Introduction to Computers: Module 4

Introduction to Computers
Module 4
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Introduction to Computers Student Guide Module 4

Module 4: Internet

Review
 Microsoft Office Suite applications
 Office software applications: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Topics
 Internet connection hardware and software
 Internet connection options
 Introduce the browser software
 Navigate the internet
 Using Search Engines to research information
 Create and access a browser bookmark
 Use Google search to solve a computer problem

Exercises
 Exercise 1: Access a Library Website
 Exercise 2: Navigate a Website
 Exercise 3: Using a Search Engine
 Exercise 4: Bookmark a Web Page
 Exercise 5: Open a bookmarked webpage
 Exercise 6: Solving computer problems

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1. Connecting to the Internet – Hardware & Software

Internet Service Provider

To connect to the internet from your home computer, you will need an Internet
Service Provider (ISP). Commonly available ISPs are:

 Comcast Xfinity
 AT&T U-verse
 HughesNet

Internet Service Providers recommend a connection speed based on your needs

and budget. The ISP will require that you have either a cable or low speed
telephone connection (DSL) from your house to the ISP location. ISP charges vary
from $35 - $100 per month.

To find a low cost internet connection provider, go to the website:

www.everyoneon.org.

Connecting your computer to the Internet

Once you’ve selected an Internet Service Provider (ISP), the company will install a
Modem in your house.

Your computer has an Ethernet port on the rear of the computer’s system unit
shown in module 1 next to where the monitor, mouse, and keyboard are
connected. You must connect the computer to the Modem with an Ethernet
Cable.

Figure 1 - Home Ethernet Connection

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Home WiFi connection

You can also connect your desktop computer to the internet using a wireless WiFi
connection but you will need a Router in your home. Many modems come with a
built-in router. If your modem does not have a built-in router, you will have to
purchase the router separately.

WiFi also allows your cell phone, tablet, laptop computer, and printer in your home
to communicate with each other as well as with the internet.

Figure 2 - Home WiFi connection

Desktop Computer WiFi Connection

To connect your desktop computer to your Home WiFi network you need to
purchase a $15 - $40 USB WiFi adaptor. Insert the USB WiFi adaptor into any of
the USB ports in the back of the computer. This allows your computer to
communicate with the router.

WiFi USB

Figure 3 - WiFi USB Connection

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2. Internet Browser
An internet browser is a software application that allows your computer to access
the internet.

Internet Browsers
The chart below shows available internet browsers. This course will use Google
Chrome as the browser exclusively because of its wide usage and easy access to
applications (docs, gmail, etc.).

Browsers Icon Comments

Microsoft Internet Windows 7 browser.
Explorer (IE)

Microsoft Edge Windows 10 browser.

Mozilla Firefox Widely used and very secure.

Google Chrome Widely used and offers search

engines, e-mail, and applications.

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3. Navigate the Internet

Search by Website name

Website names are made up of four parts:

 Language – used for web security as described in Module 5.

 Location – always “www” in this course.
 Site name – created by the website owner
 Domain – describes the website type.
These four parts together are called the uniform resource locator or URL for short.
The URL to access the Peoples Resource Center website is:

http://www.peoplesrc.org

Language Location Site name Domain

You can just enter a website address into the browser Address Bar without the
language or location. For instance - “peoplesrc.org”. Usually the language and
location are not entered.

Website domains

Websites are often identified by a domain to show the type of website business.

Domain Group Example

.com Business Walmart
.org Organization Peoples Resource Center
.net Network Comcast
.edu Schools College of DuPage
.gov Government IRS
.mil Military US army

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Exercise 1: Access a Library Website

If you know the website name you can enter it directly into the Google browser
address bar.

Exercise 1: Access a Library Website

In this example, you will locate and open the Google Chrome browser, enter the text
“Wheaton library” for the Wheaton Public Library, display a list, and select the library
from the list.

1. Open the Google Chrome browser. The first page shown is your Home Page.
2. Enter Wheaton library into the address bar.

3. Press the Key and a list appears.

Wheaton Library
Home Page

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4. Choose the Wheaton Public Library bold italic from the list by clicking on it.

4. Navigating a Website
Once you display a website you may explore its contents by using hyperlinks.
Hyperlinks are special locations in a web page you can click using your mouse
and cause another web page to appear. You are on a hyperlink when the mouse
pointer changes shape to a small hand.

Hyperlink Example
The picture below shows the hyperlink from a Wheaton Library web page to the
Wheaton library eContent web page. Note: this display could change

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Using Navigation Buttons

The browser has navigation controls located next to the Web Address field.

New Tab

Back Forward Refresh

Back – displays the web page shown before the current web page.

Forward – displays the web page in the next hyperlink sequence if used.

Refresh – redisplays the current web page.

New Tab – Opens another web page panel to access a different website.

Exercise 2: Navigate a Website

To move through the pages on a website, you need to carefully read the page
contents to find what you’re looking for.

Exercise 2: Navigate a Website.

In this example, we will open the People’s Resource Center website home
page using the partial web address (URL). We will then navigate using
hyperlinks to the Computer Training list of upcoming classes
1. Click New Tab to open up another page.
2. Enter, www.peoplesrc.org, into the browser address bar.

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3. Press and the website home page will appear.

4. Locate the word PRC Services at the top of the page. Notice that it is a
hyperlink!

5. Scroll down and move your mouse pointer to the Services word. When
the hand appears notice the web address at the left bottom of the browser
page. (www.peoplesrc.org/services)

6. Click and the Services page will appear. (www.peoplesrc.org/services)

7. Move your mouse to the word, “Computers” on the left side of the page.

8. Click on the hyperlink and the Computers page appears.

9. Scroll down the page until you see the text, Schedule of upcoming
classes.

10. Click the upcoming classes hyperlink.

11. A document showing the list of upcoming classes will appear in another
browser tab.

12. Click the Close Tab to close the tab containing the PDF document.
Close Tab

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13. Click the browser Close “X” and confirm all pages should close.

5. Using Search Engines

If you don’t know the exact address of a website, you can use a Search Engine to
find the website by typing in words that describe the website owner or contents.
There are several widely used search engines:

 Google
 Yahoo
 Microsoft Bing
 Ask.com.
Search engines are available on computers, smart phones, and tablets. When you
enter the key words into a search engine, a list of possible websites appear. You
can enter keywords into the search box or the Address Bar.

Website owners can pay search engines to show their information first in the list of
websites. These websites are listed with a special symbol like:

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Search Engine Results

The picture below shows the results of a Google search for Chicago Bear tickets.
Over 20 sites are listed with the sponsored websites first. Notice that each entry
has the website address as a hyperlink.

Click in the search field and enter Chicago Bear tickets. Watch the Instructor
demonstrate the search or follow along.

I’m looking for:

Sponsored
sites

Chicago
Bears Site

When you click on the site description, the site referenced by the website name
opens.

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Exercise 3: Using a Search Engine

Instructor Note: Demonstrate this exercise only. Give the students an opportunity
to respond to the questions in item 2.

Exercise 3: Using a Search Engine

In this example you will search for information about the 2018 US tax calculation.
You will view several sites until you find the information.

1. Enter “2018 US tax calculation” in the address bar.

2. Review the list of websites and ask these questions:

a. How many sites do you see?

b. Look at the first site on the page. Is it a sponsored site?

c. If not sponsored, place your mouse over the highlighted title. What
website is what you see in the hyperlink?

d. Is the website address at the bottom of the window the same as

shown under the site description?

e. Do you trust this site to calculate your taxes correctly?

f. Do you trust this site to store your personal information?

g. Is it better to use an official government website? If so, is there a

calculator provided by the US Government? How do you know it’s a
government site? What website domain is associated with
government resources?

3. Can you find a calculator offered by the website www.irs.gov ?

4. Open the 2018 Withholding Calculator – IRS.gov”.

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6. Browser bookmarks
If you visit a website a lot, it is helpful to create a bookmark to allow speedy web
site access in the future.

Exercise 4: Bookmark a Web Page

In this example you will bookmark the home page from the People’s Resource
Center website. (follow the diagram below)

1. Click on the Tab showing the People’s Resource Center website.

2. Click the bookmark option.

3. View the “Edit Bookmark” display.

4. Verify the People’s Resource Center webpage address is shown.

5. Click “Done” to complete the bookmark.

6. Click the (X) in the browser Tab and close Google Chrome.

Enter the website Click the

1 2
address bookmark option

3 Clicking the bookmark option opens

a the Edit bookmark pop up window

4 The name of the

bookmark can be 5 Select the
changed Bookmarks bar

6 Click the Done

button to save

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Open a Bookmark
After you save a bookmark, it is available any time that you open the browser.

Exercise 5: Open a bookmarked webpage

In this example you will locate the People’s Resource Center website using the
bookmark from Exercise 4. (follow the diagram below)

1. Open a new browser application.

People’s Resource Center

bookmark

2. Locate the People’s Resource Center bookmark under the address bar.

3. Click the People’s Resource Center bookmark!

4. The People’s Resource Center website will appear.

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7. Solving Computer Problems

The internet is an excellent source of information. You can: shop, find a map,
lookup information about a specific person, place, or thing and solve computer
problems.

Exercise 6 – Solving computer problems

Instructor Note: Demonstrate the exercise with explanations as you proceed
through the queries. Students may follow along if time permits.

Exercise 6: Solving computer problems

In this exercise, you will use the Google Search Engine to find help for common
problems new computer users have.

How do I change my computer password?

1. Enter “How do I change my computer password” into the

Search Box field.

2. Press the key.

3. Search engine response is:

4. Click the Back button to return to the Home Page.

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How do I make my Desktop Icons bigger?

1. Enter “How do I make my desktop Icons bigger” into the Search Box.

2. Press the key.

3. The Search engine response is:

4. Click the Back button to return to the Home Page.

How do I know I’m connected to the internet?

1. Enter “How do I know I’m connected to the internet” Into the

Search Box.

2. Press the key.

3. Highlight the hyperlink (How do I know if I’m connected to the internet?)

and click the link.

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4. Go back to the home page.

8. Student Practice (Optional)

Instructor Note: Allow the students to use the Google search engine to display
topics of their interest until 5 minutes before the end of the class. Be prepared to
answer questions as they arise.

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9. Review
1. What do you need to do to connect your home computer to the internet?

2. How do you connect your computer and smart phones to the internet inside your
home?

3. What does browser software do?

4. What is a search engine?

5. What information can you find on the internet with a search engine?

6. Why would you want to create a browser bookmark?

7. How can the internet help solve your questions about computer problems?

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