clicking the links in our catalogue. You no longer need to login
or register until you have made your selection. So what are you waiting for?
Make your training tasks easier - buy a licence for Netskills Training
Materials!

Access our new Training Materials system at:
http://materials.netskills.ac.uk

If you have any comments about the new system please contact us via email
at:
[log in to unmask]

3. Forthcoming Regional Workshops
Netskills are currently taking bookings for the following regional
workshops:

October 16th 2001 - Exploring XML, Newcastle upon Tyne
October 17th 2001 - Getting to Grips with Dreamweaver 4, Newcastle upon Tyne
October 23rd 2001 - Web Pages From Scratch, Newcastle upon Tyne
October 24th 2001 - Images and Multimedia for the Web, Newcastle upon Tyne
November 6th 2001 - Getting to Grips with FrontPage 2000, Newcastle upon
Tyne
November 7th 2001 - Content Management on the Web, Manchester Computing
November 8th 2001 - Server-Side Site Management Techniques, Manchester
Computing
November 14th 2001 - Web Site Development with Active Server Pages (ASP),
Birkbeck College, London
November 15th 2001 - Databases on the Web, Birkbeck College, London
November 22nd 2001 - Dynamic Web Pages with JavaScript, Strathclyde
University
November 23rd 2001 - Exploring XML, Strathclyde University
November 28th 2001 - Creating Interactive Web Pages, UWIC cardiff
November 28th 2001 - Databases on the Web, University of Glamorgan
November 29th 2001 - Using the Internet for Learning and Teaching, for FE
University of Wales, Swansea
December 11th 2001 - Getting to Grips with Dreamweaver 4, Oxford University
Computing Service
December 12th 2001 - Exploring XML, Oxford University Computing Service
Full details details including descriptions, costs and online booking for
all of these workshops can be found on the web at:
http://www.netskills.ac.uk/workshops/forthcoming.html

4. Training Module of the Month
**Creating Web Pages Using Dreamweaver 3**

Macromedia Dreamweaver 3 is a popular choice of package incorporating tools
for web page creation and web site control and management. It brings
sophisticated techniques within the grasp of non-technical people and
produces professional results with a minimum of effort.

This module explains how to:

Configure the Dreamweaver interface
Create simple pages using the Dreamweaver Editor
Manipulate page properties and add metadata
Use the Object palette to insert elements such as tables and images
Modify objects and created links using the Property inspector.
Details of this module can be found at:
http://materials.netskills.ac.uk/cat_develop.html

5. Training Module Updates
The following Training Modules have been updated and were released on the
12th October:

Introducing Databases
Web Page Design
Introducing Databases and the Web
Getting the Most Out of Internet Explorer 5
Getting the Most Out of Internet Explorer 5 [SELF PACED]
Introducing WebCT: Creating Course Content
Details of these modules can be found at:
http://materials.netskills.ac.uk/catalogue.html


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From the Netskills Team

Netskills News Updates are issued on a regular basis to keep you up to
date with what is happening at Netskills. Netskills Updates are
available at the URL:
http://www.netskills.ac.uk/news/update-archive/index.html

Contact Details:
Email:[log in to unmask]
Post:
Netskills
University Computing Service
University of Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
Tel:0191 222 5000
Fax:0191 222 5001
URL:http://www.netskills.ac.uk/

Netskills Quality Internet Training is partly funded by the Joint
Information Systems Committee of the Higher and Further Education Funding
Councils.
Netskills is based in the Computing Service at Newcastle University.



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________________________________________________________________________
Rod Cullen - Netskills
[log in to unmask]
http://www.netskills.ac.uk