Internet Seminar Lesson Plan

 

Reasons to have a brief course in the Internet before use:

• Inform users of the rules applying to the use of Internet in the Western District Youth Hall and Computer Center (WDYHCC).
• Remind users of General Computer Use Rules in the WDYHCC.
• Prevent users from abusing or damaging the computers by incorrectly using the Internet.
• Relieve the on-duty supervisor from redundant instruction.
• Inform users what Internet applications are available and what are not at this Center.
• Give instructions on the most commonly used features of the Internet.

 General Description of the Internet:

• The Internet connects millions of computers around the world.  Many of them contain Web pages, or Internet sights.  Billions of Web pages exist in the Internet.  They make up the World Wide Web, which is abbreviated as the WWW.  A Web page is a screen on the computer that hosts information and gives a user options to see, or “link” to other sites.
• The data that makes up the information of Web sites are transferred through the Internet usually by telephone lines.  The device that connects the telephone line to the computer is called a modem.
• Since there is only one line to the WDYHCC, the telephone will not be able to be used for regular calls when the Internet is in use.  It also means that if there are many people using the Internet at once, transmission will work slower.
• In Tonga, local computers using Internet are currently connected by telephone lines to the Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC).  The TCC, using a giant satellite dish, transmits and receives Internet to the rest of the world.

 Benefits of the Internet:

• ·         Academic: students’ work requiring computer-generated output.

• ·         Advertising local businesses through Web-page construction.

• ·         Business operations, organization, and management.

• ·         Business to business transactions.

• ·         Correspondence and information with international groups targeting youth, women, church, non-profit agencies, etc.

• ·         Current events updates - locally and internationally.

• ·         E-commerce - establishing and facilitating income-generating pursuits.

• ·         Education on-line.

• ·         Email family and friends abroad or locally.

• ·         Employment information.

• ·         Event organization such as workshops, conferences, and trade-shows.

• ·         Finances and accounting - individual or business.

• ·         Foreign studying (university or exchanges), working, or living abroad information acquisition.

• ·         Information - general research.

• ·         Investment information and transactions.

• ·         Non-profit organizations displaying information, newsletters, and invitations to join.

• ·         People searching.

• ·         Shopping over the Internet.

• ·         Travel research.

• ·         Web-page construction and maintenance for personal use.

Functions of the Browser (Practice using WDYHCC – Offline on Supervisor Account):

• The Back icon Tool will take you to the previous page.
• The Stop icon tool will stop the current page from loading.

Downloading:

• Downloading is when large amounts of information, usually in the form of computer programs or music, are transferred from the Internet to the local computer.  This can be dangerous because there is a chance of downloading viruses that may hurt or destroy the computer.  Downloading is against the rules at the WDYHCC.
• An attachment is something added on to your Email message, usually in the form of a picture or document.  You may open them, but do not save them locally unless it is your own floppy.

 Rules Applying to Internet use at the WDYHCC:

• The on-duty supervisor must be paid the appropriate amount BEFORE the Internet is used.
• It is forbidden to view pornographic Web sites.
• No downloading.

 

Prices at the WDYHCC:

• Tongan Residences: $4 per hour ($2 minimum).
• Non-residences: $8 per hour ($2 minimum).

E-commerce:

·       Many people in the world do shopping on the Internet.  This is called Electronic Commerce, or E-commerce.  There are thousands of sights that offer products and services to customers from toys to books to music to clothes to food.  There was a man in America who did not leave his house for an entire year because he did all his shopping on the Internet.

·       The largest and most famous Internet store is called Amazon.com.

·       People who shop over the Internet most often pay with credit cards.

Seeking Information on the Net

• The best way to find just about any information you want is using Web sights called Search Engines.

• There are many Search Engines on the Web including: Exite, Goto, HotBot, Yahoo!, Infoseek, , Go.com, Lycos, Northern Light, AltaVista, and Google.  The WDYHCC recommends Google.  It’s Web address is www.google.com.  It searches for information on over 2 billion Web pages! The instructor will give a demonstration of using Google.

Email:

• Kalianet:
  • Many Internet users in Tonga have a TCC supported Kalianet Email address.  There may only be one account per phone line.  Since there is only one phone line used for the Internet at this Center, the single Kalianet Email address is reserved for operations of the WDYHCC.
• Internet based Email:
  • Email available at the WDYHCC is Internet based only.  There must be over a hundred Email services of this type, but the two most popular include Hotmail and Yahoo!.  The instructor will choose a student at random and set up an account for him or her.
• Things to remember when using Internet based Email:
  • There are millions of Email addresses already used so create a unique name when setting up an Email account.  Usually, if you have a Tongan name and you if you use both your first and last, it will work.
  • Write down your address and password so you don’t forget them.
  • Proofread your messages before you send them.
  • Remember to sign off your Email account so other people will not read your messages.

 

Author of class: Paul W. Neville, Peace Corps Volunteer, Kolovai

Last Updated: February 2002