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TONIC re-launched: old favourite gets a face lift!
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TONIC, The Online Netskills Interactive Course, is being re-launched
today having being extensively updated and improved.

Over 25,000 staff and students have registered to use the original
version of the TONIC introductory Internet tutorial since its launch
in April 1996.  It has been a popular and valuable resource for both
self-paced learning by staff and students alike and as a complement to
face-to-face training and teaching.

To enable easier updates and a more flexible system, the TONIC
tutorial system (now called TONIC-NG) has been rewritten, partly
funded under the European DESIRE project.

The existing TONIC tutorial content has been extensively updated by
the Netskills Team, and was ported to a pilot version of the new
tutorial system. This was released as a test system from the TONIC
home page in March 1998 and prior to the official launch today, 1263
people have registered to use it.

In light of comments from the pilot, updates have been undertaken and
TONIC is now being launched nationally for the commencement of the new
academic year.

Requirements for TONIC-NG
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The new TONIC system requires a browser that is both cookies and
frames capable (most graphical browsers available today
have this functionality). The cookie is just a session cookie which is
essentially used to hold information about which pages have been seen
in the course, which quizzes have been attempted, scores obtained and
which particular course is being undertaken. 

Where is TONIC?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The new TONIC can be found at the same location as the original
course, therefore existing links and references need not be updated.
However, users of the original TONIC will have to reregister to use
the new course.

Check out the course at:

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

The Content of the Course
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The course provides an introduction to the Internet and computer
networks in general, describing and illustrating the main software
tools for navigating the networks. However, these tools are only a
means to an end, the end being the wealth of information and
communication resources offered via the networks. The course looks at
types and examples of networked information, at the means for
searching that information, and at the communication facilities and
resources on the net. 

Acceptable Use
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
TONIC has been developed for the UK higher education community with
central funding. It may currently be used freely for non-commercial
academic purposes. Netskills reserves the right to change this access
policy. Any other use is prohibited without the prior permission of
the copyright owner, Netskills, the University of Newcastle, who may
be contacted at [log in to unmask] 

The copyright of the content of the TONIC tutorial belongs to
Netskills, University of Newcastle. 

What's happening to the Original TONIC?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The original TONIC is being offered as an alternative in its present
form until the end of 1998, when it will be removed from service.
However, during this period it will not be fully supported or updated
as it is only intended to be offered for those users who are part-way
through the existing course. New users should register for and use
TONIC-NG.

Netskills is committed to Quality Internet Training. 

The Netskills Team welcomes feedback and comments to help ensure that
our training materials are of the highest quality.

If you have any feedback, please contact us.

Happy TONIC-ing!

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NETSKILLS - Network skills for the UK Higher Education
Community

For information about Netskills, our workshops and services:
URL: http://www.netskills.ac.uk
EMAIL: [log in to unmask]
TEL: 0191 222 5008 our 24hr answering service to request workshop
information or booking forms (also available via the WWW)
 0191 222 5000 for other enquiries 
FAX: 0191 222 5001 
or write to: 
Netskills, UCS, University of Newcastle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. NE1 7RU
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