Internet Basics 

The Internet is a fairly new phenomenon and it's capabilities are growing at an astounding rate. In this lesson you will learn where it all started, what it is, exactly, and how to evaluate material that you find on the Web.  You will also explore the online environment and how it works.

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2. Evaluating Material on the Web The Internet holds vast amounts of information. One estimate puts the total amount of information held at over 6 terabytes (a terabyte, Tb, is approximately a million megabytes), and it is increasing daily. With volumes of information, how can you be sure that the material that you read is reliable, factual, and otherwise free of malicious intent or bias? The University of South Carolina recommends the following when evaluating material on the Web: Check your source Reading the Web address can tell you much about the site you are visiting. Remember that a URL is made up of: Protocol Host computer name Second level domain name Top level domain Scroll over the hyperlink below and pay attention to the screen tip that appears: http://blackboard.boisestate.edu Only a few top-level domains are currently recognized, but this is changing. Here is a list of the domains generally accepted by all: .edu -- educational site (usually a university or college) .com -- commercial business site .gov -- U.S. governmental/non-military site .mil -- U.S. military sites and agencies .net -- networks, internet service providers, organizations .org -- U.S. non-profit organizations and others In mid November 2000, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) voted to accept an additional seven new suffixes, which are expected to be made available to users sometime in 2001: .aero -- restricted use by air transportation industry .biz -- general use by businesses .coop -- restricted use by cooperatives .info -- general use by both commercial and non-commercial sites .museum -- restricted use by museums .name -- general use by individuals .pro -- restricted use by certified professionals and professional entities Try to determine who the author is. ask the question: Who is responsible for this Web page? watch out for obvious hoaxes. Check vital information for Web page stability by verifying: contact information, date last updated, authority of the author. Compare the content to the Web page sponsor and make a judgment about the type of bias the information may contain. try to determine the purpose of the Web page: is it promotion, advertising or serious content? Wolfgram Memorial Library suggests using the following criteria for evaluating Web sites: Accuracy: How reliable and free of error is the site? Are there editors and fact checkers? Authority: What are the author's qualifications for writing on the subject? How reputable is the publisher? Objectivity: Is the information presented with a minimum of bias? To what extent is the information trying to sway the opinion of the audience? Currency: Is the content of the work up-to-date? Is the publication date clearly indicated? Coverage: What topics are included in the work? To what depth are topics explored?

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3. Try This Obviously there are many criteria that you could use to evaluate material found on the Web. McGraw-Hill/Dustin have created a list designed especially for ease of use. Visit their site at http://www.dushkin.com/online/webresearch/cars.mhtm, Review the information on Credibility, Accuracy, Reasonableness and Support.  If you want, you can participate in the CARS checklist activity. In this activity, you will be asked to evaluate 4 sites on one topic of interest to you. Before you can do this though, you should have the URL's for the 4 sites you would like to evaluate.  Spend a little time searching the net for sites based on your chosen topic.  The Searching the Net tutorial can provide assistance if you are unfamiliar with search techniques. The CARS checklist activity is located at http://www.dushkin.com/online/webresearch/webquester_5.3.html . Follow the directions and submit the results to me (krice@boisestate.edu) when you are finished. (Submission of results is built into the activity). This would be a great activity for your students!

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4. Browser Basics There are many Internet tools. Your computer already has a browser installed on it or else you would not be seeing this page. A web browser is an example of an Internet tool. Web browsers contain the basic software that you need to find, retrieve, view, and send information over the Internet. Many browsers also include additional related software like email and chat. There are many different browsers but the most common are: Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator AOL is a special kind of browser, called a proprietary browser. All of these browsers support both text and graphics and usually provide additional software for video and sound. Not all browsers are the same but many of the same features are available on all browsers. These may include: Back Button: return to previous pages in a series of pages that you have visited. Forward Button: next pages in a series of pages that you have visited. Home Button: returns to your home page (the page that you see when you first open your browser). Refresh or Reload Button: updates the current page to the most recent version. Search Button: opens search capabilities on the Internet. Favorites or Bookmark Button: Allows you to store shortcuts to sites that you may visit often. Address Bar: Type URL's to sites on the Internet. Status Bar: located at the bottom of the window, shows the status of your download. Try this... Place your cursor over this link. The URL of this page will appear in the status bar below. Visit one of the sites listed below: Internet Explorer Tutorial http://www.microsoft.com/insider/internet/ Netscape Navigator Tutorial http://www.netscape.com/browsers/using/newusers/basics/ Browser tutorial for both Netscape and Internet explorer Learn the Net Take some time to skim (read) the material in the tutorials so you will become familiar with the content when you need it. Read the instructions for bookmarking favorites and bookmark the site so that you can return to it later. Familiarize yourself with the following topics: Tip: Make a note of the things that you should be looking for. It is very easy to become distracted and forget the reason you visited the Web site in the first place. Parts of a web address. Using the Address Box to type in a URL. Creating a shortcut to a web page. Creating and editing Favorites (a.k.a. bookmarks). Using your Desktop to access your Favorites. Customizing your Internet Explorer 5.0 toolbar. Managing your history list. Reviewing your Security Zones (Optional) Other Resources Browser basics http://www.microsoft.com/insider/internet/

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5. Netiquette Netiquette refers to online etiquette.  Yes, manners are important, even on the Internet.   Netiquette for new users http://www.ccim.com/netiq.htm Learn the Net Netiquette http://www.learnthenet.com/english/html/09netiqt.htm An online dictionary about the Internet        Webopedia online dictionary and search engine.

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