Biosciences on the Internet

Most biological science departments run general skills courses for
their first years, which include some combination of a range of
topics from lab skills, writing and presentation to basic maths,
statistics and IT. The IT section of these courses tend to include
some internet coverage but the trend towards learning how to find,
access, manage and correctly cite online resources is rapidly
becoming a required necessity for every student throughout their
undergraduate career.

At present, there are no internet guides that specifically target
this audience, despite the increasing importance placed on the use
of online resources and the difficulties students encounter trying
to make effective use of the information that is available. There
are a lot of resources on the internet and students, especially
first years, can feel swamped. As well as needing a guide, students
need support to help them identify good, reliable information on
the net. They also need guidance in administering the organisation
of their searches and the materials that they discover on the
internet. This simple guide will help bioscience students to access
the information they need on the internet, and to make the most
efficient and effective use of their time online.

Auteur
Georges Dussart is the author of Biosciences on the Internet: A Student's Guide, published by Wiley.

Texte du rabat
The internet is becoming increasingly important as a reference tool, with many students using it as their first choice of resource material. However, as the scope of the internet grows, so does the need for a concise, accessible guide to help students access, manage and cirrectly cite online resource material. Biosciences on the Internet: A Student's Guide is aimed specifically at students in the biological sciences, providing them with practical information and support to help identify good, reliable information, and guidance in administering the organisation of their searches.

This simple guide will help bioscience students to access the information they need on the internet and help to make the most efficient and effective use of their time online. Starting with an overview of the origins and history of the internet, subsequent chapters look at accessing relevant websites, how to record and organise material, how to recognise copyright and pagiarism issues and how to evaluate and navigate round websites. Information is also given on how to construct personal websites.

This book will be invaluable to all undergraduate students within the biological sciences who are looking for a practical guide to using the internet in support of their course assignments.

Biosciences on the Internet: A Student's Guide:

• is a friendly, comprehensive guide providing bioscience undergraduates with practical advice on sourcing, retrieving and utilising information on the internet
• includes numerous images and illustration to help students grasp key concepts and navigate successfully through the text
• offers a supplementary website, including relevant links

Résumé
Most biological science departments run general skills courses for their first years, which include some combination of a range of topics from lab skills, writing and presentation to basic maths, statistics and IT. The IT section of these courses tend to include some internet coverage but the trend towards learning how to find, access, manage and correctly cite online resources is rapidly becoming a required necessity for every student throughout their undergraduate career.

At present, there are no internet guides that specifically target this audience, despite the increasing importance placed on the use of online resources and the difficulties students encounter trying to make effective use of the information that is available. There are a lot of resources on the internet and students, especially first years, can feel swamped. As well as needing a guide, students need support to help them identify good, reliable information on the net. They also need guidance in administering the organisation of their searches and the materials that they discover on the internet. This simple guide will help bioscience students to access the information they need on the internet, and to make the most efficient and effective use of their time online.

Contenu
Preface

Introduction

Part 1 Teaching and learniing in relation to the internet

Approaching the internet

Getting access to the internet

Citation guidelines for the use of internet materials by students

Evaluation of software and web sites

Search Engines

Email

Approaches to preparing a biosciences assignment

Pinching materials from the web

Websites which present the work of students

Part 2 Examples of searches

Microbes

Examples of a university web site

A typical general search - the wreck of the Sea Empress

Searching a typical government site - mad cow disease

Using the web for bioscience shopping

Whaling - freedom of enquiry

Searching via research groups

Part 3 Final Destinations

An eclectic list of web sites

Websites for the school syllabus

Conclusion

Appendix: Getting the Computer Going

Glossary

References

Index