Campus Bytes! PAGE 8A THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1998
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TECHNOLOGY • INTERNET • SOFTWARE • ONLINE ISSUES
Students can net class information on Web site
By Melody Ard Kansan staff writer
University of Kansas students now can preview some of their classes before they enroll.
Last spring, Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, associate provost, commissioned the design of a Web site that would allow students to get information about classes and instructors.
The Web site has been visited 3,800 times since it was launched in early March.
Professors were notified of the site in a letter, which included information on the site's construction and on how to add their courses. McCluskey-Fawcett
said.
"We set up categories for them to fill in information, and we don't edit anything after they put it on the Web," she said.
McCluskey-Fawcett said the site was created in response to a request made last year by Scott Sullivan, student body president.
"Scott Sullivan pushed for faculty evaluations to be made public," she said. "This was a compromise."
McCluskey-Fawcett said she did not know how many professors had added their classes to the Web site, but she hoped to improve the site by involving more faculty and students.
Ryan Wenrich, Garden City senior, said he was unsure if he would have used the Web site to plan his schedule, but thought it was a good resource for students and an acceptable compromise to the faculty-evaluation issue.
Chris Crandall, associate professor of psychology, posted information about his Psychology 104 class last spring, but said he had not yet received any response.
"No one has asked me about the Web page, but I haven't taught the class vet." Crandall said.
Crandall said the Web site was a good alternative to publicizing faculty evaluations, especially those from larger classes.
LOOKING UP A CLASS
http://www.ukans.edu/~content
- To access class information, type in the class code (example: Engl), then the three-digit class number (example: 322) or the name of the instructor.
Information provided: name of professor, average class size, credit hours, cost of materials, topics studied, self-described teaching style and grading policy.
Bernie Heger, St. Louis senior, checks her her at Watson Library. Watson Library has a mail mkickups on the first floor. photo by Tara Bradley/KANSAN
Kiosks offer break for e-mail users
By Liz Wriston
Kansan staff writer
The 15 e-mail kiosks at Watson and Anschutz libraries are up and running, and University of Kansas students are keeping the machines occupied.
"These computers are a really good idea," said Julie Cook, Eudora junior.
"In the computer lab, you always have to wait because there are a lot of people, but here the computers are a lot easier to understand and you can use them really fast."
On Thursday and Friday, the first two days that the klosks were available, 82 separate accounts were accessed through the library klosks, said Lydia Ash, Budig Computer Lab adviser.
officer. He said that a great demand for e-mail access had drawn students to the stations.
Five skilok stations are on the third and fourth floors of Watson Library. Five more stations are on the main floor of Anschutz Science Library. The stations on the main floor of Watson Library seem to attract the most attention, said Kent Miller, library facilities
"The stations on the main floor are pretty heavily trafficked by students." Miller said. "The stations on the fourth floor don't seem to be quite as easy to see, and so I don't think they are getting as much use."
Additional Internet features are not being considered for the kiosks because of waiting-time issues and the availability of computers at other sites on campus, Emde said.
Some students were pleased to see the klosks.
"The new computers seem to be very convenient," said Rachel Blair, Overland Park freshman. "I think it is a good thing that we aren't wasting the computers that can be used by students wanting to do research or writing papers for class."
Additionalkiosk stations will be added to both the Kansas and Burge Unions once construction designs have
been completed, Ash said.
the hawk's Nest, and on the second level of the Burge Union outside the bookstore, said Jim Long, director of Kansas and Burge Unions.
been completed, Ash said.
Once construction is complete, three to four klosks will be installed in the Kansas Union on the third level near
Library research now made easier
By Chad Bottos Kansan staff writer
As of Sept. 1, the Lexis-Nexis Educational Program will not be available at University libraries. Students and faculty will enter the Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe.
Lexis-Nexis Inc. has discontinued the Educational Program for general university use nationwide. Now it is only available to professional schools.
The computer search program commonly known as Lexis-Nexis around campus is actually the Lexis-Nexis Educational Program, said James Neeley, electronic information librarian.
The cost for Academic Universe is higher than the Educational Program. Neeley said the current cost was about $23,400 per year, while the new program would cost about $33,000 this year.
Academic Universe, like its predecessor, is an aggregate of information produced by thousands of publishers and companies around the world. Neeley said.
Lexis-Nexis Inc. compiles articles from journals, newspapers, magazines and many sources and sells them in a computerized format. Users of Lexis-Nexis Inc. products enter key words about a subject, and the products provide the full text of relevant articles.
Academic Universe will continue to offer publications available on the current program. Neeley said that several new features dramatically improved the older program.
With the new version, an unlimited number of users can access the new system simultaneously. Because of a contract the University has with Lexis-Nexis Inc., Neeley said that the current program allowed only for six users in Watson Library and 13 campus-wide at one time.
With this feature, people can now access the Academic Universe from computers at their homes, residence halls or around campus.
Other improvements include World Wide Web access and a computer interface that is much easier for users. Neeley said.
Also, the improved interface includes point-and-click technology that today's computer users are more familiar with.
To avoid any loss of availability, the University is maintaining the Educational Program in the business and journalism professional schools.
The disadvantage to the new program is the potential loss of publications available during the transition, Neeley said.
The law school is on a separate contract and will be unaffected by any changes, Neeley said.
Chuck Marsh, associate professor of journalism, said he was impressed with the libraries and Neeley's commitment to avoid any problems for students. He said they even agreed to pay the additional expenses incurred by keeping both programs for the journalism school.
Next year, the journalism department will share the expense with the libraries.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Kansan
is now hiring an Online Sales Manager for our advertising department
Do you know everything there is to know about computers?
The Kansan is now looking for a motivated, responsible person to work on our web page. If you are comfortable with computers and know how to make web sites, stop by 119 Stauffer- Flint or call 864-4358 for more information.
ATTENTION KU STUDENTS... WIN AN iMAC
The Apple Medallion Hunt Lives
Over 200 hundred students have attempted find the Apple Medallion to win a free iMAC computer. The Apple Medallion is hidden outside on the KU Campus. By following a series of clues you can be the first person to find it and redeem it for an iMAC. You MUST register at the Burge Union in the Technology Center to be eligible to participate. Clues are issued every Tuesday and Thursday at the Burge and in the Kenyon Whether you are a World
Champion Jeopardy player or can't find the knob on your door handle, everyone is welcome to ...come join the fun!
Can someone please find a home for my iMac!?
Apple Medallion Hunt Clue #1 The Sun Rises in the East and sets in the west; Macintosh is the best.
Apple Medallion Hunt Clue # 2 Connecting to the Network is no Trick; Mac's can connect to any you pick.
Apple Medallion Hunt Clue # 3 Frasier Says - Go West to the Budding sidewalk... Twenty years ago in the center Lied a Jayhawk. Continue to follow the Fog as far as you can, using an Apple lab can lead you to the promised land.
Apple Medallion Hunt Clue #4 Just in Case you can not believe your eyes...go to the walking Apple for a surprise. The Flag is red Jayhawks are Blue, ask the Professor or Dean with a Macintosh to find a bonus clue.
For details call Burge Union (913) 864-5690
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