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Boulder Community Network
General Public Orientation
Sample Script

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Orientation Outline Only

Pre-Class Preparation

  1. Arrive at lab about 20-30 minutes before class.
  2. Boot up machines and overhead projectors.
  3. Bring up Netscape on all machines and maximize it so that it covers the entire screen.
  4. Bring the BCN homepage up on all browsers: bcn.boulder.co.us
  5. Add the BCN homepage to the bookmarks on each browser

Welcome to the Boulder Community Network public orientation to the Internet.
[Instructor introduces him/herself]
[Instructor asks assistants to introduce themselves.]

Participant Introductions and Skills

* Is there anyone who is not familiar with using a mouse?

[if anyone raises their hand -- instructor should make sure that assistants take notice and offer additional assistance. Instructor should tell these people that they will be assisted. Ideally, if there is time, the instructor should seek out non-mouse users before the class begins and offer some pre-class mouse training.]

* Please tell us your 1) name and little bit about yourself, 2) your general interests for using the Internet (i.e. medicine); and also 3) a little bit about your computing skills and the types of questions you have about the Internet

[Instructor should note interests and incorporate some into tour of BCN if possible and/or help them find some info later. Also note the types of questions that they have about the Internet. If answers to their questions are not part of this class -- try to answer them one-on-one during free time. Avoid answering in front of the entire class technical questions which are not appropriate for this very basic orientation.]

Class Outline

* During today's orientation to the Internet, we'll cover several topics and give you plenty of hands-on time.

  1. Community Networks and BCN
  2. What is the Internet and the World-Wide Web?
  3. Introduction to the Netscape Browser (The tool we will be using today to read information on the Internet)
  4. Guided Tour of BCN
  5. Search Tools
  6. Individual "Surfing" time and assistance
  7. Getting Access
  8. Send us your electronic comments about this orientation.

Assistance During this Orientation
Feel free to ask questions as we go along. Get the attention of one of the assistants if you need some extra help -- that's what they are her for.


1. Community Networks and BCN

2. Internet and the WWW

The Internet is a world-wide collection of networks that are interconnected and used to share lots of different kinds of information in different forms. One form for example, is email messages. Another form is Web information. We'll mostly focus on the Web today.

3. Netscape or Microsoft Browser

4. Guided Tour of BCN

BCN is a site that aggregates local information and also links other regional, national and international resources. It is organized around information centers.

[Ask for some of the interests from the class and take them to various related centers. Try to keep this part of the class focused on local sites -- rather than going off immediately to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Try to give them a feeling for the breath of types of information and organizations found on BCN. Don't worry about covering too much. The key here is to give them a feel for local information on and linked to BCN -- AND TO GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO PRACTICE USING THE TOOLS ABOVE.

Questions?

5. Search Engines and Web Guide

6. Individual Surfing Time

[Float around room with assistants and ask participants individually if they have any questions.]

7. Getting Access

8. Fill out comment form

[Walk them through the comment form which is linked to the bottom of the BCN home page. SEND THE COMMENTS TO LINDA BARR (she's 5th on the list).]

Tell us what you liked about this orientation and how we can improve it.

9. Thanks and Good-bye


Post-Class Shut Down

  1. On each computer, use the "shut down" button under the "start button".
  2. When you get the screen message that it's o.k. to power down computers, be sure to turn off BOTH CPU and monitor.
  3. Double check all computers in room and make sure all "lights" are off on computers.
  4. Turn off lights.
  5. Make sure door locks behind you
  6. Tell staff person in office that the lab is locked up.

Last Update: , by Paul Tiger Volunteer Coordinator
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