Electronic Tools for International Admissions: Part I: Five Tips for Learning to Use the Internet

During a workshop for students entering the work force, the director of a campus career center once commented, You can find the answer to any question by making five phone calls. That was back in the early 1990s, B.C.-before computers. Now she might say, You can find the answer to any question by checking five Web sites on the The has become the most valuable tool for desktop research in international admissions. It links us to far-away educational institutions whose graduates want to attend our colleges and universities; to information sources on recruiting, English-testing resources, and country educational system information; and to each other-through e-mail and discussion forums. As with other high-tech tools, the works most effectively for us when we know how to use it. Other equipment and household appliances usually come with instructions-but did you receive an Internet Instruction Book the day the computer at your desk got connected to the Internet? Most of us didn't. We low-tech types have learned most of what we know about using the from other people-colleagues, our students, our kids-but not from books. Thus for us, the has remained somewhat like the human brain-over 90 percent of its potential remains untapped. In this first part in a series on Electronic Tools for International Admissions, we offer the following pointers for those who wish to learn more about the as a tool and how to use it more efficiently to complete daily tasks in the international admissions office. Remember to share these insights with your colleagues, since so far, nobody has written an Internet Instruction Book for international admissions. 1 Become familiar with the as a tool. Learn what the Internet, World Wide Web, browsers, search engines, meta-search engines, subject directories, and databases are all about, and how these tools can help you find the information you need. Your institution's library and information technology staff are good resources, as are online tutorials, such as: UC Berkeley Teaching Library Workshops http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/ FindInfo.html This site takes you step-by-step through the process of searching the Web, gives lots of great advice and guidance, and even has downloadable handouts on several topics, including a glossary of and Web jargon. 2 Take the time necessary to get acquainted with using the Internet. Even though doing research electronically can be time-consuming when you first begin, do not be tempted to give up. Let your supervisor know that this use of your time is an investment that will lead to an efficient, effective, low-cost way to get essential and reliable information and communicate with colleagues. …