1. The Internet

2. What is the Internet?  The Internet is a network of networks.  It gives users access to a wide variety of information from millions of different sources.  It also gives users access to electronic mail (email).

3. What is the Internet?  To access the Internet users need:  A computer.  A modem.  A telephone line or broadband connection.  An Internet Service Provider (ISP).

4. What is the Internet?  Once a user is ‘online’ they can access information produced by content providers.  A content provider can vary from a large company that sells its products online to an individual who has a single page website.

5. Examples of content providers

6. The World Wide Web  Most content providers are part of the World Wide Web (www).  The World Wide Web forms part of the Internet where graphics, sound, video, animation, and text can be blended together to form a website.

7. The World Wide Web  These are created using ‘hypertext’, which allows links between the different media to be made as well as links between web pages and websites.

8. The World Wide Web  Web pages and websites can be viewed using special software called ‘web browsers’ (e.g. Netscape, Internet Explorer).

9. The World Wide Web  Websites are created using html (Hyper Text Mark-up Language), although other program languages can also be used (e.g. Java and Java Script).

10. The World Wide Web  Websites can be found in two different ways:  By typing the website’s URL (Universal Resource Locator) into a search engine.  Using the ‘search’ facility in a search engine.

11. The World Wide Web  Once a website has been found, its location can be ‘saved’ by the browser in Favourites (Internet Explorer) or Bookmark (Netscape).

12. Examples of search engines

13. Newsgroups and chat rooms  Newsgroups are Internet-based discussion groups devoted to discussing specific topics or interests (e.g. rock bands, world politics, hobbies or sports).  There are currently over 5,000 newsgroups.

14. Newsgroups and chat rooms  Chat rooms are pages on a website or online service where users can ‘chat’ with other users.  This is done by typing messages that are displayed on the screens of others users who are logged-on to the ‘chat room’.  Chat rooms are also called ‘online forums’.

15. Electronic mail (email)  Emails are messages sent via a computer network to individuals or groups of individuals.  Although emails are usually text, users can attach files that include graphics, sound, and video.  Email addresses include the @ symbol, such as ict@crownwoods.sch.uk.

16. Electronic mail (email)  Emails can be created online (i.e. whilst connected to the Internet – ideal for users who have broadband Internet connection) or offline (i.e. before connecting to the Internet – ideal for users who have expensive dial-up Internet connection).

17. Electronic mail (email) The addressee’s email address is typed in or selected from the address book. The email addresses of people who are to be sent a copy of the email (Cc = carbon copy) are typed in or selected from the address book. Subject of the email is then added. The text of the email is then typed in. Any attachments (files that are to be sent with the email) are attached. The email can then be sent.