Introduction to the Internet for Students -- instructor's notes

Introduction to the Internet for Students

General Preparation
1. I usually do this class in small groups (3-4 students) so that each can have his/her own computer and receive plenty of coaching from the instructor.
2. I schedule this class to take two hours. That seems to leave plenty of time for questions and hands on work. With a larger class size, you would probably want to lengthen it.
3. I would make copies of the handouts for each of the students. They can be referred to online if you like, but a paper copy gives them a place to take some notes and something they can refer to at a later date as well.
What is the World Wide Web?

The World Wide Web, also referred to as the WWW and "the Web," is the universe of information available via hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP).
The Web presents information as a series of "documents," often referred to as web pages

Netscape Navigator is a graphical web browser that enables a user to access the web and to fully experience the images, colors, sounds and movies that make up the WWW. In addition, a user may access FTP, Gopher and telnet, as well as newsgroups and e-mail.
Parts of a Netscape display

"Speed dial" for Netscape
Netscape is writing down the address in a special file that can be accessed at any time. Can be organized by user and even saved to a disk so it can be used on another computer.
If possible, have them place several bookmarks while they are working and then go back later and retrieve marked pages.

Uniform Resource Locator - a.k.a. "The address"
information required to retrieve a specific item, wherever it exists in the Web "universe"
http://www.cedarnet.org -- use something local or on a meaningful subject to the entire group
Spend some time with this first one showing them how to select links, scroll through a document, use of back, forward and stop buttons, etc.

http://www.yahoo.com
http://www.einet.net/galaxy.html
Give them plenty of time to work with this -- good practice maneuvering through a browser.

These will only be looking for search terms as key words; can get lots of unwanted hits this way. Use the searching tips for each engine (they're all different) to improve results. Point out the handout that has Lycos' basic search help. Good idea to plan searches ahead of time -- gather thoughts and make best use of time online.
http://novel.nifl.gov/htdig/index.html -- not really a search engine, place to search for literacy, basic ed., etc. materials, including items from the literacy centers and materials that have been placed online
http://www.lycos.com
http://www.dogpile.com -- a metasearch engine (it searches several different search engines together)
May want to have a couple searches set for them to start with, then spend lots of time doing searches and moving through the documents they find.
While they are working, spend some time talking about evaluating information found on the WWW. Not everything is as authoritative as it might appear.

Best done with temporary accounts set up for each student. Try to make arrangements with a local service provider (possibly the community college if you have that affiliation). Should have something waiting for them to examine. Could also have them send themselves a document they found while browsing earlier. Have them send a message to the trainer's account. If it's not possible to set up accounts, show them what e-mail looks like in Netscape and explain how you go about sending & retrieving messages.

Should have information available on signing up for local Internet service and/or e-mail packages (ie HotMail or RocketMail) that can be accessed over the Web. Should also have list of area places where individuals can access the Internet for free (local public library, community college, etc.).

Instructor - Eunice Riesberg

Introduction to the Internet for Students

Iowa Literacy Resource Center

415 Commercial St., Waterloo, IA 50701 319-233-1200, 800-772-2023, 319-233-1964 (fax)

revised December 30, 1997 by