Introduction to the Internet

Credits:

Steve Gandy

Mountain View Elementary School, Broomfield, CO

steve@stevegandy.com

 

Subject Matter:

Technology

 

Grades: 3, 4 & 5

 

Software:

Netscape, Internet Browser

 

Summary:

This lesson sets the stage for later use of the Internet. Students learn the rules and procedures for using Netscape for browsing the World Wide Web.

 

Standards:

ISTE Technology Standards for Students

Number 4. Technology communications tools Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences. Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.

 

Local Standards:

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY SKILLS CONTINUUM

Standard #3 Telecommunications: Students use telecommunications to retrieve and exchange information which supports and enhances District 12 curriculum frameworks.   

3A   Understands and practices ethical and appropriate use of technology     

3A.1 Recognizes the need for protection of software and hardware from computer viruses and vandalism

3B   Follows the District's Acceptable Use Regulations and copyright rules      

3B.1 Has signed Acceptable Use Regulations document on file with the school

3B.2 Identifies violations of the Copyright Law

3B.3 Demonstrates the correct use of copyrighted materials in multimedia products

3C   Uses web-browsing software to access information sources using the Internet        

3C.1   Uses teacher-selected Internet sites and/or links to retrieve information for

classroom assignments

3C.2   Uses search strategies to locate information

3C.3   Saves and/or prints information from the Internet

3D   Develops skills in analyzing the accuracy and credibility of information from 3D.1      Distinguishes among sources of information (i.e. university, commercial and

       electronic resources and cites those sources appropriately     government sites)

3D.2   Recognizes the difference between content and advertisements on web pages

3D.3   Cites electronic sources correctly

3D.4   Evaluates the usefulness of information obtained using electronic resources                        

Lesson Outcomes:

The students will learn how to use an Internet Browser effectively.

 

Assessment:

Teacher Observation.

 

 

Student Prerequisites:

 None

 

Lesson Preparation:

Have notes on hand.

Make sure Internet connection is up.

 

Time Frame:

One 45 minute session

 

Implementation Steps:

 

Overview:

It is important to give an introduction to intermediate students before expecting them to be able to actually use the Internet for achieving educational goals. They don't understand what the Internet really is. They don't know what the common controls are. And they don't know what to do if things go wrong. Even the students that have Internet experience at home, do not know our rules and normal home pages etc. If you follow these guidelines for a good introduction your students will be capable Internet users.

Note: For the purposes of this lesson, I am ignoring email, file transfer, virtual disks etc. and concentrating on the World Wide Web.

 

Setup:

You can deliver this intro. in either lab or in your classroom. You just need a large display. It is better that the students watch you before they are "let loose" on the net, so being in your class with the projector may be better.

 

Content:

What is the Internet?

The Internet is a very large number of computers that are networked to each other by the phone lines and other wireless means. They can communicate with each other. They can either serve (show) documents to other computers or browse (see) documents from the serving computers.

ISLT (Intermediate Student Language Translation):

Zillions of computers that can call each other up on the phone. They show each other papers (documents) that were saved in special folders, just like you save your documents into a certain folder at school.

 

How do you move around on the Internet?

You type an URL (Uniform Resource Locator) into the address box, then press RETURN. For example: http://www.ad12.k12.co.us/mtnview is Mountain View's URL. You do not have to type the "http://" anymore.

Or, click a link. Links and the address box tell the computer to "call up" the other computer and "get" the page. Links can be text, that is usually but not always underlined and blue, or they can be parts of pictures. If it looks like a button, it probably is one. As you move your mouse around on an Internet page you can see the Url's from the various links displayed at the bottom of the window. Also, the mouse's cursor or pointer will change to indicate a link. Point this out to the students.

ISLT:

Type the address or click on buttons. When typing, you have to be exact, just one extra space or / and you "dialed the wrong number."

 

Which buttons are important?

There are several really important buttons at the top of every browser window. Some can be ignored (they aren't that important!).

BACK: The back button has a left facing arrow and takes you back one page. The computer will usually keep track of the pages you visit, like a book so you can go "back" page by page.

FORWARD: Opposite of BACK. It won't work until you go back at least one page. Sometimes the web page you visit will open itself in a new window, in that case the BACK and FORWARD buttons may not work correctly.

RELOAD OR REFRESH: Sometimes the transmission of the page gets lost, stuck, or garbled. So RELOAD is a way of requesting the page all over again. Sometimes the content of the page is dynamic (like a web camera ) so hitting RELOAD will get the newest picture.

ISLT: Like "hanging up" and "redialing" that page.

STOP: Sometimes you click the wrong link or it is taking too long or you just change your mind or it is stuck --click STOP and try again.

ISLT: Like "hanging up" the phone. This is where the phone metaphor breaks down because your connection to the Internet is still there.

HOME: The term "home page" is misleading. Each web site has a home page. It is the first page you come to when you visit. It usually has a lot of links on it. But every Internet Browser (Netscape, Internet Explorer...) has a home page designated as the first page it will visit when you start the program even if you don't click anything. It can be any page on the Internet. Here at Mountain View, it should be the one called the "Student Home Page". <http://www.ad12.k12.co.us/mtnview/StudentHome.html> Please note that the Home button has gotten harder to find on new browsers like Netscape 7. It is now on the second row of buttons and smaller than it was before.

ISLT: Click HOME if you get lost.

 

Sun Lab Note: Not as many of the "fancy" Internet sites (the ones that use lots of plugin software)work well on the Sun system. This is not true in the Mac Lab.

 

Indicator of Activity: There is an indicator of activity in the upper right corner of the browser screen. It can look different depending on which computer or browser you are using. It is usually a big N with shooting stars in Netscape or a big E that revolves in Internet Explorer. At any rate, when you see activity there, it means that there is a transfer of data in progress. If it just keeps going like the Energizer Bunny, hitting STOP and RELOAD might be in order.

 

Where can I go? There are many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many many resources out there on the net but a very small portion are actually any good for our kids. This is why I have set up the "Jump Off" pages. The links on those pages have been checked out by teachers here at Mtn. View. We know they are worthwhile.

We want to direct our students to good sites. We do NOT want them just clicking around anywhere. The only protection we have from inappropriate sites are our directions and rules. So, the kids should be instructed that when we use the Internet, it is similar to being assigned a certain book. Each web site can be considered a "book". If a book is assigned, students don't throw it down and grab some other book unless directed to do so.

This answers the question about clicking on advertisements. This answers the question about going to search engines. However, I do have the search engines, Yahooligans and Ask Jeeves, linked from the Jump Off pages. They will give "safe" results but unless you already know what they are going to find it probably isn't a great exercise for our age students. In short, searching on the Internet is another whole lesson in itself which shouldn't be jumped into without some thought and planning.

ISLT: There are a Gazillion web sites out there and most are NOT good for kids. It is like the Barnes and Noble bookstore. Only a few will be really good for you. One of the rules you agreed to was not to even try to get to a page that was not for you. You should stay at the sites that you were directed to in the first place.

 

Can I get to the Jump Off pages from home? Yes, you can get there from any Internet accessing computer. The address is: http://www.ad12.k12.co.us/mtnview/StudentHome.html

 

 

Other Teacher Notes:

Other Jump Off Pages: There are Jump Off pages for Primary, Teachers, and Parents in addition to the 3rd, 4th, 5th grade.

 

Protection from Bad Pages: There is a district wide protection for inappropriate sites. It is not fool proof. If you find a site that should not be accessible tell the technology coordinator so it can be added to the forbidden list. On the other hand, there may be sites that are blocked that shouldn't be. Again, tell the technology coordinator. There is a password and sites can be taken off the list if they are deemed appropriate.

Our Site: Start out with our site after giving the introduction. It is safe and there are pictures, student work, teachers' class pages etc.

 

Email: We can set up email for students through Think.com. Think.com filters the email from unknown sources. It is web-based so any browser will work. See your technology coordinator to set it up.

 

MVES's Internet Activities: Don't forget the Internet Activities that I posted 2 years ago. They are linked from the Student Home page. These are full blown activities that support certain grade level curriculum. There is a Weather Activity for 3rd Grade. There is a Colorado and Solar System Activity for 4th Grade. There is a US Geography Activity for 5th Grade. There is also an Internet Research Activity for intermediate students.

 

 

 

Software:

Netscape or Internet Explorer installed.

Computer Lab with Internet access.

 

 

N/A

 

We find that this lesson is absolutely necessary before elementary students are "turned loose" on the Internet. They know how to find their way "home" and where they are allowed to go.

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Developed under a grant from Sun Microsystems, Inc. Open Gateways at Mountain View

Elementary School by Steve Gandy, Technology Coordinator - mountain.adams12.org/TISS

© 2003