Everything Web

Internet Essentials for Educators

The Internet

World-wide network of computersServe up information, entertainment, resourcesCan be valuable classroom tool

Organize informationCommunicate with students, parents and othersUp-to-the-minute content

Getting Connected

To access the Internet, you needComputerModemTelephone serviceInternet Service Provider (ISP)Software

To find out more, click here to access WNET’s Internet Primer for more details. Click here to find out how to actually connect using either a modem or a LAN.

Five Ways to Use the WebInformation (like a textbook or reference)Classroom management (worksheets, quizzes)Projects (web quests, group projects)Email exchanges (epals.com)Professional development opportunities

Your Connected ClassroomUsing technology in your classroom effectively results from PLANNING!One computer: how to distribute access equitably, how to integrateComputer lab: how to be sure all students are on task, how to use lab time efficiently

Using A BrowserA. Page Title: This becomes your

bookmark.

B. Menu Bar: Click here to access all browser commands.

C. Button Bar: Most often used menu commands displayed in an easy button format.

D. Address Box: If you know the URL of the site you want to visit it, type it here and press return.

E. Links Bar: Store links to your most frequently used pages here.

F. Progress Bar: Shows the progress of a page as it loads. Displays the link of a page when you move the mouse over it.

G. Everthing else is the browser window where web pages display.

Hot Tip: If you can’t see the menus, buttons, address box, or links, they may be turned off. To turn them, go to the View menu, choose Toolbars, and select the ones you want. Currently displayed toolbars will have a check beside them. However, if the toolbar has a check beside it and you still can’t see it, it means your toolbars have been rearranged. You can move toolbars by clicking on them and dragging.

A BC DE

F

G

Getting PlacesType a URL in the address bar (must be exact)

ORClick on a hyperlink

Links can be words (usually underlined)Links can be graphics

Setting Your Homepage

Decide what you see when you start your browserChoose Tools/Internet OptionsGeneral Tab

Choose a particular pageOpen to a blank pageOpen to a search engine

Saving Your Site

You can quickly get lost on the web. Use these features to navigate like an expert:

The back and forward buttons move you one page back or one page forward. Right click on them to get a list of recent pages you visited.Search your past by using the history button.Create a Favorite or Bookmark so the URL is stored when you come back the next time.

Know Your PastThe history list keeps track of the sites you visited during the current session. Once you quit, your history disappears.

Digital Bookmarks

The best way to keep track of your favorite sites on your computer is to make them favorites or bookmarks. Just choose Add to Favorites from the Favorites menu.

Organizing Favorites

As you save a favorite, you canChoose where to save addresses as you create the favoritesAdd a new folder to your favorites list

Organizing Favorites

Once you’ve saved a favorite, you canChoose Organize Favorites from Favorites menuDrag and drop bookmarks into foldersCreate new foldersRename bookmarksDelete bookmarks

Adding Links to the Links BarYou can add a page to the links bar in a variety of ways:

Drag the icon for the page from your Address bar to your links bar. Drag a link from a Web page to your Linksbar. Drag a link to the links folder in your Favorites list.

Printing Web Pages

Wait for the whole page to load before printingLook for a link to the “print” version on the web pagePreview the page before printing if possibleHighlight text you wish to print then copy and paste into a word processorPress print and see what happens

Finding Stuff on the Web

Keep track of URLs from products and articlesSubscribe to a listservUse indexesUse search engines

What’s a Listserv?

An e-mail resourceMay be a discussion group in which list members can post ideas and informationMay be an information list in which an organization sends mail to list membersClassroom Connect has a list of education-related listservs

What’s an Index?Web sites organized into categories

Most major search engines have an index, too.Look for specialized indexes like the Internet Public Library (http://www.ipl.org)

Work your way through the hierarchy: Regional/USStates/Virginia/Government/DepartmentofEducation/

What’s a Search Engine?

Web site that allows you to search for information using keywords and operatorsNo search engine covers the whole webLearn to use one or two wellExplore others if you have trouble with your topicVisit Search Engine Watch for all the information you could ever want about search engines

Have You Googled?

Unusual search engineNo banner adsNo distractions at all!Clean, simple, efficientShows the part of the document that includes your words

Google Tips

Automatically uses “and” between termsSearches for exact words so try plurals (hotel/hotels) and synonyms (plane/airline/airplane)To narrow your search, add more specific terms

More Tips

Use quotation marks to search on a phrase like “lesson plans” or “subatomic particles”Include a stop word (a word that Google ignores) by putting a plus sign (+) in front of itUse a minus sign (-) to exclude words

A. Search Field: Type keywords here

B. Search Button: Pressing return is the same thing.

C. Lucky Button: Brings up the first page of your search results

D. Results: Number of returns per page

E. Page Title: This may be a URL.

F. Real Name: Takes you to the web page of a company with that name

G. Text: The parts of the page that include your search words

H. Statistics: Total number of results and the search time

I. Indented Results: Pages from the same web site with the best match listed first

J. URL: URL of web page.

K. Show matches: Shows the cached version of the page that Google used to index it.

L. Size: Size of the text portion of the page

M. Similar Pages: Click here to find more pages like this one

The Google Window

The Find Command

Search engines usually take you to the top of the web pageUse the Find Command (under the Edit menu) to find your name or topic

Productivity Tools on the WebUse the web to make your life easier:

Make puzzles at PuzzlemakerUse already created quizzes and games or create your own at Funbrain and QuiaStore favorites on the web so you can use them on any computer at Backflip and ikeepbookmarks.comOrganize sites for your students with Trackstar and FilamentalityTo see one tool in action and visit some other helpful sites,

go to Trackstar and type in Track #14841.

Video and Multimedia

Downloaded: Entire file must be on your computer before it can playStreamed: Video begins to play as it is coming into your computerMay need a plug in to view video or other multimedia files over the webMay have difficulty using them behind the firewall at school

Saving Material From the WebSave multimedia files for use on your computerBe aware of copyright and fair use policiesSpeed up access to files by having them locallyCan be used in word processing, desktop publishing and slide shows

Saving GraphicsRight-click (Win) or click and hold (Mac)Choose Save/Download PictureChoose a save location and nameFile will be a .gif or .jpegMay not be able to save an animated graphic unless you are at a specific siteTry Barry’s Clip Art for lots of graphics

Saving Sound FilesLocate the file through indexes or search enginesHere’s a good sound site: http://www.webplaces.com/html/sounds.htmMost common formats are .au and .wavPowerPoint uses .wav files

Saving a SoundClick on the sound file to listen to it. Usually, another window opens to play your file. It will have to download first. Listen to the sound the whole way through.

Windows Media Player handles most sound files.

Saving a SoundAfter listening to the sound, go to File/Save As and choose a save location and name.

Now the file is available for listening or for use with another program.

Click to hear the loons.

Saving Video FilesLocate file to saveSome search engines allow you to search for specific media like images or videoAllow entire video to download (this may take some time depending on your connection)At school download video during off hours

Saving Video FilesVideo file formats include .mov, .mpeg, .aviWindows media player handles most of themOnce video is downloaded, go to File/Save As and choose a save location and name. The video is ready for viewing or to be included in a slide show or web page.

A Sample DownloadI need the Real Player, a plugin that lets me to listen to audio and view video.

At their web site, http://www.real.com, I look for the word “download.”

I don’t want the “plus” version since that costs money.

A Sample Download

I clicked to download and now I look for the free player, usually buried at the bottom of the page.

A Sample Download

Fill in some simple information and click Download.

A Sample Download

You may be asked to choose a download location. They recommend picking a spot near you.

A Sample Download

The computer will ask for instructions about where to save the program. Normally, you save programs to the disk before using them.

A Sample Download

Once you choose Save to Disk, you’ll be asked where you want to put it. You can pretty much put it wherever you want: Just don’t forget where you saved it!

A Sample Download

The download window shows you the progress of your job. If the box is checked, it will close when done. When the download finishes, you can begin to use your program.

Downloading TipsTry to download during off hours when few people are using the networkIn order to use a program, you may have to run an installerBeware of viruses! Download from reputable sites and run virus software

A Final WordWant to learn more? The web’s the best place to go to find it! Search for Internet tutorials with your favorite search engine.Start slowly: incorporate the web into one lesson plan or unit first.Get comfortable with it yourself then share it with students.HAVE FUN!

CreditsCreated by Karen Work Richardson to accompany her workshop “Everything Web: Internet Essentials for Educators”Copyright © Karen Work Richardson, 2000, All Rights ReservedFor more information, contact Karen Richardson, karen@wmburgweb.com