Last Update:4/30/07

LAB HUB
THIS IS THE HOME OF THE LAB COMPONENT OF THIS COURSE
Constantly being updated! 

1. INTRODUCTION
2. LAB OVERVIEWS
3. LAB DEBRIEFINGS

   This page  is the entry point for the lab component of this course.  If this is your first time here, be sure to read the GOALS AND ADVICE FOR THE LAB COMPONENT OF COSC 120, the foundation of the lab component.  The instructions for performing the individual labs are accessable by clicking the particular lab itemized under LAB INSTRUCTIOS.  After the class has completed a lab assignment, a "debriefing" (critique of the performance and problems encountered by the class as a whole) will be published under LAB DEBRIEFINGS.

NOTES:

1. The lab component of this course (not including the Project) should occupy at least one third of the time spent on this course.  On campus students will attend lab sessions once a week, so according to the MINIMUM EXPECTATIONS (which specifies AT LEAST two ours work out side class for every hour inside class), you should spend AT LEAST three hours a week on the lab exercises. (Online students will be doing all of this on their own.)
2. If you rework a Web page assignment that was due on a specific date, leave the original submission with its date on your Web site.  You should change the name (e.g. using WS_FTP) of that first version, e.g. the original of lab3.htm should be lab3original.htm.  This will allow me to check the date you first published the Web page while allowing you to update that page whenever you want.

        The lab component of this course is divided into three components:

• Labs 0-2 are designed to enable you to use the course communications.  Lab 0 (which you do not have to do if you are familiar with Windows 95) introduces the basic facilities of Windows 95.  Lab 1 is a 'quick start" to using Netscape Navigator browser so that you can access the online course material. Lab 2  enables you to use e-mail, chat, and teleconferencing , with which you can communicate with me, classmates, friends, and family.  Chat and teleconferencing are perhaps premature because they are not presented until LM III, but because they are essential to our online course they are introduced here only as "tools"; understand of these concepts will come when you study LM III.  Once we have become comfortable with these facilities, we can move on to the second component...
• Labs 3-6 are designed to enable you to create Web pages and manage a simple Web site.  We do not focus on HTML, the language with which Web pages are written; instead you will learn to use a  WYSIWYG HTML editor (Netscape Composer) that makes authoring Web pages almost as simple as using a word processor.  In addition you will learn how to use FTP applications to upload and download files over the Internet; in particular, you will learn how to manage your Web site using an FTP client (instead of learning the operating system of the Web server).  Once you have finished this component you will be able to develop your semester project, a Web site containing your collection of resources related to your major at FSU.
• Labs 7-9 are designed to familiarize you with searching techniques and introduce you to otherInternet services (e.g. newsgroups, mailing lists, and chat/teleconferencing ).  You will explore these as you continuously develop your semester project.

LAB OVERVIEWS:

1. Lab 0: Introduction to Windows: This is a brief exercise on the operating system tools of Windows that are necessary for doing the Lab assignments of this course.  The most important point of this exercise is to learn to use the Help features built into virtually all modern computer software, i.e.  develop the habit of asking the computer, when you run into trouble, instead of your teacher, a lab assistant, your roommate, etc.  The computer is the expert on how to use itself!  Its advice is reliable; that from other so-called "experts" (like Tony) may not be!) Those who are comfortable with Windows need not do this.   It will not be graded.
2. Lab 1: Introduction to Netscape 7.0:This is "quick start" introduction to Netscape Navigator, the browser component of the Netscape Communicator suite of Internet tools and Composer, the built in WYSIWYG HTML editor.  It will help the student get acquainted with Browsing and "cloning Web pages" as well as the Web sites of this course and FSU.
3. Lab 2: E-mail, Chat, and Teleconferencing: This is an introduction to the three of the online communication facilities that will be used in this online course.  First, you create e-mail accounts at FSU and on some commercial portals (servers); you are also encouraged to customize you personal computer so that you can use Netscape Communicator or Microsoft Outlook Express as your e-mail client.  If you have not already done so, you will learn to use an instant messenging service and Microsoft NetMeeting, a teleconfrencing service.  The other two communications services, mailing lists and forums/newsgroups, will be covered in Lab *.
4. Lab 3: Editing HTML Documents with Netscape Composer: This is the first of a four-lab sequence, during which you will learn to create HTML documents using Netscape Composer (labs 3 and 4), publish them on Web server (lab 5), and maintain a Web site (lab 6).  The knowledge, skill, and experience you gain from these two labs are the foundation for your development of the Semester Project, a Web site of the Internet Resources in you major.  In Lab 3 you will learn to use Netscape Composer to create a simple HTML document and to "clone" a Web page (an extension of what was introduced in Lab1).  Past experience indicates that this is, perhaps the most difficult lab in the course; therefore, start early and try to finish in plenty of time to discuss difficulties during class!
5. Lab 4: Authoring HTML Documents with a WYSIWYG HTML Editor: This is the second (and last) lab on creating and editing HTML documents.   In this lab you will develop drafts of the home page of your SGA Web site and your online resume.  You will also learn to use templates to format HTML documents.
6. Lab 5: Publishing Web Pages: This is the third of the four-lab sequence on Web site development.  In this lab you will learn to publish HTML documents on the SGA Web server by using both Netscape Composer and a separate FTP client, WS_FTP.  You should already have an account on that server, in which you will create a drafts of your home page and the main page of your semester project.  The remainder of your labs will be published on your Web site. Once you become proficient with an FTP client (WS_FTP is the client used in this lab.) it becomes much easier to upload individual files or a selected group of files to your Web site.
7. Lab 6: Maintaining a Web Site Using an FTP Client: This, the last of the four-lab sequence on Web site development, you will learn simple file manipulation on a remote computer, using and FTP client.  Probably of more importance, is the abillity to manage the files on your Web site without having to learn UNIX, the operating system, of our Web server.
8. Lab 7: Web Searching and Creation of the Web Resources page of the Semester Project: Probably the biggest headache of Internet use is trying to find exactly what you want as efficiently as possible.  This lab attempts to help reduce this problem by focusing on search techniques and the search tools currently available for the Web. (Searching other services are in other Labs.) The searching in this lab is governed by the goal of finding Web pages associated with your discipline and incorporating links to them in the "Web Resources" page of your Semester Project.
9. Lab 8: Newsgroups and Mailing Lists:  This lab will get you started using these two Internet communications services.  During this lab, you will incorporate your analysis of these services in your major discipline and publish drafts of two project pages, one for Newsgorups and another for Mailing Lists.  After the lab is completed you should continue to monitor your newsgroups and mailing lists and update and refine your project pages.
10. Lab 9: Advanced Searching and Web Indexes: This lab extends the focus on searching to advanced search techniques and standard criteria for evaluating the content of a Web site.  The semester project is expanded by creating a draft of a Web page that contains annotated links to Index sites (Web pages that contain lists of links to other sites).  As with all drafts, you should continue to search for other index sites and update and refine list of such sites.
11. Lab 10: Web Development On Free Commercial Web Hosting Sites  introduces you to free commercial Web site hosting services.  You will sign up for a account with two free Web site hosting service and then work through their tutorials that help you use the WYSIWYG Web Development applications provided by the service.  Finally, on both sites, you will develop a prototype of personal Web site which you can expand later, on your own, if you wish.   (Your are encouraged to continue developing your sites, but that is up to you.)  Finally, you are asked to compare the Web development tools of the different hosting services.  (If you have a Web site on some other service, e.g. Tripod, you should compare its Web hosting and development facilities to those of the Hosts you used in this lab.)
12. Lab 11 (OPTIONAL, EXTRA CREDIT): Web Page Development; Bells and Whistles  which is prototype that introduces several advanced Web page development techniques (Java, JavaScript, audio, forums, etc) and shows you how to incorporate them via copy and paste.  Actual development of these skills is beyond the scope of this course (covered in COSC 330 )

• Lab 0:   No one needed to do this lab, so there are not final comments.  It is important to realize that I now assume that all class members are competent in the use of Windows on the PC.
• Lab 1: The main objectives of this lab was to make the browsing backgrounds of all students similar and to help students become familiar with Netscape Navigator, the browser component of the Netscape Communicator "suite" of communication applications (including Composer, Messenger, Conference, and Instant Messenger).   We did this early because with this Web-based course it is essential that you can access the online learning modules.  If you can do this, you have gotten the most important point of the lab. There are, however, other points that should be clear to you.
1. Actually the appearance of the downloaded document depends on which browser or browser version you use and how your Browser preferences is configured .  If graphics are automatically downloaded with the HTML page itself, then there is no difference.  If you download only the HTML page, all graphic elements are missing; they will be replace by a missing graphic icon.  Web pages (HTML files) are pure text; all graphics, music, video, interactive elements, etc. are added by the browser when it displays the page.  However, when you save a page, using Netscape navigator. these other elements are not downloaded with the HTML file itself; therefore all will be missing when displayed.
1. Note that comments like "I don't get list numbers; I get "#" instead indicate dangerous confusion!  This happens if you are viewing your HTML file from Netscape Composer 4.7 (the editor); you should view it in Netscape Navigator (the browser) where the list numbers/letters will appear and, if you are connected to the Internet, all hyperlinks will work.  Also, this problem does not arise in Netscape 7 because its composer shows the actual list numbers and letters.
2. Some people are dangerously confused about what a Web page is.
1. Some said that the Navigator menus and toolbars were missing.  This indicates dangerous confusion because Navigator (and Composer) are the applications that display the Web page; they are not part of the Web page itself.
2. Some said that the Navigation Panel was missing; this also indicates confusion.  The Navigation Panel is a separate Web page that is displayed in the left hand frame of the homepage of the course.  The Web pages are displayed in the right hand frame.  However, this two-frame web page is not what the question is referring to.  The downloaded document is a copy of the Web page that appears in the right hand frame.
2. You see the URL at the bottom of your browser when you place the cursor over FOLDOC in the Navigation Panel.  The extension "uk" is the country (there is no extension for USA sites, i.e. nothing follows "edu" on FSU's Web sites).  Several people reported FOLDOC's URL as www.foldoc.org, but that is a domain name that points to the host server, foldoc.doc.ic.ac.uk; the URL on the Navigation Panel is the old FOLDOC server, wombat.doc.ic.ac.uk which  now points to  foldoc.doc.ic.ac.uk , the actual server of FOLDOC.
3. The first heading of the home pages of CNET, ZDNet, and TechTV depend on when you viewed them, so I'll accept virtually anything reasonable.  If you have any problem with this part, contact me via the forum.
4. In the search engine comparison, you should have (at least) checked out  Netscape's search tool (Click the search button on Navigator's menu.) plus Google, Yahoo, Teoma, Dogpile, Ask Jeeves, Looksmart, and Lycos. ); see my results, below.
1. Search engines have certainly improved during the last couple of years; they used to give a great many useless results (and many still do!), when you would expect a search on "Frostburg State University" to list our home page at the top of the search results.  Netscape no longer includes AltaVista, Excite, and Hotbot (all of which got the FSU homepage), I guess because they are similar to the "world beater", Google.  Maybe they replaced them with AskJeeves and NBCi because these do not give results that are redundant with Google, but it is significant that neither of these gives the FSU home page, the page I would expect to see!  Only Google and Yahoo give the expected FSU home page!
2. Some people got far too many hits, most irrelevant, because they forgot to include the quotation marks in the search string.  Others either misread the assignment or carelessly forgot to include the titles and URLs of the first site returned by each search. 
   
3. Several people did not use Netscape Navigator's Search facility.  All you do is click the Search button (to the right of the URL window on the browser).
   
4. Generally speaking, the efficiency of search engines has dramatically improved; a year ago, many searches did not result in FSU's home page coming out first (A couple of years ago most failed to do this!); now you can see my results in the following table.
   
5. My favorites, in order of preference, are 
1. Google (up to "about 32,100" sites found, up from about 17,000 found last year, and 9,510 the previous year),
   
2. Dogpile (because it is a "meta search tool", i.e. it combines results of nine different search engines), 
3. Yahoo (because results come from people, rather than a search engine), and
4. Netscape, because you can simply type anything into the URL field and it will try to find a Web site associated with your words.
   
5. Northern Light, with its convenient classification in hierarchical folders used to be a favoirte, but it now charges for its service so "to heck with them!".  (It is still, supposedly, great for searches for obscure, hard to find, subjects.)
   
6. Google seems to be the consensus favorite with professionals.  Be sure to check out the five different tabs ( Web, Images, Groups(newsgroups), Directory, and News) which classify its links under usefully distinct categories, unlike Teoma.
7. Teoma has merged with Ask.com which is being highly promoted as having new facilities; it has ten different types of searches.  (Check them out.)
   
8. In the table below are the results I got last semester; you might compare them to those you got last week.  Note: these are all true search results, ignoring "sponsored listings".  It is nice to realize tha all search engines are becoming more consistent, returning www.frostburg.edu as their first URL, as one would expect.  (A few years ago this was not true; the listings were very inconsistent.)  However, the wide range in the number of listings and the variety of URLs in the top ten indicate that no search engine is perfect.  An exhaustive search must include several search engines.  Meta search engines, like Dogpile, combine results of other search engines and, therefore, are probably good at finding popular URLs)
   

9. Some people have dangerous confusion about the difference between URLs and search strings returned by search engines.  For example if one were to search for the Overture Search tool,...
   
1. The URL of Overture would be: http://www.overture.com/
2. The search string returned by Netscape's search engine is: http://searcht.netscape.com/ns/search?fromPage=nsBrowserRoll&query=overture&rc=1  This is NOT a URL of a Web site; it is a link from Netscape's search engine to the Web site.
   
10. From a grade point-of-view the most important feedback from this assignment is: READ YOUR INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY AND FULFILL ALL SPECIFICATIONS!  (I can't tell if you can't do something or you just didn't do it!)

• Lab 2:  I have not received e-mail from everyone!  Messages dated after the due date are late and subject to a -20 % deduction;  after I publish this debrief the deduction becomes 40%.  Almost everyone who completed this lab seems to have accomplished the minimum specifications on time, so there are not many mistakes to be addressed here.
1. I think I responded to all Lab 2 submission by replying to your Part 2 e-mail; therefore, my response will go to your commercial account, not from your FSU account.  However, if you don't find it on your commercial account, check your FSU account.
   
2. This is a difficult lab to "grade" because it is virtually impossible to make an assignment that checks that you do each of the Internet communications services.  Therefore, I simply have to rely on your integrity to report what you could and could not do.  This seems to be working OK, but since I am taking your word when you say you did something, I sincerely hope you are not cheating yourself!  Note that, if you encounter any problems with any of the services, e-mail (FSU or commercial), chat, or teleconferencing (NetMeeting), let me know so we can insure that you are competent in each of these.  We will cover the other two services, mailing lists and forum/newsgroups, in lab 8.
3. Some people said something to the affect that they had trouble logging onto the NetMeeting server. Don't bother with using the Microsoft NetMeeting servers, i.e. uncheck that box when you set up NetMeeting.  In fact, I think their servers have been disabled (because they were abused) and are inaccessable.  There is no need for a server for a NetMeeting; that is just a computer where the NetMeeting is hosted.  You can host any NetMeeting on your own computer (Select Host Meeting... under the File menu.) and invite others to join you by giving them your IP address.  (You can determine your current IP by clicking on the Help button of NetMeeting and the the About Microsoft NetMeeting menu item; your IP is at the bottom of the window that pops up.)
1. I received some comments to the effect that NetMeeting is "basically like every other chat systems".  Other systems do provide audio and video conferencing; what is unusual (if not unique to) about NetMeeting is the ability to share files, whiteboard, etc. and to take control of the other's computer.  If you haven't done so, try this out.
   
4. Some people failed to attach a file to their e-mail for part 1or had trouble doing so.  This typically happens when someone trys to attach a Web page, i.e. an HTML document that is on a server.  You can only attach files that are on YOUR computer, i.e. the computer from which you are sending the e-mail!
5. Note: It is now possible for html documents to carry viruses by way of JavaScript, VBScript, etc. scripts, so I virtually never open HTML attachments.  (This is absolutely true of .exe, .vbs., and .xls, files which are exceptionally dangerous!)   If I want to read them, I save them to disk and run a virus scan on them.  However, this is such a time consuming process, that I don't do this for this lab.  I just check that your attachment has an .htm or .html extension; that proves you know how to do the assignment.  If there is anything important, that you would normally include in an attachment to me, include it in the body of the e-mail.  (After the NIMDA worm, even previewing messages in Outlook or Outlook Express is dangerous.  The best way to avoid viruses is to use NetScape Messenger, or a Web-based e-mail provider like Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.  As of now, you can't get viruses using them, but there is no guarantee, I guess, about the future.  The best protection is "don't open attachments"; if you really want to view them save them to disk and run a virus scan.)
6. Some people asked where to find "interesting HTML documents to attach".  This surprised me because the answer, everyone should know, is all over the Web!  Perhaps those who asked don't realize how easy it is to copy ANY Web page, and, obviously, still have not "caught on" to my "cloning" idea yet.  You can copy ANY Web page by simply accessing the page, selecting Edit Page or Edit Frame from the browser file window and then select Save or Save as... from the same window; presto, you have copied the Web page (but may not have all the documents).  All you have to do to attach the file is to hit the attach button in your e-mail client.
7. The preferences for commercial e-mail providers was not consistent.  Yahoo mail was the most popular and hotmail the most disliked; however, in some responses these were reversed.  (My guess is that everyone prefers the one they are currently using -- because it is the most familiar.)  I like Yahoo because it give so much space and it has so many additional things integrated with its service, e.g. audio chat and groups (mailing lists).  If you don't use it, give it a good tryout, especially its auxiliary services.
1. I admit that FSU's Web access to e-mail accounts leaves a lot to be desired, so you may want to use other e-mail accounts that you are investigating in Lab 3.  However I will send e-mails to your account, so either have them forwarded or be sure to check your FSU account because that is where I'll send original messages (one's that don't come from clicking on an e-mail link on your future Web pages).
8. One warning. Typing in upper case letters in e-mail, mailing lists, and newsgroups is consider shouting!  This is not considered good manners on the Internet (called "netiquette").  So avoid it, especially with strangers. In our class we can use it for emphasis, since the Forum and some e-mail clients don't allow formatting, like bold, so you can use it and so will I, especially on the Forum.  Let's all agree that we aren't shouting.
9. One other, rather obvious, caution.  Always sign your e-mail messages! Sometimes you can't figure out the sender's name from their e-mail address although modern e-mail clients usually do supply them.
10. If you had troubles with ICQ, don't worry if you already know how to use AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) or some other equivalent chat client.  The chat goal of the lab was just to familiarize you with chat facilities and get you started utilizing them.  Even if you haven't used other chat clients, experience with NetMeeting's chat or our very own chat client, Chatroom for Virtual Tutorials, should be sufficient experience to bring familiarity.
11. E-mail ettiquette is discussed in "7 Sins of E-mail". from Netscape's Money & Business.
• Lab 3:  Most people did a good job and achieved the goals of the lab.  However, it is important that everyone understand the following:
1. Some of you are not following the assignment specifications.  You have GOT to do this because my grading criteria is based on fulfilling the specifications itemized in the lab assignments!  If something is missing, I can not tell whether you couldn't do it, did something wrong, or just overlooked it -- I have to deduct points becaue you did not fulfill the specifications!  If you want to reorganize a particular page, do it after I have checked your assignment and given you feedback on your mastery of the skills covered in that assignment.
2. Many people did not reproduce the example document in Part A exactly.  The most common mistake was to use the wrong font.  In order to match the example, you should use Times font (selected form the Format|Font menu on composer); many people used Helvetica, Arial instead.
   
3. As I emphasized in the lab instructions, Netscape Composer versions up to 7.1 has a VERY IRRITATING characteristic that can result in copied and pasted links that won't work (when published on a remote Web server) - unless you make some nuisance modifications.  (Apparently this fault does not exist in version 7.2.)  See Lab 3, Part B, items 2.1 and 2.2 for a review of these problems.
   
1. It is better to install Netscape 7.2 so this problem will not arise.
   
2. MOST IMPORTANTLY, this emphasizes an essential habit: ALWAYS CHECK your links and graphics after you have finished.  If you are working with a local HTML document, check it with your browser; if you have published it on a server, check your site after it is uploaded.  You will  probably be surprised and dismayed at how many bad links and missing pictures occur.  (This Netscape 7.1 characteristic is, by far, the main reason that graphics on my Web site are missing and local links do not work!  Since I am now using 7.2, hopefully the number of bad links and missing graphics will decrease.)
   
4. I have noticed that many of your links do not match the case of your file name, e.g your link says ...lab3a.htm and your finle name is ...LAB3A.HTM.  I am not sure exactly why this happend, but this would be a GREAT DANGER if you were going to publish on a Web host that runs the UNIX operating system or some other "case sensitive" operating system, i.e. they treat upper and lower case words as being different, i.e. lab3a.htm and Lab3a.htm would be treated as different files.  This is not a problem with the FSU student Web host because it is running Windows which not case sensitive.  However, it is a wise habit to make your links and file name IDENTICAL.
1. The UNIX problem arises because your links will work on your computer if you are using Microsoft Windows , but the same links will NOT work when uploaded to a Web server running the Unix operating system (which is case sensitive!).
5. One essential note applies to every lab assignment posted to your Web site (labs 5-9 and project).  You must name the HTML files as directed in the lab instructions , for example index.htm, project.htm, lab7a.htm, lab7b.htm, etc.  The reason for this is that, when checking assignments, I will sometimes access the web pages directly by typing the exact file name in the URL instead of following links on your home page or project page.  (Note that, now days, their is no distinction between ".htm" and ".html", so you can use either.)
   
1. Some people have file names that have two .htm or .html extensions, e.g. lab3.htm.html. This is a mistake!  I suppose this happens when you select the file type when doing a "Save as...".  If you actually type the extension on the file name and then save it as an HTML document, most editors will append their own extension, e.g. in the example given, the person probably typed "lab3.htm" and then, if using Netscape Composer, selected HTML files in the Save as type: window.  Obviously, to avoid this, simply type the file name, e.g.  "lab3", without the extension, then select HTML files as the type of file you are saving.
   
6. Part A covers most of the basic techniques for creating simple HTML documents (that when published, explained in Labs 5 and 6, will become simple Web pages).  You must reproduce the illustrated example EXACTLY (except, of course, for the specified changes in instruction 2.B) including an automatic e-mail link to your account); it will enable me to check to see if you can do each of the fundamental HTML editing features illustrated.
7. A few people misapply or mismanage their links.  This is of critical importance because links are what turns ordinary text into hypermedia!  The essential point is to (1) correctly link the files on your local disk (probably your floppy, in this course) and then (2) upload those files maintaining exactly the same relationship between files a as well as between folders.   It is essential that you master all of these techniques now; you will need to apply them in all future labs.
8. It is essential to distinguish between the four different kinds of links demonstrated in this lab:
1. The links you have on lab3.htm are links to documents on your floppy disk, so unlike links to a Website (see item b below) these URLs begin with "file:///".  If you publish this file on a Web site, these links will be converted to links to other Web pages of your Web site. If you worked on your hard disk, you can't just copy your files to a floppy, because the links will refer to files on your hard disk.  Always CHECK to see that the links work on your submissions; it's surprising how often you can screw this up - take it from a veteran "screw up", me!
2. The FSU (http://www.frostburg.edu/) and CNET (http://cnet.com/) links are absolute links to an external Web sites, i.e. outside your Web site.  If you are not careful to put "http://" at the beginning of these links, Netscape Composer will create a link referring to you disk.  (Always be sure and check that your links work after you finish!)  See item 5.A.b, below for a similar problem, and, if you don't understand, come see me.
3. The link "this is a link to the line, below, that has my return email address" is an internal link within your HTML document, i.e. a link to a target on the same page.  (You can make links to targets on any Web page as well.)  If you are unclear about this, check out the links (and their targets) in this document, e.g. the following, internal link CONTENTS section.  (Place your cursor over this preceding link and look at the last part, beginning with "#".)
4. The linked e-mail address at the bottom of the page, c2ej000@fre.fsu.umd.edu in the example (which you should replace with your e-mail address), is an e-mail link (URL: mailto:c2ej000@fre.fsu.umd.edu) that automatically opens the e-mail client of your Web broswer where you can easily and quickly enter a message.  For an example of what this looks like, place your cursor over the E-mail Tony link under Feedback: on the Navigation Panel.  Note that the beginning of the URL is NOT "http://" but "mailto:"  This tells the browser to us e-mail protocols for that link instead of Web protocols.  More about this in LM IV.
9. An example of a correctly done (but with different formatting and graphics) lab3a.htm can be studied here; this is a clone of the student example I gave above.  I have changed the formatting and graphics to prevent the temptation to simple cut 'n paste this example into your assignment file; your lab3a.htm should appear exactly as the example given in the lab instructions (except that you use your e-mail address).
10. Part of the "art" of Web design is informing the user about where links lead to, i.e. helping the user decide whether or not to click on a link.  This means you should (at least):
1. use a meaningful name for the link.  For example DON't use the word "lab3.htm" as your link to this lab; that is the file name, i.e. the target of the link that allows the browser to find that file; instead use something like "Lab 3, Authoring ..."  If you do not do this on subsequent assignments, you will have severe penalties and even INCOMPLETE grades, so start fulfilling this requirement now.
   
2. annotate your links.  This simply means to add a concise description of the file to which the link leads, e.g., to annotate the link in part a, above, one might write "This is the first lab in COSC 120 where we create HTML documents..."  If you do not do this on subsequent assignments, you will have severe penalties and even INCOMPLETE grades, so start fulfilling this requirement now.
11. You should replace the last icon and the words "This page created with Netscape Navigator Gold "; these are leftovers from an obsolete template.  When you use an out-of date Wizard (or an old template, like the Netscape Home Page template), be sure to eleminate incorrect components, like the "created with Netscape 3.0" icon.  You can replace it with this,  animated GIF if you want and add annotation stating what version of Netscape you used, e.g. Netscape Communicator 4.7 Or Netscape 7. Be sure that you don't say created with Netscape " Navigator"; remember Navigator is the browser; Netscape Composer is the authoring tool so it is even more accurate to say "...created with Netscape Composer".  (Navigator and Composer are applications within the Communicator "suite".)
12. A problem that seems to be caused by using Composer, is the appearance of "<>" symbols in your text.  I am no sure why composer does this.  Earlier versions of composer (4.x, 7.0, and 7.1 didn't have this problem.) Anyway, you usually won't see these in your draft, but they will show up if you view it in your browser; you can then edit the page, eleminating this "garbage".  Be sure to double check for such unsightly composer artifacts every time you publish and eleminate it as soon as possible.
    
13. After you master the skills covered in labs 3 and 4, generating HTML files with Netscape Composer will be straightforward. Remember that Composer is just one of numerous HTML authoring applications, a simple one at that.   Of course this is an art so you will be learning and developing it with every HTML document you create; keep praticing and innovating.  We will not be covering other HTML authoring tools in this course, because the focus of the course is on learning to use Cyberspace and searching for resources in your major so you can create a repository of those in your course project.  Web page development is the primary focus of the subsequent course COSC 330, to which COSC 120 is the prerequisite.
• Lab 4: Most people, who submitted this lab, did a good job and achieved the goals of the lab. ( I am a bit concerned about the significant minority who have yet to submit Lab 4; it is critical that you turn it in THIS week!  See me if you can't!)
1. This is a key exercise because you create prototype of your personal home page, the gateway to your course Web site.
2. Several people ignored the lab instructions, "Give meaningful names to these links and follow that with brief explanations of what the linked page contains.  (Be sure to distinguish between the link (the URL) and the text that is linked!)" (Part D, item 9.A)!  This means they ignored item 10 of the previous debrief!!!  PLEASE don't ignore instructions or deberief comments!!! (This the the "bane of my existance"!).  I will deduct more severly each time you do not properly annotate links, especially on your project -- consider your site visitors and make your site as user friendly as possible - help them to decide whether or not to click a link!
3. To find alternative resume templates, search google.com for "resume templates" or "resume + templates".  It is amazing what you can find using good ol' google.
4. Part A can be the prototype of your home page on the FSU student server, Goliath.  Of course you can develop any home page you want; this HTML document is simply a "starting point" for those who have no experience creating HTML documents.
1. When you use an old template (like the Netscape Home Page template), be sure to eleminate incorrect components, like the "created with Netscape Gold" or the Netscape Navigator 3.0 icon.  You can replace the icon with this, animated GIF if you want (or any other appropriate icon) and add annotation stating what version of Netscape you used, e.g. Netscape Composer.  (It is ok to say created with Nescape Communicator, which includes Composer, but not as accurate as explicitly referring to Netscape "Composer".)
2. Also be sure to delete all the gray instructions that come on any template, e.g. "How to use this template...". and obvious nonsense like "This page last updated on July 28, 1998" that are part of the templates.
5. After this exercise, you can change your resume into anything you wish.  When you publish it on your Web site, anyone in the world, who has an Internet connection, can instantly access it, so take pride in it!
   
6. Common Problems:
1. One problem that will plague you until you understand what you are doing is missing graphics. You must realize that images are not part of an HTML document!  Your HTML documents contain links to a separate file for each graphic image (usually a .gif or .jpeg file); therefore, you must move all of these graphics images along with the HTML document when you save it to a new location (a floppy, the Web server (Labs 5 and 6)).  Also your link must contain the correct directories (folders) in which you place your graphic files.  It is easiest to keep the HTML file and its graphics all together in the same directory.  Most of those who have missing graphics will only need to move their graphics files into the Lab 4 folder.
2. The garbage "<>" symbols in your HTML documents.  See Lab 3 Debrief, item 12.
   
7. It is an important good habit to use the Preview button on Composer to see that your document looks the way you want it.  ALWAYS check your document before submitting it or your Web page before you publish it!  It is especially important to check that your links all work; see the next comment.
8. If you develop your HTML document on your hard disk (drive C), you will have to redefine all links when you move your files to a diskette (drive A) , otherwise all you links will be to drive C and thus won't work!  This only happens when you are copying files using your operating system; later, when you develop your Web pages on any secondary storage and upload them using an FTP client (e.g. WS_FTP), that client will take convert all the links.
9. Be careful and consistent with file names!  Windows is not case sensitive, but UNIX, which is the operating system of many Web server, is!  Therefore, if you have a file name mypics.html and a link, MYPICS.HTML (or even Mypics.html) to this file, it will work on Windows but will not work when you upload it to your Web site.  Windows is the OS on the student Web server, Goliath, so this problem will not arise there, but if you ever want to transfer your site (or any of its pages) to a UNIX site, every case inconsistency will cause problems - so take care now to avoid problems later.   I recommend that you always use lower case for all folder/directory and file names; this is the easiest way to avoid frustrating problems later.
1. Some people had file names with "_html" stuck in them, e.g. lab4_htm.html instead of lab4.htm.  I don't see how this happend unless it was on purpose.  In any case it is ESSENTIAL that you use the file names I specify; it will mess up your whole Web site if you aren't careful with your file names!
10. Never use blue underlined text in a Web page!  That, to virtually every Web user, indicates an untraversed hyperlink!  In fact, it is inadvisable to underline anywhere that it might be confused with a link.  (I use underline to distinguish references, e.g. a handout would refer to a class handout, but this is consistent with hyperlink references to Web pages, i.e. underlined text normally is a reference (including hyperlink references).)
11. After you master the skills covered in labs 3 and 4, and learn how to publish Web documents using WS_FTP in Lab 6, the rest of the lab assignments will be straight forward.
• Lab 5:  I'm sorry for the problems associated with the switch from the Goliath Web server to .  I had no control over it.  I asked that the computer club maintain goliath.frostburg.edu, but circumstances denied that.  Since those of you who signed up for a Goliath account at the beginning of the year, got one, I could not change my lab instructions to refer to .  I think all of those who got late accounts on  were able, with some assistance, able to adapt the lab instructions to the new server.  If you are still having trouble with your account, contact Justin Andrews in Pullen or the administrative assistant, Anita, in Pullen room 102.  Anyway, if you haven't published index.htm, resume.htm, and project.htm, you MUST do this IMMEDIATELY.  This is critical to the lab portion of the REST of the course.
1. The main point of this lab is to illustrate that browsers have FTP facilities built in; most people are not even aware that they are using FTP when they download from a Web site.
2. However, the FTP facilities of Netscape are limited to uploading (publishing) HTML documents to Web servers.  Stand alone FTP clients, like Core FTP LE and WS_FTP, used in Lab 6 are much more versatile, so you will probably prefer using them to using Netscape.    I think Core FTP LE  is more flexible and easier to use than Netscape, so if you have problems with uploading in this lab it is not critical.  You will learn how to use a real FTP client in the next lab.  (Unfortunately, the freeware version of Core FTP LE is, as of this summer, no longer free, so we will have to use an old version, available on FSU's shareware site, which is not as user friendly as more recent versions.)
   
3. In any case, it is important that you publish drafts of all three of the Web pages specified , index.htm, resume.htm, and project.htm, no matter how you accomplish this!  They are all required for your final project, and project.htm is the main page of that project.
1. I think that an online resume should have links wherever possible. For example, your e-mail address should be an automatic "mailto:" link; you should have a link to you homepages (at least the one you created in this lab); you should include links to items that have Web pages, e.g. this COSC 120 course; etc.
2. Also, if you have a "last updated ..." item on your Web page, be sure to update it every time you modify that page.  In fact, some of you used Netscape templates that have old dates on them, e.g. one resume template says "This page last updated on December 31, 2000."  BE SURE TO CHANGE THIS!!
4. Make the link to your project.htm clear and informative.  Give it a discriptive name like "Project for COSC 120" and "annotate" that link, i.e. add a concise statement explaining what the linked page contains. You should always think carefully how to make links as informative as possible, i.e. help the visitor decide whether or not to click the link.
1. I suggest that you should include "COSC 120" in the title of project.html and in all links to it.  It may be your only project at this time, but I hope you'll add other projects later.  In any case, on Web sites (in fact, ALL information documents) it is wise to be explicit!
2. An example of a minimal future annotation fo your "Project for COSC 120" link might be:  "This originally was the project for my course COSC 120, Introduction to Cyberspace, that I took during the ... semester, 20... It contains Internet resources in my major, ... , that I found during my project research plus others I have added since completing the couse.  I plan to maintain and update this information throughout my academic career. ..."
5. Note that if you have not finished Lab 5 before the due date of Lab 6, you do NOT have to publish using Netscape; however it is essential that you get the three pages published immediately.  The project page  is the FOUNDATION of the rest of the course!
6. There are two error messages that will plague you as long as you develop Web sites.  Both arise when the browser can not find a file specified by a hyperlink.  (In fact, I'd guess that 95% of the problems occur because of a mismatch between a link and a file name on a server! )  The problem is virtually always the same (the browser can't locate the file specified in the link) so remember, you know what the problem is, and you CAN figure out how to fix it!  Just pause, take a deep breath, tell yourself you CAN find the problem, and THINK through how the Browser is trying to locate the file.  The two most common error messages (in Navigator; in other browsers, the messages may vary a little) are:
1. the dreaded 404, File Not Found message.  (This has several forms, depending on the browser version you are using, but all say something about "...file not found...")  This simply means that the file specification (path name, folders separated by slashes("\" in Windows or "/" in UNIX), followed by the file name, e.g. public_html/project.htm in UNIX) does not EXACTLY match the file location on the server.  The file could be missing, in the wrong folder, or have a different name.
1. NOTE: the SGA server uses Windows, which is not case sensitive, so INDEX.htm and index.htm are equivalent; however, you should note that on a UNIX server or one based on UNIX, like Linux, the files project.html, Project.html , and project.htm are all different! This would cause a problem if you ever move you your Web site from the student server to a commercial server - I hope you will, after you graduate, and maintain your evolving Web resource for the rest of your life.  Obviously, being careful to match the case of links and file names will avoid problems when you move - or if the operating system of the SGA server is ever changed back to a UNIX based OS.  Also, it will avoid confusion if you remember the difference in the path names of Windows and UNIX, i.e. backslashes "\" separate folders in Windows and slashes, "/" separate them in UNIX.)
2. Also, UNIX does NOT recognize blank spaces in file or directory names (Windows and MacOS do!), so my pic.gif may show up in your Windows version of a Web page but not on your Web site.
3. Therefore, to avoid future problems, it is best to make all file and directory names:
1. a continuous string of charaters and numbers (You can use underscore "_" and dashes "-".) and
2. all lower case.
2. the confusing Forbidden... message.  This really surprises students when they first see this.  It would imply that you are "forbidden" from accessing the Web site; if it is your own Web site this is particularly mysterious.  In fact, you are not forbidden; it simply means there is no home page in the proper location on the server.  On goliath this means that index.htm or index.html is not in the folder public_html .  (Remember on a UNIX server, the file Index.htm is a different file than index.htm ! If your home page is NOT index.htm, letter for letter, anyone, including you, will be "forbidden" from accessing your site!)
7. As item 5.1, above, impiles (and as I have said several times before), it is critical to follow instructions explicitly!   In particular, don't use a name for your project other than "project.htm" (or "project.html") for your project.  This really won't affect you or your Web site, but if I type " project.htm" in a URL, I will get a file not found error if your file is named "project.htm".  I may want to access project.htm or one of your labs directly so PLEASE use ".htm" or ".html". (Often I prefer to bypass slow-loading home pages in this course; if you do not name your Web pages as I specify, my only recourse is to guess at the file name or start with your home page.)
8. Always double check that ALL links work after you upload a modified version of your Web site.  As you know (or will soon find out!), the fact that everyting works on you local copy of your Web "should" mean that it will work, when published on a Web server; however, this is NO guarantee that it will work on your Web site so always check!  It is easy, when interrupted, to forget to save before uploading or to save and forget to upload; this happens to me more often than I like to confess!  Simple solution: ALWAYS CHECK!
1. Also it is advisable to check how your Web pages appear in different browsers - and different computers.  After all, people not only use different browsers, they use different operating systems and different computers, so if you are really designing a Web site that you hope will be accessed by a large crossection of people, check it's appearance in as many different platforms as possible.
9. It is advisable to avoid using underlined text (except, perhaps, for references, like I do) because underlining normally indicates hyperlinks so underlining text can cause confusion in your user; use bold or larger fonts to emphasize text you might otherwise underline.
10. Be sure to give every Web page a descriptive name; this will appear in the tab if you are viewing the page using Navigator.  (If you don't do this, the default name, "Untitled Document", will appear - DEFINITELY NOT PROFESSIONAL!!).
1. To name a Web page, using Composer, select the Format menu, then Page Title and Properties..., and finally fill in the Title space with the name of your page.
2. I would recommend that you also fill in the Author and Description fields, but this is not required.
• Lab 6: 
1. Lab 6:  This lab is a bit  "dated" if not "outdated".  It is still important to know how to use an FTP client to upload and download files (of any type); in fact, this is essential for creating a Web site, like that in this course.  However, there are fewer and fewer pure FTP sites; most have Web interfaces like CNET's download.com .  However, you still can find stuff on anonymous FTP servers especially in developing countries that do not have the bandwidth to use the Web efficiently, so checking for these is still worthwhile.
2. The main point of this lab is to become familiar with an FTP client, not only to upload/download, but also to use it as "a surrogate OS" . i.e. to delete, move, rename, copy, etc. the files on your student account.  (Note that you can store ANY computer file on your account on student, not just Web pages.  So if you have important files you can use student as secure, omniaccessible backup for them.)  To fully manage your Web site, you would need to learn the operating system of the server; you could log on, via telnet, and the old fashioned text-based command system.  However, that would be wasteful side trip for a class like COSC 120, so we will get along using an FTP client.  If you would like to manage your Web site directly, go ahead.
3. From now on, you will be working on your project, so I advise you to check out the Project Specifications and start incorporating its requirements into your current pages.  This will save your time, effort, and frustrations later!  Your project will be a continuing assignment that will be developed by doing subsequent labs, but you should continue working on project.htm and other pages even though this is not explicitly assigned in the instructions of later labs.
1. In particular, I think each of you should find a "page style" that is uniform across your project and pages linked from it.  In other words I think associated pages (like those for this course) should have a common appearance, indicating that they are part of collection. This need not apply to your home page because that is "yours" (i.e. not really a requirement of this course) and should be an interface to your resume and other pages you create that are not associated with this course.
4. Be sure to make your Web site user friendly for a visitor who knows nothing about the course.   In particular...
1. YOU MUST ANNOTATE ALL YOUR LINKS, i.e. provide a concise description of the page the link accesses. I will deduct point from now on, especially on your project, for lack of clarity if you do not have descriptive links. PLEASE don't make me do this!! (Annotation like "Lab 6" is meaningless to any Web surfer who is not part of this class, so explain what the page is all about!  Such annotations simply assist the Web site visitor when deciding to click on a link or not.)
5. As the Project Specifications clearly state, your Web site should be a considered a "hypertext "technical writing" exercise", so be sure to use university-level English.  In particular use proper capitalization, i.e.
1. Capitalize the pronoun "I".  Nothing bugs me more than  seeing lower case "i", especially from University students.  Never send me anything, e-mail messages or Web pages, with this inexcusable mistake!
2. Use complete sentences, beginning with capital letters, none of these "chat" shortcuts.
6. Some people are including URLs that are not links.  The main point of having an HTML document is to have links, so NEVER give a URL without making it a link.  Sure, someone can copy 'n paste the URL into the browser field, but that is unnecessary if you include the link, something very simple.
7. Some people put their link to lab6.htm on their home page instead of  on project.htm as specified in the instructions.  ALL links to lab pages in this class should be on project.htm.
8. Some people are confusing Web sites and FTP sites.  An FTP site has the URL type ftp:// instead of http://, e.g. ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/.  Such sights are specifically created to make files available for download (not access). and, if you have privileges, uploading.
9. If you have not published index.htm, resume.htm, and project.htm, by now, you are in trouble!  Note that project.htm is the FOUNDATION of the rest of the course.  Every other lab as well as your final project will be linked from this lab, so it is CRITICAL that you get project.htm published IMMEDIATELY.
10. If you do have index.htm, resume.htm, and project.htm, working, your major headaches are over. From now on you will be adding to your site and modifying your draft pages.  (Minor headaches will probably plague you forever; I speak from PERSONAL experience!  However, as you get comfortable with HTML authoring and publishing with and FTP client, you'll be able to solve those problems quickly, so they reduce from problems to nuisances. )
11. Be sure to put the automatic e-mail link at the bottom of ALL your Web pages.  That makes it easy for any visitor to contact you.  (This is a requirement for your project , so you might as well do this now!)
12. It is unwise to use underlined text in Web pages unless they designate hyperlinks.   People usually expect underlined words to be links so if they find they are not, they may think something is wrong with those links.  I use orange underlined text in my online learning material to designate reference material that is not online, but I explicitly explain this in my comments about notation.
13. I was often a bit disappointed in the appearance of some student's published labs.  Remember, that your Web pages are open to the public, so try to make them leave a good impression of you.
• Lab 7:  Hopefully, this lab will give you experience with various search engines .   (It is easy to get used to a favorite search engine and ignore advances in other search tools.  Also it is important to keep in mind that NO search engine completely covers the Web, so if you can't find what you are looking for with one tool, try others; the problem, of course, is that all search tools give you so many "hits" that it is overwhelming.  Therefore, the efficiency of finding relevant Web sites and placing them at the top of the list is probably the most important facility of search tools.)
1. It is important that you follow specifications carefully.  I am analyzing student opinions and will report on the best and worst search engines, according to our class, IF I can get this info from you labs.  Therefore you MUST rank ALL the search engines from best (#1) to worst in two separate lists.  I will report the class opinion here, after everyone has finished the lab.
2. Some people tried to create lists of columns which turn out to look very ragged. If you want to create formatted columns of data, use tables.  In fact tables are the standard way of "fixing" the layout of particular sections of a Web page; however, don't turn your Web pages into fixed layout "text look-alikes" - an essential feature of HTML is that pages will reformat to best suit the window/frame in which the user views them. (One of the most annoying layouts are those that require horizontal scrolling; it fact, most knowledgeable Web designers say never to have horizontal scrolling - unless something like a picture requires it.)
   
3. I was disappointed in the small number of "Web resources" reported in part B of some of the labs.  As I clearly stated in the instructions, one would expect this page to be the biggest of the project because the Web dominates all other services of the Internet.  One would expect there to be many more Web sites with info on your major than any other service.
4. After finishing this lab 7 (and subsequent labs), do NOT ignore the Web pages that you created.  As you continue your exploration of cyberspace, add to your "resources" as you develop your project.  In other words, your project should contain improved versions of ALL your original lab submissions.  (In fact, I hope you will continue to expand your resource pages for the rest of you life; they should provide useful information throughout your education and, beyond, in your career!)
5. Remember what is says in the introduction of Lab 7 about your distinguishing at least two types of specialized pages, "Web Indexes" (sites that are primarily a list of links to other sites) and "Web References" (Encyclopedias, dictionaries, FAQ sites, etc. for your major) in addition to the "Web Resources" you identified in Lab 7. This might mean that some of your Lab 7 "resources" should be shifted into the "indexes" or "references" categories in lab 9 and even later, as you expand and update your project.
6. Debrief comments are NOT MADE TO BE IGNORED!!  Some people still have things that have been criticized in previous debriefs, e.g.
1. nonsense in their Web pages, especially that left over from old templates.  This indicates that item 4, in the Debrief of Lab 4 has been IGNORED!
2. uninformative cryptic links on their pages, e.g. "Main Page" on your home page says nothing about your project, much less what it contains, and "Lab 7" means nothing to a visitor who is not part of our class.  This indicates that Debrief of lab 5, item 4 has been IGNORED!
3. no automatic e-mail link.  (These should be on EVERY page on your Web site!) This indicates that Debrief of lab 6 item 11 has been IGNORED!
7. In fact, everyone should review the comment on item 3 of the Lab 6 Debrief, i.e. that it will save time if you start designing your pages so they fulfill the specifications of the Project.  This will save you time and effort in the near future!
• Lab 8: 
1. Some people have one important misunderstanding.   They are confusing Web page access (URL starts with http://") and newsgroup access (URL starts with "news:"); now, most newsgroups are accessed via Web page "front ends" like Google groups.  However, a problem can arise when trying to access newsgroups through a newsreader like Netscape Messenger (which is both an e-mail and newsgroup client).  For example, if you try to use Messenger on campus, you may get an error message that says, in effect, " ... can not find the server news."; this means that your computer does not have a genuine newsgroup server selected as it's default.  This happens if no one has specified a newsgroup server in Communicator's preferences.  In order to select one you would have to use Edit|Preferences to bring up the Preferences dialog box where you would click the Mail & Newsgroup check box and then select Newsgroup Servers .  This is were you select the default server or add other newsgroup servers.  If you had gotten the error message mentioned above, you would see "news(default)" highlighted in the list, probably by itself.  In order to access any newsgroups, you would have to add a server, using the Add... button.  Unfortunately, the newsgroup server for the University of Maryland Syste, news.umd.edu, is virtually disfunctional (See the sub section, below.)  You can search for newsgroup servers using most search engines; however, the bottom line is that it is now easier to access newsgroups via a Web interface, like Google Groups or other subscription services, than it is to use a newsreader like Messagner, especially if you do not have a good newsgroup server.
1. Typically, every ISP has its own news server, so you simply configure your news reader to connect to it. However, if you are on the FSU network, you don't have an ISP. The server available on campus is news.umd.edu ; it still exists, but appears to students to have virtually no newsgroups on it, so it is totally useless. The problem is complicated to explain; it has to do with reverse DNS servers in the University of Maryland System. If you don't have a DNS entry for your connection (no students do, but there should be in all labs), then you can't access the UMS news server. Yes, it seems very stupid that you are a student in the UMS, and you can not use their Usenet service, but that's what I have been told. I'll look further into it.  HOWEVER, IT IS JUST EASIER AND BETTER TO USE Google Grooups to access newsgroups . As long as you know how to create that "news:..." link, you have got the point. If your visitor has a news server, then it will work fine. It's only in situations like we have on campus that a problem occurs.
2. Newsgroups are like our class forum, but they are NOT chat rooms; they are "asynchronous", i.e. the person who may respond to your submission may not read it until hours or days later, so keep checking back to see if you get a response.
3. Several people expressed dislike for newsgroups.  Personally I don't use them often.  In fact I have found there to be much useless content that you have to wade through to find anything worth while.  However, newsgroups do have three unique advantages:
   
1. currency, i.e. you can find information that was posted only a few seconds earlier,
   
2. specific information can be gained by asking your own questions (This is unique to newsgroups, i.e. a large, world-wide group of "experts" can see your questions/comments virtually instantaneously.), and
   
3. variety, i.e.discussion "threads" can contain different (often conflicting) viewpoints/opinions which can be throught provoking (or confusingly irritating).  
4. Newsgroups personify free public forums, with all the advantages and disadvantages of free speech.
5. It  is important for you to participate in a newsgroup discussion so that you can experience their up-to-date information and interactivity.  Try asking a question that you are curious about, perhaps job or graduate school availability for people with your educational background, or ask about other newsgroups that your readers frequent.
   
6. Another apparant source of confusion involves mailing lists.  In part B some people had links to a "forum" which is like a newsgroup, not  a mailing list, like digital dispatch (which you should have subscribed to in Lab 1) from CNET.  You need to try to find true mailing lists (from a "listserver") in order to complete this assignment.
7. Mailing lists are the primary reason for my "bloated" e-mail accounts!  I have subscribed to so many that I don't have time to read them; I should simply unsubscribe, but I don't - can't get rid of the feeling that something really important will be in the postings.  Since currency is the main value of both mailing lists and newsgroups, I strongly recommend that try to read the most recent postings, but "toss" any unread postings after a month or so.  I hope you are more organized about this than I!
   
8. Note that this is the last lab that introduces new subject matter that is to be included in your Project. However, it is important to realize that lab7b.htm (Web resources), lab8a.htm (newsgroups), lab8b.htm (mailing lists), lab9b.htm (Web indexes), and lab9c.htm (Web references)  were all only first drafts of pages that I hope you keep developing throughout your educational career and even after that!  Therefore, in the remaining weeks you should continute working on those pages, adding links, refining you analysis and annotations and, above all, make sure that every page satisfies the Project Specifications.
9. Several people STILL do not have adequate annotations on their links.  This means the are ignoring debrief comments, e.g. Lab 7, item 6.2 which refers to IGNORING PREVIOUS WARNINGS.   THIS IS THE LAST WARNING; if I see single words like "Project", without clear explanations, I will give you an INCOMPLETE (-15) and deduct 10 points every time I check back and find you have not taken care of this.
• Lab 9: To be published after the assignment has been graded.
• Lab 10: To be published after the assignment has been graded.
• Project: To be published after the projects have been presented.