WWW Information

We have created a computer-based resource to distribute information for STA 210b, using the ``World Wide Web.'' This service will give you access to a lot of course-related information in a single, convenient place. Currently, we have available:

  1. The course syllabus, including a day-by-day schedule for the course.
  2. The handouts and homework assignments
  3. Answers to frequently asked questions from our office hours and email.
  4. Homework and Exam solutions. (well, they will be available after the homework is due )
  5. Online help for sending email using pine and editing files using pico.
Some of the information on the server is not available from other sources. This service consolidates a lot of information, and is available any time during the day or night. You don't have to wait for our offices to open to review copies of handouts, and you don't have to wait for office hours if you find that your question has already been asked. The material will be updated as the course progresses.

To access the server, you will need to use a World Wide Web client program, such as Netscape. The client program netscape is available on all of the ACPUB UNIX lab computers and a Windows version of netscape is available in the SOE PC Lab. We will describe how to use Netscape in the UNIX lab. If you have a Mac or PC at home it is also possible to access this material via SLIP. The first computer lab will go over running netscape in the ACPUB lab, but if you have a chance you can try this out ahead of time. Some instructions for netscape are included below for your information

Running Netscape in the ACPUB Labs

First login to a UNIX workstation. To start up netscape, type netscape & after the UNIX prompt. There may already be an icon for Netscape on the terminal. You will start netscape in the Duke Homepage. (if this is the first time that you have used netscape, a couple of information windows will appear in addition to the program window) An outline of a window will appear on the screen. Click the mouse button to make the window appear. To navigate through the information, you simply click the mouse on underlined text. To go back to where you were previously, click on the Back button at the top of the window. To quit Netscape, hold down the mouse button on the ``File'' menu at the top of the window, and drag the mouse down to ``Exit'' and then release the mouse button.

Accessing the STA210b Material

To access the STA210b material, you will need to open the appropriate URL document. In Netscape, go to the File menu and select ``Open Location'' . Enter http://www.stat.duke.edu/courses/sta210b-97 in the box and then click the Open button.

You may not want to enter that horribly long file name every time you start up netscape. Use the Bookmarks menu to ``Add Bookmark'' to place a marker where you are. Then the next time you start netscape, go back to the Bookmarks menu to get back to the STA210B material.

Printing Information

If there is information that you would like to save with a print out, go to the File menu in netscape and drag the mouse button down to Print and release. Your document should appear within a few minutes on the lab printer. In some labs, you may have to change the default ``Print Command''; check with the T.A. or send email to help if the default command does not work.