These are computer programs, we might describe them as computer instructions.  Without software programs, the computer won’t know what to do, or how to respond to what you want -- the computer would be helpless or perhaps useless.  Many programs have individual names that we recognize like:

Internet Explorer, Microsoft Word, Windows 2000, and any computer games – these are examples of software.

 

What does it mean…? 

These are a few related terms, with brief explanations, that are helpful for you to know in understanding and learning about the “Internet” and the “Web.”  There are others that we will learn about as we proceed through this lesson, and many you will discover later on your own.

Internet (or “the Net”) - the world’s largest computer network.

Network - computers that are connected together by use of cables, phone lines, and even satellites.

World Wide Web (“the Web,” or “WWW,” or “W3”) - all of the sites, information and “stuff” found on the Internet.  A database that is spread out “world wide.”

Web Page – a document with text or graphics information.

Internet Provider – a local, regional or national business or organization that provides access to the Internet. (Examples:  America On Line (AOL), MyVine (Infocom, Skynet), Compuserve, etc.

Browser - computer software (program) that makes it possible to navigate on the “Web.” (Examples: Internet Explorer, Netscape, etc.)

Search Engine – a computer program that enables searching on the World Wide Web (Examples: Yahoo, Google, Alta Vista, Infoseek, etc.)

Link – text (words) or graphics (pictures) that can take you to other locations on a Web page or to different Web pages.

 

The following website is a glossary of additional Internet and Web related terminology.

A Glossary of World Wide Web Terminology at  http://www-personal.umich.edu/~zoe/Glossary.html

 

Mousing and Clicking around

One of the basic skills necessary to navigate successfully on the Internet and searching Web pages is to use the “mouse” and associated buttons.  This requires that you become comfortable and familiar with “moving the mouse” around on the pad, and “clicking the mouse buttons.” 

1. As you move the Mouse around you will see that the “pointer” on the monitor screen moves and stops in conjunction with activity of the “Mouse.”  The Mouse controls placement of the:

Arrow pointer - used to control Scroll Bars, and select Menu or Task bar options.

Typing cursor - used for typing Search Terms and URL’s

Hand icon pointer - used to identify and select (“click on”) Web links

 

Clicking the buttons, commands the computer to “do something.”  For example, you can enlarge or reduce the size of a picture, open a Web page that you wish to look at, put away a Web page, move the page up or down so that you can read or see a different section, quit whatever you are doing, and more.  This depends on “what” you want the computer to do.

2. To “click” a mouse button, simply press and release the button rapidly.  To “double-click” the button, press it twice.  The action is kind of like tapping or drumming a finger on a table surface (typing on a keyboard, or playing a musical instrument like piano).

• Click (left, right, middle) and release.
  • Left button (primary) – this is the button used most often for selecting and “double clicking.”
  • Right button (secondary) – this button opens context menus. (We won’t be using this one.)
  • Middle button/roller – this button is also a roller that will allow you to scroll up and down a page.
    
    
• Point and click.
  • Use the mouse to guide the pointer.  Point at the desired word, link or graphic that you want to select and then “click” the left button.
    
    
• Click (and hold) and “drag”
  • Use the mouse to guide the pointer. Point at the desired “scroll bar” (vertical or horizontal), or “title bar” on a window, then “click and hold down” the left button.  With the button held down, you are then able to use the mouse to move the selected object -until you release the button.

 

Letting your fingers do the walking to get there…

Keyboard skills and awareness – “Keys:  Where are they and why do I need to know??” 

Using the mouse is only one means of getting the computer to do what you want when searching the World Wide Web.  Whether you use one finger, two fingers or more when typing, it is also necessary to develop good basic typing skills.

Let’s look at the keyboard to become familiar with the following items.  As you will see, it is very much organized like a typewriter, but with a few extras…

Numbers here and Letters there…easy to find

Space bar

Shift key (upper case, lower case)

/   -- Forward Slash key

_  -- Underline and Hyphen key

~  -- Tilde key

:   -- Colon key

“Zero” and the letter “O” are not the same thing.

 

PART II

The Morrisson-Reeves Library Web Page

We use the public library (or any library) to acquire recreational and informational materials, but how about looking for these materials in this virtual library collection?  What are you interested in?  Hobbies?  Genealogy?  News?  Sports?  Entertainment?  The Arts?  Religion?  History?  Health?  Children’s Literature?  Cooking?  Travel?  Entertainment?  Something else…? 

The library, as a kind of Search Engine:
Let’s take a closer look at the Morrisson-Reeves Library http://www.mrl.lib.in.us Web page and see what is currently available. This is a wonderful place to begin searching and learning to negotiate the “Web,” as it offers numerous Web related services and links. 

 

Let’s Take a Quick look at parts of a “Web Page.”

Button, Button, what is the button…?

Buttons and icons (images) are locations on a Web page, menu bar, tool bar, scroll bar, (and others) that identify or represent an object or a command.  Here are a few of the more common ones that you will need to locate and learn to use as you search the Web.

Back – this takes you back each time you “click” it, to go a previous document.

Forward – this takes you forward each time you “click” it, through a list of documents you have been viewing.

Stop – if you “click” the wrong thing, this will stop the loading of a page.

Refresh – this will reload the page you are currently looking at.  It is helpful when you are looking at information that is updated several times an hour…like the news.

Home – the computer can be set up with a default (pre-determined) start-up Web page. This will automatically take you to that location.  For us, that will be the MRL homepage.

Address Bar – this is not a button, but it is an important location on the Internet Explorer window.  This is used for typing in the URL (an address) of a Web page that you wish to see.

Favorites – this is where you can “bookmark” your favorite or most often used Web pages.

History – this allows you to view which Web page addresses you have already opened. It can help you when you are trying to relocate a Web page you have visited recently but are unable to find it again on your own.

Scroll Bars (Horizontal and Vertical) with top/bottom and right/left buttons – by using the appropriate buttons or the point/click/drag technique you can move the Web page up/down and right or left as desired.

Task Bar and Buttons – this is a list of things like documents (like a Web page) that are currently open and ready for access.  You can move from one document to another, simply by “clicking” a button on the task bar to open or close the desired document.

 

“The Three In One Corner”

Minimize Button (left button) – this will temporarily close and place a page down onto the Task Bar located at the bottom of the window to be later re-used.

Reduce Down/Maximize Button (center button) – this automatically shrinks or enlarges the size of a window.

Close Button (right button) – this will close (put away) a window, document or program when you are finished working with it, or no longer need it.

 

Internet Explorer Information:

The following Web page has a good explanation of the different buttons and icons found on an Internet Explorer window.  Please feel free to refer to this list as necessary while you learn your way around.

Microsoft Internet Explorer Tutorial at http://specialed.peoriaud.k12.az.us/ie_tutor.htm

 

WebPAC (Web Public Access Catalog)

The WebPAC link provides on-line access to the Morrisson-Reeves Library electronic catalog and services.  Also found at http://www.mrl.lib.in.us/webpacj/webclient.html it is provided for patron use and benefit; using it you can access the following:

-Check the library’s holdings by Title, Author, or Subject words by selecting from a list of choices provided in the “drop down menu” box.  Then simply enter (type) the word or phrase you intend to search inside the provided “search terms” box.  There are also “Guided” and “Advanced” search options to select from to assist you.

-View the “Best Sellers” list of 31 topic headings, this section also includes audio and video “New Titles” lists.  Searches can be made by Title or Author, and holds may be placed on preferred items.

-View your own “Patron Information” to view a list of items you have “checked out” as well as place “holds” for yourself.  To use this service you will need to have with you your library “Bar Code” identification number (on the back of your MRL library card) AND your Pin Number.  If you do not have a PIN Number (Personal Identification Number), you may get one at the library’s Circulation Services Desk.

-View a list of Organizations in Richmond by name or keyword search.

-Check the Newspaper Index by Keyword or Subject.

WayNet

This site offers local and regional events, weather, business, recreation, and tourism information specific to Wayne County.

WayNet can be located at the Morrisson-Reeves Library Web page at the “Web Resources” link, then found below the heading of “Local and Community Interests.

From here, you may go directly to this site address at: http://www.waynet.org

 

URL’s and Domain Names

Uniform Resource Locator (we will refer to it as the “URL”) – this is a standardized system that works much like an address for resources on the World Wide Web.

A Web address can be constructed of several parts: the kind of protocol used, a server name, a directory location on the server, and the name of the file (Web page).  By using this system on the Internet, web pages all over the world are made available to you.  Web page URL’s end with a “Domain Name” suffix abbreviation, a category which can indicate the type of source the information is coming from, such as an organization, a school, a country or a business.  There are currently over 257 commonly used or uniform Domain Names found internationally that an address can be registered to. Several, such as “.gov.” for government, and “.mil” for military have a restricted use, whereas others can be used by individuals, groups or businesses.  For example, URL’s that end in “.com” (pronounced as “dot com”) are commercial, “.net” is for network, “.org” means organization, and “.edu” denotes education sites. 

Typing the URL:

There are three locations to select from that you can use when you want to type a URL:

            1. Using the Address Window

            2. Using the Menu - File and select Open command

            3. Using the Keys - Ctrl + O keys (together) command

When typing the Uniform Resource Locator (URL), remember that no blank spaces are allowed between letters and numbers in a URL.  Also, check your typing for correct use of upper and lower case letters, and include any symbols as necessary (tilde, colon, etc.)

Accurate typing and using the correct domain name is essential for getting you to a desired Web page.  Even slight changes or omissions can make a major difference in the expected outcome.  For example:

The difference between using domain names .gov and .org are significant

Is it www.indiana.gov   OR       www.indiana.org    ????

 

Also the difference between adding or leaving out letters is significant.

Is it www.usgenweb.com          OR       www.genweb.com     ????

 

Additional information and topics related to domain names can be found on the Yahoo site at:   http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/Tech/Domain_Names_and_Registration

 

The following site offers additional explanation about URL’s and related terminology.

World Wide Web Terminology at: http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/cbt/ww4w30/netscape/wwwterm.html

 

Search Engines and Services

Here are two examples:

Google – a Crawler Based Search Engine at http://www.google.com

Google uses computer programs called “crawlers” or “spiders” to search the contents of the Web and maintain regular monthly updates of information.

Yahoo – a Human-Powered Directory at http://www.yahoo.com

Yahoo only indexes Web site descriptions provided by individuals – Web page updates are not automatically made; a new site description or update must be submitted to Yahoo each time whenever any changes are made on a Web site. (Note: Yahoo makes a very limited use of Web crawlers for selected searches.)

Additional search engines can be located at the Morrisson-Reeves Library  Web page at the “Web Resources” link found under the heading of “The Reference Desk” – then see “Search Engines.”  From here, you may go directly to this search engine site address at: http://www.mrl.lib.in.us/hotlink.html#searchengine

 

Part III

General Reading about Web Resources

The following pages are articles or information about Web searches, Search Engines, Tutorials, and Books. They offer further explanations and tips beyond what we have time for covering during the Internet lesson. 

Web Search Engines FAQS: Questions, Answers, and Issues at 
http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/oct01/price.htm

How Search Engines Work at http://searchenginewatch.internet.com/webmasters/work.html

Power Searching For Anyone at http://searchenginewatch.internet.com/facts/powersearch.html

Search Engine Features for Searchers at http://searchenginewatch.internet.com/facts/ataglance.html

 

Tutorials

There are numerous Web sites that offer assistance or information on searching the Internet and using Web browsers like Microsoft Internet Explorer (and others).  Here are a few for you look at and try if you wish.

 Microsoft Internet Explorer Tutorial at http://specialed.peoriaud.k12.az.us/ie_tutor.htm

 The Complete Internet Guide and Web Tutorial at http://www.microsoft.com/insider/internet

I E Tutorial at http://www.eiu.edu/~mediasrv/ie/menu.html

A List of Some Other Sites:

These are brief samples of the diverse range and types of locations, services and variety of offerings available to you on the World Wide Web.

USA Today news at http://usatoday.com

CNN news at http://www.cnn.com

ESPN Sports news at http://msn.espn.go.com/main.html

The Senior Health and Insurance Information Program at http://www.in.gov/idoi/shiip

Medicare information at http://www.medicare.gov

Social Security Administration information and helpful links at http://www.ssa.gov

A genealogy forum at http://www.genforum.com 

A national genealogy web site with regional information at http://www.usgenweb.com

A perpetual calendar for dates long ago at http://www.wiskit.com/calendar.html

American and International Hostelling at  http://www.hiayh.org/home.shtml

Elder Hostels and travel programs at http://www.elderhostel.org

Better Homes and Gardens for helpful tips and home projects at http://www.bhg.com

Cooking Measures and Conversions Guide at http://www.globalgourmet.com/cgi-bin/hts?convcalc.hts+usequiv

Fabric Stain Removal Guide at http://www.chemistry.co.nz/stain_frame.htm

Stateline.org for news from each State at http://www.stateline.org

All Music Guide a music resource at http://www.allmusic.com

Internet Movie Database move resource at http://www.imdb.com

The Weather Station at http://www.weather.com

Richmond and National weather 

Books

The following books discuss different aspects of the Internet, and may be found in the MRL collection.

Title:	Call Number:
The Internet for Dummies	004.678 L66a6
The Internet in a Nutshell	025.04 Q4
Secrets of the Super Net searchers	025.04 B29s
The Internet for Genealogists	929.1 R41
Finding Images Online	025.04 B51