What is the CWIS?

IMPACT! - Scholarly communication, research and teaching

New ways to learn

Publishing on the Internet

What is the CWIS?

Campus Wide Information System

• Concept developed in early 1980's by University of Minnesota as a distributed, campus wide information system
• CWIS were initially developed using "Gopher" software, a menu driven, inflexible way of linking related resources together
• Widespread use in the Academic community worldwide
• Since 1994 CWIS have largely been developed using the more flexible WWW technology
• The Monash CWIS provides local information, links us to the rest of Australia and hence to the rest of the Internet and the world.
• CWIS is a dynamic environment, providing easy, efficient and inexpensive dissemination of information

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IMPACT! Scholarly communication, research and teaching

Communication

Newsgroups

Discussion Lists

Research

Online Databases for journal article citations, newspaper articles, bibliographic information, document delivery

Accessibility

Currency of information

Publishing

preprints, working papers, journals, books

Teaching - examples from around the world

ACTEIN (The Australian Capital Territory Education Information Network)

Primary school teaching (Wangaratta Primary School)

Secondary school teaching (Ex in Ed)

Tertiary (Texas collection, Milan collection)

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New Ways to Learn

Benefits of applying new technology in the educational environment, as outlined in the article "New Ways to Learn" by Andy Reinhardt, BYTE, 20 (3) March 1995, p. 50 - 72.

• Boosting of curiosity, creativity and teamwork
• Changed role of the teacher
• Reemergence of the apprenticeship model
• Reduced intimidation and frustration among students
• Reduced behavioural problems and improved concentration and self image
• Access to more information (i.e. background on demand)
• Richer information environment to penetrate
• Breaking down the walls of the classroom, integrating home, town and world

They also outlined some "golden rules" for applying IT in the classroom, such as

"Computers should be used to enhance, not replace, the teacher and supplement, not supplant, traditional teaching methods. Corrollary: Computers should be used for the things they're good at, and people should be used for the things they're good at". p. 70

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Publishing on the Internet

General information about electronic publishing

Quality, Guidelines & Standards for Internet Inf. Resources

Publishing on the Monash CWIS

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Last updated 20th July 1995

Deidre Schutz, Training and PC Support Librarian

© Monash University Library, 1995