Since 1995 Internet communication
became indispensable tool in science, art, and humanities. Moreover,
every level of education is supposed to be closely connected to
the use of WWW, while it is present in all segments of everyday
use, as well. Experience, knowledge and science present undoubtedly
the most important and basic component of human progress. Therefore,
it is necessary for developing countries to establish the connection
to the scientific and professional communication improved through
a modern "knowledge industry", realised by Internet, as soon as
possible. This is especially important for various levels of education.
This report will consider the education of the study profiles
for the chemical engineers and second school teachers in the information
science at the Faculty of Science in Zagreb, and the teaching
profiles in chemistry and biology at the Pedagogical Faculty in
Osijek. Concerning the university level, not all faculties improved
their lecture rooms and studies with a complete computer network
equipment connected to the Internet, and devoted for the student
service. Internet access to the libraries, i.e. the National University
Library as well as the libraries of Ruder Boskovic Institute,
play an important role for the university communication in all
areas of their activities. The links are available for the most
important primary and secondary periodicals in science, arts and
humanities. The course in information science started in 1961.
at the Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science in Zagreb. The
program of the lectures and seminars has been improved through
years; particular improvement has been done recently. Moreover,
the practical work in the Internet browsing has been introduced
into the regular teaching program for the second study year for
the profiles of chemistry in Zagreb and for the forth study year
for the profiles of chemistry and biology in Osijek. On average,
70 students/year in Zagreb, and 12 students/year in Osijek, were
included into the teaching program of the data processing, and
in addition, to the Internet access course. The investigation
showed that only 10% of students population, on average, which
were included into the information courses, already had some experience
with the Internet browsers; moreover, none of them were acquainted
with research data bases. Main topics in our course, including
individual practical approach to the Internet, are connected with
the uses of browsers, e.g., ALTA VISTA mainly focussed on the
names of institutions, authors, digital books, and other related
contents. Students are teached to perform search of the periodicals,
the most important primary and secondary journals in the field,
mainly from the data base Current Contents, using the system OVID.
In addition, a new textbook ?Introduction to research and information
science? is now in preparation to be published as the hard-copy
and in the digital media (WEB, CD-ROM) as well.
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