From cholmes@u.washington.edu Tue Oct 15 11:26:35 1996 Date: Mon, 14 Oct 1996 19:25:29 -0700 (PDT) From: Craig Holmes To: Economic Geography Subject: Writing for week 2 INTERNET AND WEB SKILLS My Internet and web skills have made sufficient steps forward in the past two weeks, however I still have great strides that need to be made in the near future. I apologize for the fact that as of Sunday October 13 my home page is not up and running. I have become increasingly frustrated not only with my ineptness on the Internet but the lack of access to computers and sufficient help in the Suzzallo computer lab. Does anybody know of a computer lab on campus that doesn't have at least a half hour wait between the hours of 9:00a.m.and 3:00p.m. and can provide the knowledge and patience to help me with my Internet struggles? I realize it is virtually impossible for a computer lab like this to exist, but I just thought I'd ask. I was just hoping that after I forked out 40.00 for the technology fee I would at least have reasonable access to a computer. COLLABORATIVE ACTIVITIES I agree with Steve Queen's week 2 contribution in that we should probably devote part of the class on Wednesday to discuss possible collaborative themes. I also feel that it would be beneficial to discuss as many possible collaborative themes as possible and not just limit the discussion to present interests. That way we may come up with new themes that neither myself or my classmates have thought of and thus spark some new interests. Some of my interests that may be used as a collaborative theme include the spatial logistics of access to computers at this University. Anyone who has tried to use a computer on this campus can understand the need for improvement in this area. I am also interested in the possibility of future changes in the area of education with regards to the rapidly evolving technology. I can understand that there may be some problems and drawbacks to education via the Internet, but if nothing else perhaps classes would have to physically meet less often. This is especially interesting to me since I own a less than reliable automobile that takes a lot of effort just to get started every morning. Once I get it started there is the gas money involved with commuting from Kirkland and back everyday and the process of finking a parking space so I don't have to pay 1:50 to park in the Montlake parking lot. This is obviously a very capital and time intensive process that perhaps through the use of the Internet could at least be reduced a little bit. From my experience it seens that introductory level classes would benefit the most by using the Internet. Almost all my introductory level classes would meet five days a week for about 40 minutes of quality lecture time in which the professor lectured straight from the textbook. Why couldn't a student get that information over the Internet and then meet two or three times a week in smaller groups for a longer period of time to ask questions, interact with classmates and professors, take quizzes, etc.? I can remember taking a introductory level class in Kane Hall from 8:30 to 9:20 in which I spent morer time commuting to and from class than I actually spent in the class. NEW RESEARCH INTERESTS My latest research interests have turned towards the uses and benefits of small businesses on the Internet. This was most recently brought to my attention after talking with my mom who runs a antique mall in Woodinville. She had received a phone call just last week from a group that was putting together a directory on the Internet for antique malls in the state of Washington. The mall doesn't have a web site and prior to the phone call she had never thought about the possibilities of a web site. She did speculate that it might not be a bad idea to have a web site for advertisement purposes and other possible benefits (less paperwork, etc.). Obviously these ideas need to be developed further with research. I look forward to discussing possible topics for this class on Wednesday. Craig Holmes