Lab 1.2.2 Web Browser Literacy

Estimated time: 20 min.

Objectives:

> - Learn how to use a web browser to access Internet sites
> - Become familiar with the concept of a URL
> - Use a search engine to locate information on the Internet
> - Access selected web sites to learn the definitions of networking terms
> - Use hyperlinks to jump from the current web site to other web sites

Background:

> A web browser is a very powerful tool that many people use everyday to surf around different sites (cyber places) on the World Wide Web. With a web browser you can find anything from airline flight information to the directions on how to get to a specific address. A browser is a client application program or software that is loaded on the PC to gain access to the Internet and local web pages.

> The name of a web sight such as www.cisco.com is also referred to as a Universal Resource Locator (URL). This URL points to the World Wide Web server (WWW) in the Cisco domain (CISCO) under the Commercial domain (COM). The www also refers to an HTTP or Hypertext Transfer Protocol server. You may also type in a slash after the web site name and then name of a web page to get to a specific location on a web site. When you type in the URL or name of a web site, your browser makes a request of a Domain Name Server (DNS) in order to convert the URL to an IP address. The IP address is how the server (www.cisco.com) is actually contacted.

> Web Browsers can provide access to a number of search engines such as www.yahoo.com, www.excite.com, www.lycos.com and www.metacrawler.com among others. You can use these search engines directly by typing in their URL or you can click on Search from the Netscape or Internet Explorer menu. There are also a number of web sites that provide definitions of networking and computer related terms and acronyms. These can be used to help learn more about networking and to do research on the Internet. Two of these are www.whatis.com and www.webopedia.com. Most web sites contain "hyperlinks" which are words that are underlined and highlighted. By clicking on a hyperlink you will "jump" to another page on the current site or to a page another web site.

Tools / Preparation:

> Before you begin, the teacher or lab assistant will have a typical desktop Pentium-based (or comparable) PC available with the following software installed. The PC should be a classroom computer configured to access the web-based Cisco curriculum and assessment system. You should also review semester 1 On-line Lesson 1. The following resources will be required:

> - A computer running Windows 95/98
> - Netscape or Internet Explorer software CD-ROM (if not already installed on the computer)
> - Access to the Internet via an Internet Service Provider (ISP) using a LAN or dial-up

Worksheet

> 1. Install Netscape or Internet Explorer on your computer (if it has not already been done).
> 2. If you are on a LAN (Local Area Network), start the web browser (either Netscape or Internet Explorer). If you are using a modem to make the connection, you must dial your ISP before you can start your web browser.
> 3. What version of Netscape or Internet Explorer are you using?
> 4. After you start your browser, click and highlight the Location field (with Netscape) or Address field (with Internet Explorer) in the toolbar at the top of the page. Press the DELETE key to delete the current address.
> 5. When your location or address field is empty, type in www.cisco.com to get to the Cisco web site. This is how you can navigate from one site to another on the World Wide Web (WWW).
> 6. Load a new page (type in a new location, e.g. www.nba.com). Notice the status on the bottom bar of your browser. What do you see?
> 7. Each of the buttons on top of your browser has a function. Click on the BACK button. What did it do?
> 8. Click on the forward button. Does it take you to the NBA Web site?
> 9. Try clicking on the Reload or Refresh button. What do you think they do?
> 10. Type in a new Web site address and click on the stop button. What happens?
> 11. Enter the URL for a search engine such as www.metacrawler.com. Search for the word BROWSER. What was the result?
> 12. Enter the URL for www.webopedia.com. Enter the keyword of BROWSER. What was the result?
>     What other hyperlinks were available?

Reflection Questions:

> 1. Identify a way in which you can navigate from one site to another.
> 2. If you see the same graphics or text the next time you go to the NBA site, what should you do to ensure that you could look at updated news?