Learn The Net Basics
This five-part tutorial will guide you through the basics of using the Internet.
At the end of this session, you will know:
- About the World Wide Web
- How to use browsers
- How to send and receive emails
- The browser Toolbar
Introduction
The Internet is a network of computers, which are connected together.
It is a massive storehouse of information where you can access documents graphics and videos.
Part 1
The World Wide Web-Your window to the world!
The World Wide Web is made up of millions and millions of web pages. A web site is a page or a collection of pages on the net. However a web has an Internet address of its own. Every website has a Home Page, the page that opens first when you access a website.
Part 2
How to use browsers
To see the various sites on the Internet, you need a browser. A browser is just a software program where, you can type in your website address and go to a website. The two most commonly used browsers are the Internet Explorer (IE) developed by Microsoft, and the Netscape Navigator.
In your browser there is an address bar to type in the Internet address, which looks
like this:
http:// www. learntheweb.com.
This is also called a URL or a Universal Resource Locator.
HTTP is an internet protocol that the server uses.
WWW is the World wide web
Learntheweb is the name given to the site
.com is an extension,it means it is a commercial site.
Getting started
- Open your browser by clicking on the Explorer icon.
- Type the URL of a site in the address bar
- Click Enter.
- This Click will take you to the website called learntheweb.
- You can now begin your navigation on the Internet or rather surf the net!
You have entered a website’s homepage and now you can surf to the other pages!
On your home page there are hyperlinks. These are images or text, which are marked out as hyperlinks. When you take your mouse over them they may change color. They may be underlined. Hyperlinks often have the symbol of a hand.
Clicking on the hyperlink takes you the page it is linked to.
Part 3
Send and receive Emails
E-mails are mails that you can send and receive anywhere in the world via the Internet. It is fast, simple, cheap, and convenient. The sender has an email address and so does the receiver. An Internet address looks like this
User name@ domain name
Emails are sent and received through mail servers. Your Internet service provider provides an email account to you. You can log into the mail account with a user name and password. Many sites give free email accounts too.
Sending mails
First of all you log in with the user name and password.
In your mail account click Compose.
Type in your mail in the text box provided.
Type in the mail recipient’s address in the To field.
Click on Send.
Receiving mails
Click on Check Mail
Part 4
Now you know the basics of the Internet, you have learned:
- To open a browser and go to a website.
- To follow the hyperlinks and surf pages on the net.
- To open your email account, send and receive emails
Now you will learn about the six basic buttons on your browser toolbar.
1.Home. This takes you to the Home page of the web address you typed.
2.Back-This takes you to the previous page
3.Forward-This takes you to the next page
4.Reload/Refresh-This downloads your page again.
5.Stop-This stops your page from getting downloaded.
6.Print-This lets you print the page



