The goal of this two-hour workshop is to improve your searches, your research, and your on-line experience.

In a hands-on session exploring the pros and cons of various sites – some extremely popular ones, some you may not have heard of – we explore ways to make your Web time more efficient.

This workshop is designed for all levels of Web experience – from ten days to ten years.

Among problems tackled:

• Unreliable information
• Spam, pop-up windows, viruses and other annoyances
• Too many search results
• Too few search results
• Lack of useful statistics
• Too much techno jargon
• Can't keep track of new sites
• Your questions here

Among issues covered:

• What’s bookmarking? How do I do it? Can I have MY bookmarks on-line?
• How can I best save time (and MONEY) at the Cybercafe?
• How do I deal with tons of email?
• Useful newly-launched sites
• Which search engine is best for each search
• Finding sources/info FAST
• Dealing data and stats
• When to use, well, the library, instead of the Web
• Your topic here

Among sites explored:

• When you know nothing about something, e.g., What, really, is the stock market? How do credit cards work? etc.
• Web tools and solutions for free: when I can't or wont pay for stuff that I need on-line.

YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Kodi Barth teaches journalism at the University of Connecticut. He is a graduate of the Columbia Graduate School fo Journalism, New York.

To schedule a workshop, drop him an email right now.

Read more about your instructor at www.kodibarth.com/bio

Q: I have been using the Web for a few years now; won't this be a waste of time?
A: It is meant to improve your existing skill level, so unless you keep up with the latest sites and techniques for journalism research/search, this should be useful. Of course, there's never a guarantee that anything is not a waste of time!

Q: What kind of facilities do you need to teach this workshop?
A: Ideally, a single PC with a Web browser, a dedicated Internet connection and projection (i.e., LCD projector onto a screen or a white wall). Theater-style seating works well, as does gathering everyone around a conference table and sticking me and the projector at one end. If you want to have a special hands-on session, then you need to arrange for several computers and more time.

Q: Is there a charge for this workshop?
A: I will do this workshop often without charge for small charitable organizations, but will charge money from deeper pockets <he, he, he!>.

Q: I am in interested in having a workshop scheduled for my colleagues at the office. What next?
A: Get in touch and we can work out the details.

Q: Can you tailor the workshop to suit a particular set of "students?" Can you increase/decrease the length of the session(s)?
A: Yes. Let me know what you need.

Q: How many people can you teach at one session?
A: Remember, I teach for a living. I have taught groups as small as eight and as large as 34. We can scale up or down, depending on the facilities.

Q: Are you willing to do a session outside Nairobi?
A: Certainly. But I’ll probably bill you for my travel and trouble <he, he, he!>.

Q: Do I get USIU credit for this workshop?
A: This is an optional workshop with no university credit points. So far, apart from the knowledge you gain you get no paper to wave under anyone’s nose.

Q: What if I can't make any of your sessions and I want a solo lesson?
A: Individual tutoring is tough to schedule. Still, contact me and we can see what we can work out.

Q: What’s your favorite beer?
A: Depends where I am – on a plane or in a canoe? (OK, no one’s asked that question in reference to this workshop, but who knows when I might be?)