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Teaching and Learning Materials [2020-2022]

RIFT VALLEY UNIVERSITY

Learning Guide
Unit of Competence: Accessing and Using Internet
SERVI
CE- I

Module Title: Accessing and Using Internet

LG Code: ICT ITS1 M04 LO1-10
TTLM Code: ICT ITS1 M01 0111

2020/2022 Academic Year

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LEARNING MODULE
TVET PROGRAM TITLE : Information Technology Support Service Level II
MODULE TITLE: Accessing and Using Internet
MODULE CODE: ICT ITSS2M05 01 11
NOMINAL DURATION: 60 hrs

MODULE DESCRIPTION:
This module covers the knowledge, skills and required to access internet and complete web
search tasks. It includes finding required information.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the module the trainee will be able to:
LO1 access internet
LO2 search internet
MODULE CONTENTS:
LO1 Access internet
1.1 Introduction to the module
1.2 Introduction to internet
 Definition, use, and basic terminologies of Internet
 Makeup and structure of web addresses
 Security, viruses, privacy legislation, copyright
 Types of search engines
1.3 Opening Internet browser
 Netscape Navigator
 Internet Explorer
 Mozilla
 Opera
 Galleon
 Phoenix
 Konqueror
 Lynx
1.4 Setting internet options
 Home page
 Location of temporary files
 Privacy level
 Security level
 Type of connection and
 History

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1.5 Adjusting display/view modes
1.6 Modifying Toolbar
 Buttons
 Menus
 Combination of both
1.7 Accessing and retrieving site data
1.8 Loading Images
1.9 Opening URL
1.10 Deleting cookies and history of internet browser
LO2 Search internet
2.1 Search parameters
 Key words
 Logical operators
2.2 Opening and defining Search engines
 Snap, Quest finder
 Ask Jeeves, Google
 Metacrawler, Alta Vista
 Excite, Infoseek
 Findlink, Lycos
 Northern Light, AOL Netfind
 Hotbot, LookSmart
 Yahoo, Netscape
 Open Text, WebCrawler
 Meta Search, Go To Dot Com
 Beaucoup, Search.com
 Go2Network, Savvy Search
 Profusion, Dogpile
 Metagopher,
2.3 Saving and presenting search results
2.4 Creating Bookmarks
2.5 Modifying Page set up options
2.6 Shutting down and exiting browser
2.7 Observing OHS and netiquette principles
LEARNING STRATEGIES:
 Lecture-discussion
 Group work
 Individual assignment

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Introduction
This module covers the skills; knowledge and attitude apply in Accessing and Using
Internet in providing information technology support service in accordance with the occupational
standards
INFORMATION LO1 Access internet
SHEET MODULE Accessing and Using Internet
five

The Internet: The Basics

The basic information about the Internet includes its origin, how the web relates to the
Internet, how the Internet is based on clients and servers and how to best connect to the
Internet.

The Internet vs. the Web

• Internet – part of the system that is primarily hardware infrastructure

(telecommunications, routers, servers, disk drives, etc)

• Web - part of the system that contains intellectual property in many

multimedia formats (test files, graphic files, sound files, video files, etc):
the means to access the Internet.

Client and Server

• Client computer:
–Users connect to the Internet
–Request data and Web pages
• Server computers
–Store Web pages and data
–Return the requested data to the client

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Server
Client

Connecting to the Internet

• Dial-up connections:
– Uses standard telephone line
– Least costly connection
– Requires a modem
• Modulate: converts digital signals the computer can understand to analog
signals that can travel over the phone line.
• Demodulate
– Slowest connection speed (56kbps)

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Broadband Connections
• Digital Subscriber Lines
– Faster than dial-up
• Upstream (16Kbps -640kbps)
• Downstream (1.5 Mbps – 9 Mbps)
• ADSL: asymmetrical DSL
• SDSL: same upload and download speed.
– Requires special DSL modem
• Cable:
– Uses TV coaxial cable
– Fast connection speed (300kbps – 4mbps)
– Speed depends on number of users
– Not available in all areas
– Requires a cable modem

Coaxial cable

Satellite Connections
• Uses a satellite dish and coaxial cable
– Download speed 500kbps
– Upload speed 100kbps
– Signal is affected by location and weather

• Satellite Internet is another broadband option.

• You need a satellite dish, which is placed outside your home and connects to your
computer with coaxial cable. Therefore, the initial equipment investment is high.

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• Most satellite connections are used by people in rural areas unable to get cable or DSL
connections.
• Even though bandwidth can be high, the signal must travel a long distance from the
satellite and back, increasing the delay time.
• In North America the southern sky has to be free of obstruction, and heavy rain can cause
interference in the signal.
Comparing Internet Connection Options
Connection Maximum Upload Data Maximum Download Data
Option Transfer Rate Transfer Rate (approximate)
(approximate)

Dial-Up 56kbps 56kbps

DSL 300 kbps 1 Mbps

(ADSL)

DSL 1.5mbps 1.5mbps

(SDSL)

Cable 500 kbps 6 mbps

Satellite 100kbps 400kbps

Internet Service Providers

• ISP:
– Internet service provider
– Provide user access to the Internet
– National, regional or local companies

• OSP:
– Online service provider
– Provide online proprietary content as well as Internet access
– AOL, CompuServe, MSN

• The differences between Internet Service Providers and Online Service Providers have to
do with content that is exclusively available to the OSP clients. Firms like America
Online offer web access but when users log on they must enter through AOL’s site. There
they receive information and services unavailable to non-subscribers. Whether these
services are worth the premium price is a question each consumer must answer.
Generally connection speed is similar and with the enormous amount of information
available on the web, many have left the OSP providers in order to save money.
Choosing an ISP

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The choice of Internet Service Provider should be based on cost verse service. It is very
important that a dial-up provider offer a local access number, so that there are no long
distance charges incurred. Many providers will offer multiple e-mail accounts and some
will provide space for a personal web page. Local ISPs sometimes maintain sites with
local information and web links.
• Factors to consider:
– Customer service
– Local access numbers
– E-mail options
– Cost
– Trial period
–
Navigating the Web: Web Browsers
• Web browser is software installed on your computer system that allows you to locate,
view, and navigate the Web.
• Web browsers are graphical, meaning they can display pictures (graphics) in addition to
text, as well as other forms of multimedia, such as sound and video.
• Although Microsoft Internet Explorer is the most used web browser, there are other
browsers available. All of them have similar tools. Because Microsoft products are the
main targets for virus writers, an alternative browser may be less vulnerable.
• Computer software
• Graphical
• Enables Web navigation
• Popular browsers:
• Internet Explorer
• Netscape Navigator
• Mozilla (firefox)

Browser Toolbars
• Internet Explorer is derived from the original browser developed for the government by
Marc Anderson who went on to start Netscape. The entry of Internet Explorer over a

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year later, as an embedded part of the Windows operating system, was a large part of the
anti-trust conviction suffered by Microsoft in 2000 as it vastly reduced Netscape’s market
share.
The toolbar features are described here. All of these features point to the power of the web
browser. The navigation buttons allow you to travel down a long string of links and then back all
the way out. The refresh button allows you to get the latest page update quickly. Being able to set
a home page gave birth to the portal concept, where web services offer free services to entice
users to set their homepage to their site. Favorites are a way to keep track of personal web
preferences.

Getting Around the Web

The World Wide Web is simple to navigate, once a few important fundamentals are known. The
next few slides will introduce those fundamentals.
• Web sites
• URLs
• Hyperlinks
• Favorites and Bookmarks
Web Sites
The first page in a web site is called the home page. If you type the domain name into the
browser window, the server will find the site and look for a file called index.htm, the standard
name for the home page. Every web page has a unique URL and is an HTML document. It may
or may not have links to other pages or other web sites.
• Web site:
– Collection of related Web pages
– First page known as Home or Index page
• Web page:
– HTML document

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• Text and graphics
– Unique address
– Hyperlinks
URL
• URL:
– Uniform Resource Locator
– Unique Web page address

URL
Current Top-Level Domains
• The three-letter suffix in the domain name (such as .com or .edu) is called the top-level
domain (TLD). This suffix indicates the kind of organization the host is.
• The most used is the .com or commercial domain, which can be used by anyone.
• There are also domains for countries outside the United States. For instance a Web site in
Germany has the extension .de and in Britain it is .UK
• The three-letter suffix in the domain name (such as .com or .edu) is called the top-level
domain (TLD). This suffix indicates the kind of organization the host is.
• The most used is the .com or commercial domain, which can be used by anyone.
There are also domains for countries outside the United States. For instance a Web site in
Germany has the extension .de and in Britain it is .UK
aero Members of the air transport industry
.biz Businesses
.com Can be used by anyone
.coop Cooperative associations
.edu Degree granting institutions
.gov United States government
.info Information service providers
.mil United States military
.museum Museums
.name Individuals
.net Networking organizations
.org Organizations (often nonprofits)
.pro Credentialed professionals

Hyperlinks

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• Provide access to other Web pages
• Specially coded text or graphics
• Cursor becomes a hand with finger
pointing upward

Favorites and Bookmarks

• While browsing the Web, you may want to remember a site for future reference. Using
the “Favorites” or “Bookmark” feature, the site’s URL is stored in a special folder.
• To add a Web page to your list of Favorites in IE, from within the site you wish to mark,
click on the Favorites menu and select Add to Favorites.
• You can modify the name of the Web page on your Favorites list to make it more
meaningful. You can also add subfolders that categorize the Favorites.
• List created of favorite Web pages
• Easy method of returning to Web pages
• Internet Explorer uses Favorites
• Netscape uses Bookmarks

Tabbed Browsing

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• Found on Firefox and Safari browsers.
– Not available on Internet Explorer
• Multiple pages in same browser window

INFORMATION LO2 Search internet

SHEET MODULE Accessing and Using Internet
five

Search Engines
• A search engine is a set of programs that searches the Web for specific keywords you
wish to query and then returns a list of the Web sites on which those keywords are found.
• Search engines have three parts. The first part is a program called a spider, which
collects data on the Web.
• An indexer program organizes the data into a large database.
• The search engine software searches the indexed data, pulling out relevant information
according to your search.
• Using search engines like Google, users can scan millions of web sites in seconds, with
the search page returning thousands of relevant web pages. Revenue is generated by
offering a side column of paid links that are ties to certain search requests. For instance, if
you put “cat food” in the search box, Google returns many related sites. Businesses who
agreed to pay to have their link appear when someone requests “cat food” pay a small
amount for every time their ad links appears.
• User keys word or phrase in search box
• “Spider” or “Web Crawler” program scans web pages
• Results are indexed and sent to the client

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Subject Directories
• A subject directory is a guide to the Internet organized by topics and subtopics. Examples
include Yahoo! or the Librarian’s Index.
• With a subject directory, you do not use keywords to search the Web. Instead, after
selecting the main subject from the directory, you narrow your search by successively
clicking on subfolders that match your search until you have reached the appropriate
information.
• For example, to find previews on newly released movies in Yahoo’s subject directory,
you would click on the main category of Entertainment, select the subcategory Movies
and Films, select the further subcategory Preview, and then open one of the listed Web
sites.
• Web pages organized by topics and subtopics

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Evaluating Web Sites

• Evaluating the content of a web site is important. Before you believe what the site says or
take action based on the information presented, several questions need to be answered.
• Who exactly owns and operates the website?
• Who are they trying to reach with their message?
• Are the opinions expressed objectives, or are they slanted toward one position or another?
If it is slanted, why is it slanted?
• Is the information up to date? How often is the site updated?
• Do the hyperlinks all work or are some dead-ends?
Like anything else, how well maintained a site is helps determine its believability.
• Who is the author of the article or Web site sponsor?
• What audience is the site geared toward?
• Is the site biased?
• Is the information current?
• Are links available?

Communicating Through the Internet

• A major function of the Internet is communication. It happens in several ways.
• The oldest of the mediums is e-mail. Like the postal system, e-mails are written
documents, with or without attachments that are delivered through mail protocols.
• Blogs are personal journals that are written and updated periodically for public viewing.
• Chat rooms are public connections where the conversation is written but seen by all
participants as it is entered.
• Instant messaging is similar but the connection is private and chosen by the participants.
• Newsgroups are threaded commentary, sort of a public discussion based on a previous
comment about a specific topic..
E-mail
• Electronic mail
• Primary means of communication
• E-mail accounts
– Client-based
– Web-based
• Spam
– Prevention

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Weblogs
• Weblogs or blogs are a way for anyone to post their thoughts for public viewing. Of
course posting a blog doesn’t guarantee that anyone will read it.
Blogging is easy and free. Reading blogs can be very interesting, as they plug into the unsolicited
viewpoints of people who believe they have something to say.
• Known as blogs
• Personal logs or journal entries posted on the Web
• Available to the public

Chat Rooms
• Real time text based conversations
• Rooms focus on specific topics or interests
• Identity protection
– Username

Instant Messaging
• Real time text based conversations
• Set up a list of contacts
– Buddy list
• Contacts must be online
• IM software detects presence
• Example: AOL Instant Messenger

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Newsgroups
• Newsgroups are sometimes called threaded discussions or discussion groups. Built
around topics or interests, participants read entries from other participants and respond,
each respondent adding something new to the discussion, creating a thread. A participant
can also start a new thread. Unlike chat rooms, threaded discussions don’t rely on instant
response but on a more thought-out written response. In distance education classes,
threaded discussions are often required, and serve as the class participation component of
a course.
• Listservs are similar except that the threads are sent out as e-mails, where each
participant in the thread receives each new posting. They are less public than
newsgroups.

Online discussion forums

Post and reply to messages

Online Annoyances
• Spam – electronic junk mail
• Pop-ups – intrusive advertising
• Cookies – tracking user’s browsing habits
• Spyware – Programs that collect data from a user’s computer
Phishing and Hoaxes – Ruses to fool and maybe steal from users.
Spam
• Junk E-Mail
• Spam filters
• Anti-spam practices

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Pop-ups
• Pop-up windows are the billboards of the Internet.
• Some sites use pop-ups to increase the functionality of their site (your account
balance may pop up at your bank’s Web site, for example).
• There are ways to reduce or eliminate pop-ups. Firefox and Safari have built-in
pop-up blockers. Windows XP (Service Pack 2) includes a Pop-up Manager to
Internet Explorer that allows you to selectively block pop-ups.
• If you feel you need more protection, you can install anti-pop-up software such as Pop-
Up Stopper and Pop-Up Defender.
Cookies
Cookies are a necessary annoyance because they enhance the web experience and speed up web
page loading. When you go to a web page for the first time the web document drops a small text
file in a folder. This text file saves information about the user and assigns an identification code
so that when the user returns, the same preferences are loaded and the web site may be more
geared to the user. This is critical on sites where the content is somewhat chosen to meet the
user’s wishes, like in My Yahoo or other personalized sites.
Although cookies are generally not privacy risks, there have been cases where the
information has been collected and sold to advertisers.
• Text files stored on client computers when visiting Web sites
• Used on return visits to Web sites
• Unique ID number
• Personal information remembered
• Privacy risk
– Selling information

Spyware
• Added as a program piggybacked with a requested program
• Gathers information, usually about surfing habits
• Anti-virus software doesn’t detect it
• Anti-spyware programs are required

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Phishing and Hoaxes

• If you receive an official looking e-mail from your bank saying that there has been a
software security breach and to help regain control you need to confirm your username
and password, don’t do it. This is one of the most common scams called phishing. The e-
mail is made to look very official, with logos and signatures, and many unsuspecting
customers have entered their passwords into the return.
• Hoaxes often are offers to make millions from a distraught African ex-prince or to help
the victims of a hurricane. It is always best to absolutely know who is sending the
message before responding.
• Phishing is a phony communication
• Attempts to scam someone into sending vital information
• Hoaxes are attempts to scam people into sending money, or join a chain letter.

Conducting Business Over the Internet

• E-Commerce:
– Electronic commerce
– Business-to-consumer (B2C)
– Business-to-business (B2B)
– Consumer-to-consumer (C2C)
– Secure transactions

Manufucthere retailer
Web Entertainment
• Multimedia is anything that involves one or more forms of media in addition to text.
• All kinds of multimedia are available on the web. One can download music files, video
files, and even movies.
• Streaming audio and video can deliver on-demand pictures and sounds. Sites like
CNN.com offer clips from their broadcasts.
• Some files require a plug-in program like RealPlayer. In recent versions of Windows,
Microsoft’s MediaPlayer is built-in and automatically loads when a music file is selected.
The speed and quality of audio and video on the Web is dependent on the speed of the Internet
connection.
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• Multimedia:
– Involves forms of media and text
• Graphics
• Audio
• Video
– Streaming audio and video: deliver on-demand pictures and sounds without
downloading the whole file.
– Plug-in: built-in program and automatically loads
Future of the Internet
The Internet will continue to have great influence in the future. Greater bandwidth, wireless
access ,and the amalgamation of telephone, TV, and Internet technologies will bring change and
spur new, unforeseen developments.
• The U.S. government sponsors research called the Large Scale Networking (LSN)
program, which funds cutting-edge research in wireless and networking technologies.
• Another major effort is Internet2, a cooperative research project of over 200 universities.
A major thrust of their research is increased bandwidth for the whole Internet.
• There are also companies working on smell generators and printers that output taste
cards.
• We are still in the beginning stages of Internet development. As the technology becomes
more and more part of the fabric of our lives, newer and better methods for using these
tools will emerge. What it all becomes will be determined by users. Each of us who uses
the Internet will help shape it in the future.

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