Basic Internet Skills

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A collection of links to help patrons learn how to use the Internet.

Exploring the Internet with Web Browsers

• Internet Explorer
• Firefox
• Google Chrome
• Opera
• Safari (Macintosh)

Using Search Engines

Kidzworld - Search Engine Tutorial

Clinton Essex Franklin Library System - How to use a search engine

Some Sample Search Engines

Using Search Terms

What happens if you search for: chevy

How about: chevy truck

Get more specific: 1954 chevy truck

Try three words of your own.

More Search Hints

What do you want to SEE?

Be specific - what do you want to find and where?

Explore alternative terms - are there similar words?

Exclude unnecessary terms - are there some words you need to take out?

Evaluating Search Results - Information Quality

Remember the five "Ws" and the "H"

Who wrote/sponsors the page?

What is the purpose of the information? (informative, persuasive, satire)

Where is the information from? (individual, .com, .edu, .gov, .org)

When was the page written? (How current is the information?)

Why was it written? (Is the page biased or trying to sell or promote something?)

How is the page written? (Is it clearly signed and dated? Is it easy to understand and answer the above questions?)

RADCAB -- Evaluating Online Information

Fake Websites - Information Quality / Safety

Can you tell they are fakes? What gave it away?

Fake Websites - Phil Bradley's Website

Hoax Websites - Dr. Mary Ann Bell at Sam Houston State University

Why people make fake websites - definition of Phishing - Wikipedia.com

Internet Safety Tips

Stop.Think.Click.: 7 Practices for Safer Computing - Printable PDF pamphlet from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service

Internet Safety - tutorial from GCFLearnFree.org