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Introduction to the
Internet
CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY
What is the Internet?
• The Internet is a network of computers around the world,
connected electronically by telephone lines, fibre-optic
cables, and other links.
• The idea originated from the United States Defence Force
during the Cold War.
• It includes electronic mail, information, programs,
entertainment, discussion groups and the World Wide
Web.
• The World Wide Web is part of the Internet. The web
consists of huge collections of documents stored on
computers around the world. It links documents together
so that just by using the computer mouse you can jump
from document to document, even if the documents are on
computers in different locations or different countries.
CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY
Will I find everything I need on
the Web?
• Although the web is huge & growing, it has been
compared to a Library where all the books have been
thrown on the floor!
• Often the easiest way to begin looking for information, is to
use the CDU Library catalogue to find books and hard
copy journals.
• To extend your search, check online for information, using
databases and the Internet.
This resource will help you to learn some
strategies to make sure you use your time on the
web effectively.
CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY
Some Internet terms
• Browsers- computer programs that allow you to see info &
images on the web. One is Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Click on your Internet Explorer icon now.
• Home Pages- In the browser, type in the address for the
CDU Home Page, http://www.cdu.edu.au which introduces
the University’s website.
• Hyperlinks- Click on the hyperlink to the Library. Links can
be text, pictures or graphics. If the arrow turns into a hand
when you drag it across a word, picture or graphic, it is
hyperlinked to another page.
• Icons and Menu bar- Click on the back, forward & home
buttons. If your page takes too long to load, click the stop
button to try something else.
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Webpage addresses or URLs
• Look in the location or address box. Notice that
it says http://www.cdu.edu.au/library . This is the
web address for the CDU Library. These
addresses are sometimes called URLs (Uniform
Resource Locator). It is possible to identify a
site name, type of site and country from the URL.
• http stands for “hypertext transfer protocol”. This
refers to the communication ‘rules’ used to
connect WWW sites across the Internet. The
http is always followed by a : and //.
• www stands for World Wide Web and full stop
indicates the end of one part of the URL and the
beginning of the next.
CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY
http://www.cdu.edu.au/library
cdu is the name of the web site.
edu indicates the type of site. eg:
.com Commercial
.edu Educational institution
.gov Government body .org Non-profit organisation
.ass Association
.net Network
au is the code identifying the country where the website has
originated.
.au Australia .ca Canada .id Indonesia .jp Japan
Most websites outside the United States use a
two-letter code, which identifies the country.
If no country is specified it usually means that the site is
created in the United States.
CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY
Practice:
Type www.abc.net.au into the
address bar
• You have to type in the address exactly,
including upper or lower case letters,
slashes, dots, etc.
• There will usually be a previous address
already in the box. To get rid of it, before
you type in the new one, click once in the
box. This will highlight the address. Then
you can start typing in the new address and
the old one will disappear.
• Can you explain the parts of the URL
www.abc.net.au?
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Search engines v Subject guides
• Search engines eg Google–
Computer programs which search
for web documents by keywords
and phrases.
• Subject directories eg YahooLists of web pages divided into
subject areas by humans.
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Searching
You need to use different strategies to
search Subject Directories, like Yahoo,
and Search Engines, like Google.
Tips for searching Google
Basics: http://www.google.com.au/help/basics.html
Advanced: http://www.google.com.au/help/refinesearch.html
Tips for searching Yahoo
Basics: http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/
Advanced: http://search.yahoo.com/options/
CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY
Practice Searching….
Do a basic search using Google for
information on:
The significance of the railway in northern
Australia
– Identify the key words
– Identify a phrase
– Type in the phrase only, then use your keywords to
search within the results
– Note how your search narrows
Now try the same search using Yahoo, using
strategies appropriate to a Search Directory.
CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY
Referencing the information you
find on the web
You need to provide the following information1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Name of compiler or organisation responsible for
site
Date (when site created or last revised)
Title of document (in italics)
Name and place of sponsor of the source
Date item viewed
URL
You need to use the Referencing style requested by your
lecturer.
This example is in the Harvard style.
ASTEC 1994, The networked nation, Australian Science,
Technology and Engineering Council, Canberra, viewed 7
May 1997,
<http://astec.gov.au/astec/net_nation/contents.html>
Good luck with your searching!
www.cdu.edu.au