GHS LOGO STUDENT STUDY NOTES

STUDY TIPS

HOW TO USE THE INTERNET

Haven't used the web at all? Searched for hours and found nothing useful? Why use the Internet? The simple answer is that the Internet is an excellent tool for learning which can be used: However, as with any tool, the user needs to first be skilled at using it! The aim of these notes is to introduce students briefly to the background, the language, the varied uses, and the searching skills needed to effectively use the Internet. Armed with this knowledge, the Internet should not be a frustrating tool to use.

DOTHISTORY OF THE INTERNET

The Internet is the world's largest public and co-operative computer network. The number of Internet connections has nearly doubled every year since the mid 1980s and continues to grow at a rapid rate. As more and more new computer networks join the Internet, the communication and information sharing potential of this huge network will keep growing as well. The Internet can trace its roots back to the early 1960s during the Cold War years. Fearing that its strategically important computer network could be crippled by a nuclear strike, the US Department of Defense developed ARPANET in 1969 - a computer network designed mainly to survive World War III. By the 1970s, universities and other research institutions began to access this network. By the late 1980s, individuals were connecting to this giant network - which became known officially as the Internet.

One of the newer and most exciting tools for accessing the wealth of information on the Internet is the World Wide Web. This was developed in Switzerland in 1990. The World Wide Web is a collection of hyperlink documents that are linked together like a spider web (ie. the hypertext in these documents are simply the links that, when selected, will make a connection to other Web documents). These documents are stored on computers called Servers located around the world. On the World Wide Web you can jump from site to site via the hyperlinks and not even know the address of where you are or how you got there!

For a more detailed account of the history of the Internet, visit the following sites:

LINE

DOTHOW TO USE A WEB BROWSER

Websites are accessed by using a Web Browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. You should aim to become familiar with Web Browsers and how they work - in particular the tool bar located at the top of the Browser which displays a range of icons that perform certain tasks.

BROWSER BUTTONS

The most useful buttons on your browser toolbar are: When you start a Web Browser, you generally begin at a Home Page. You can then access any site you want to visit by simply typing the URL in the Address Bar, eg.

Address http://www.ghslibrary.webfront.net.au

This long list of letters is known as a URL. It stands for Uniform Resource Locator (ie. the unique address for each page on the Web). It is important that you type these URLs exactly or the Web Browser will not find the location. Making sense of such lists of letters is not difficult. To begin with:

If you have no addresses, you can search the Web by using WWW Search Engines. Even though Browsers have a Search button, I would advise you to use the Search Engines located at the Griffith High School Library site. If you wish to save a Website that you have visited and may wish to revisit at some later time, the Browser will let you do this via the Bookmark or Favorites button. Simply click onto this button and then add the Website to the bookmark.

To learn more about the Web and Browsers take the ten minutes tour at The Web at a Glance site. Click on the blue arrows in the top right hand corner until you reach the Congratulations screen - then return here.

LINE

DOTHOW DO I FIND WHAT I WANT?

Forget power searching. Don't worry about learning to do a "Boolean" search. All most people need to know is a little basic "search engine math" in order to improve their results. Click on Search Engine Math to learn how to easily add, subtract and multiply your way into better searches at your favorite search engine. This information works for nearly all of the major search engines.

There are many different Search Engines available for use. Each of these search the Web in different ways to find information (eg. some search the titles, some search the content, others use thematic or topic categories). However, the use of keywords is common to all search engines. For a list of search engines, visit W3 Search Engines. However, you will find a variety of useful Search Engines located at the Griffith High School Library site (eg. four Australian Search Engines, a variety of some of the best World Search Engines, and a selection of excellent Meta-Search Engines).

Please note that search engines do have limitations so you have to carefully consider your search strategy before going on-line as this can save you time. This can easily be done by brainstorming or developing a concept map. Focus on key words and optional words. You should also become a divergent thinker and approach your search from different angles.

Finally, it is also worth noting that as the Net is fluid,
you may get different results on the same search at a later time!

LINE

DOTSHOULD I BELIEVE WHAT I'VE FOUND?

As with any information you find, you must evaluate the veracity and value of the source. So, how do you evaluate Internet resources? The answer to this question can be found at the QUICK : Quality Information Checklist site which lists eight ways of checking information on websites - take a look, it won't take long, then return here. In a nutshell, you can follow these simple clues which will help you to decide if the information in a website is any good:

LINE

DOTHOW TO DO E-MAIL

E-mail is the fastest, most efficient and most inexpensive mode of communication in the world. It is also the most popular and simplest Internet tool to use. With a touch of a button, you can send a message anywhere in the world in a mattter of seconds! If you want to send and receive e-mail messages, you need to know your recipients' addresses and they must know yours. The address consists of the "user ID" at "domain name" (eg. ghslib@webfront.net.au). Every e-mail message has the same elements no matter what type of computer system it is sent from or what program was used to create it:

E-MAIL MESSAGE BOX

Most e-mail programs these days let you insert what's known as a signature at the bottom of the message. This can be anything from a clever quote to some additional information about yourself (ie. your name, title, company name etc).

Just like sending letters, you need the correct address. If you use the wrong address or mistype it, your message will bounce back to you (ie. the Return to Sender, Address Unknown routine). When you receive an e-mail, the header tells you where it came from, how and when it was sent. It's like an electronic postmark.

Note that unlike a sealed letter, e-mail is not as private.
Think of e-mail as you would a post card.
Messages can be intercepted and read by strangers.
Avoid including any confidential information unless you can encrypt it.

To learn more about how e-mail works (ie. adding attachments, netiquette, smileys etc), visit the Harness E-mail site - take a look, it won't take long, then return here.

DOTMAKING USE OF MAILING LISTS

Mailing lists evolved as a way for researchers from universities around the world to keep in touch and share ideas. These now provide a fast, easy and inexpensive way for people worldwide to share ideas, interests and concerns. Newcomers are encouraged to lurk (ie. subscribe to a list but not post messages) in order to get familiar with the list discussions. Each mailing list is a collection of e-mail addresses regulated by a Listserver (ie. an automated program that distributes mail messages). Each mailing list focuses on a single topic. People subscribe to mailing lists and participate by sending messages to the list, responding to messages received from other members of the list, or simply reading the messages that appear in their electronic mailboxes. Currently there are thousands of mailing lists on the Internet on every topic you can imagine, and the number continues to grow. The majority of mailing lists are open to anyone who wants to subscribe. To subscribe to an electronic mailing list, follow these steps:

DOTMAKING USE OF NEWSGROUPS

Newsgroups are best described as topic-specific discussion forums where people post messages called articles. The articles either request information, initiate discussions or are responses to articles other people have posted. A huge directory can be found at either Liszt's Usenet Newsgroups Directory or Cyberfiber Newsgroups. Newsgroups are organised into broad topics. The following are some broad topic designations which appear as the first part of the newsgroup name:

The main difference between newsgroups and mailing lists is that messages posted to mailing lists are sent to the electronic mailbox of every user who subscribes. Postings to newsgroups, however, are sent only to the host. To view messages sent, one must then use a newsreader or browser. Eventually articles "expire" and are deleted to make room for new ones. Depending on the host, articles may stay in the newsgroup anywhere from two days to two weeks.

To learn more about how newsgroups work (ie. searching newsgroups, posting messages etc), visit the Join Newsgroups site - take a look, it won't take long.

LINE

BACK