Introduction to the Internet

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Y What is the Internet?• The Internet is a network of computers around the

world, connected electronically by telephone lines, fibre-optic cables, and other links.

• The idea originated from the United States Defence Force during the Cold War.

• It includes electronic mail, information, programs, entertainment, discussion groups and the World Wide Web.

• The World Wide Web is part of the Internet. The web consists of huge collections of documents stored on computers around the world. It links documents together so that just by using the computer mouse you can jump from document to document, even if the documents are on computers in different locations or different countries.

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Y Will I find everything I need on the Web?

• Although the web is huge & growing, it has been compared to a Library where all the books have been thrown on the floor!

• Often the easiest way to begin looking for information, is to use the CDU Library catalogue to find books and hard copy journals.

• To extend your search, check online for information, using databases and the Internet.

This resource will help you to learn some strategies to make sure you use your time on the web effectively.

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Y Some Internet terms• Browsers- computer programs that allow you to

see info & images on the web. One is Microsoft Internet Explorer. Click on your Internet Explorer icon now.

• Home Pages- In the browser, type in the address for the CDU Home Page, http://www.cdu.edu.au which introduces the University’s website.

• Hyperlinks- Click on the hyperlink to the Library. Links can be text, pictures or graphics. If the arrow turns into a hand when you drag it across a word, picture or graphic, it is hyperlinked to another page.

• Icons and Menu bar- Click on the back, forward & home buttons. If your page takes too long to load, click the stop button to try something else.

Webpage addresses or URLs• Look in the location or address box. Notice

that it says http://www.cdu.edu.au/library . This is the web address for the CDU Library. These addresses are sometimes called URLs (Uniform Resource Locator). It is possible to identify a site name, type of site and country from the URL.

• http stands for “hypertext transfer protocol”. This refers to the communication ‘rules’ used to connect WWW sites across the Internet. The http is always followed by a : and //.

• www stands for World Wide Web and full stop indicates the end of one part of the URL and the beginning of the next.

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http://www.cdu.edu.au/library

cdu is the name of the web site.

edu indicates the type of site. eg:.com Commercial .edu Educational institution.gov Government body .org Non-profit organisation.ass Association .net Network

au is the code identifying the country where the website has originated..au Australia .ca Canada .id Indonesia .jp Japan

Most websites outside the United States use a two-letter code, which identifies the country. If no country is specified it usually means that the site is created in the United States.C

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YPractice: Type www.abc.net.au into the address bar• You have to type in the address exactly,

including upper or lower case letters, slashes, dots, etc.

• There will usually be a previous address already in the box. To get rid of it, before you type in the new one, click once in the box. This will highlight the address. Then you can start typing in the new address and the old one will disappear.

• Can you explain the parts of the URL www.abc.net.au?

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Y Search engines v Subject guides

• Search engines eg Google– Computer programs which search for web documents by keywords and phrases.

• Subject directories eg Yahoo- Lists of web pages divided into subject areas by humans.

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Y Searching

You need to use different strategies to search Subject Directories, like Yahoo, and Search Engines, like Google.

Tips for searching GoogleBasics: http://www.google.com.au/help/basics.htmlAdvanced: http://www.google.com.au/help/refinesearch.html

Tips for searching YahooBasics: http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/Advanced: http://search.yahoo.com/options/

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Do a basic search using Google for information on:The significance of the railway in northern

Australia

– Identify the key words– Identify a phrase – Type in the phrase only, then use your keywords to

search within the results– Note how your search narrows

Now try the same search using Yahoo, using strategies appropriate to a Search Directory.

Practice Searching….

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Y Referencing the information you find on the web

You need to provide the following information-1. Name of compiler or organisation responsible for

site2. Date (when site created or last revised) 3. Title of document (in italics)4. Name and place of sponsor of the source5. Date item viewed6. URL

You need to use the Referencing style requested by your lecturer.This example is in the Harvard style.

ASTEC 1994, The networked nation, Australian Science, Technology and Engineering Council, Canberra, viewed 7 May 1997, <http://astec.gov.au/astec/net_nation/contents.html>

www.cdu.edu.au

Good luck with your searching!