🚀 go-pugleaf

I think that discovering a problem with Quessing's web page and then
hinting that perhaps a fellow training/education professional is a
hypocrite ("Is this a case of the cobbler's children having no shoes?") is
a bit innappropriate.  This listserv was created to improve the lines of
communication between professionals in our industry, not for subtle
insults.

NOTE:  I know for a fact that MSIE 5.0 is still in beta, and Netscape 4.5
was only recently released - approximately 3 months ago.  Its not unusual
for javascript that works perfectly with existing and/or preexisting
versions of a browser to have problems in a new version (not to mention a
browser still in beta).

Lets be reasonable and remember the primary purpose of this listserve.
Here is a quote from the welcome message I received when I signed up for
NETTRAIN:

2.  PURPOSE AND AUDIENCE

     NETTRAIN is intended to serve two purposes: (1) to be a
forum or clearinghouse for the exchange of information, advice,
and resources for the purpose of training others in the use of
the Internet; and (2) to provide a medium for wide-ranging
discussion of practical, theoretical, and philosophical issues
regarding training in the use of the worldwide Internet.

     NETTRAIN, then, is a discussion list for "net trainers"--
which does *not* necessarily mean "net experts."  Anyone who is
responsible for, or interested in, helping teach others to use
the wealth of resources available through the Internet is
welcome.  "NETTRAINers" vary widely in skill levels.  Some are
network managers at large research universities; some are
free-lance independent trainers; others are simply those who have
found themselves assigned the job of training others to use the
Internet because they have shown the initiative to learn a little
on their own.  We learn best by teaching others.

---------------



NETTRAINERS:

Many thanks to list member Gerald Furi for pointing out a problem with
Quessing's pricing popup window. As he suggests, it would indeed be
hypocrisy of the highest rank for Quessing to tout the quality of our
JavaScript and Java courses and have a simple JavaScript window mechanism
not function properly on our own site.

However, it turns out that the JavaScript code was in fact clean; the HTML
file (containing the pricing information) referred to by the link on the
home page was corrupt. It apparently became corrupted during an FTP upload.
A simple re-upload fixed the problem completely.

This is a good lesson for all of us as Internet instructors: there are
often simply ghosts in the machine. Packet switching is not perfect, and
sometimes a packet header becomes corrupted or a few bits of data get
scrambled. This happens with large image files relatively frequently. When
students ask us why certain things don't work as they should, we are wise
to call on our own experiences and the experiences of others (like
Quessing's pricing page defect scenario mentioned above).

Why didn't my e-mail reach its recipient? Why isn't this Web page
accessible? Why do pages download quickly sometimes and more slowly others?
Why does the RealPlayer work on my home computer but not my office PC?
These are the types of questions from students that are typically difficult
to answer. You risk either providing an overly technical, very lengthy
explanation (and wasting class time) or giving a short and sweet answer
that may give your class the impression that you are uninformed, grasping
for an answer, and don't really know. Finding a balance in between that
satisfies your students while keeping your class on schedule is often
difficult.

Best of luck with the ghosts in your own machines.

Regards,

Curt Robbins
Quessing Courseware Corp.
http://quessing.com

"We Write Internet Coursew@re"(R)