The address for this web page is: http://fishcaro.crosswinds.net/day_1_introduction.htm

On to the next lesson! Back to the COURSE SYLLABUS

1. INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERNET

Each lesson contains the following information:

One or more INDEX CARD(s) that summarize the ideas of the day.
The cards are numbered so they will be easy to refer to: "1a" is side "a" of lesson #1; "1b" is side "b" of lesson #1, etc.
A WORKSHEET that reinforces and extends the ideas of the day.
Usually, the worksheets will be started during class. If they're not completed during class, then they become part of the day's assignment.
An ASSIGNMENT to complete before proceeding to the next day.

INDEX CARD #1:

BASIC TERMINOLOGY (1a)

What is the "Internet"? It is a collection of networks that links users throughout the world. It began with technology and equipment funded by the U.S. Department of Defense in the 1970s. In common usage, "internet" is roughly synonymous with "World Wide Web," "Web," "WWW," "W3" and "Net."

What is HTML? HTML stands for "HyperText Markup Language." It is used for creating documents for the WWW.

What is a "markup language"? A "markup language" uses special characters to instruct a computer program how to handle and display the contents of a file. For example, <B> means "begin bold type" in HTML, and </B> means "end bold type."

What is "hypertext"? ... a method of organizing information that lets individual data elements point to one another. Using hypertext, you can be "hyper"; you can jump from here to there to elsewhere and beyond...

BROWSER Terminology (1b)

What is a browser? A "browser" is a program that "understands" HTML documents. A browser can "read" your HTML file, interpret the instructions that are specified by your HTML code, and display the results. Perhaps the biggest challenge in web design is dealing with the variety of browsers and computers.

What are the most popular browsers? MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER and NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR/COMMUNICATOR account for approximately 95% of browser use in Fall 2002. Both are free; both are available for both Macintosh and Windows.

What are some other browsers in use? America Online browsers, WebTV, Opera, Lynx. (Lynx is a text-only browser, against which web pages can be tested for basic functionality.)

Printable version of Index Card 1a

Printable version of Index Card 1b

Worksheet and Assignment items are labeled for easy reference.
For example, W1.3 means the Worksheet for lesson #1, item #3.
As a second example, A1.6 means the Assignment for lesson #1, item #6.

WORKSHEET #1:

(W1.1) For this course, you'll need to have BOTH Internet Explorer and Netscape browsers readily available. Be sure to check with your local computer "guru" before downloading anything.
(W1.2) View this web page using both INTERNET EXPLORER and NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR. Do you notice any differences in the displays? Comment.
(W1.3) On both browsers, figure out how to VIEW the SOURCE code (i.e., the HTML code that produces what you see here). Does it look intimidating? If so, don't worry: it won't look anywhere near as scary after a couple weeks!
(W1.4) You may have a preference for one browser over the other. Do you? Why? Comment.
(W1.5) Print this web page. Compare the printed page with what you see on your computer screen. Does the printed page give you all the capabilities of the web page? Comment.
(W1.6) Get some current statistics on browser usage: at the current time, what percent of browser use is accounted for by Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator? Use your favorite search engine and try to come up with appropriate keywords to get this information. What is the web address where you obtained your information? What keywords ended up being successful in leading you to this information?
You might be able to find some current stats here: http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp

ASSIGNMENT #1:

(A1.1) Get the text to be used in this class: "Web Design In A Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference" by Jennifer Niederst, O'Reilly & Associates, 1999. What is a COLOPHON? (Look up the word in a dictionary.) Read the colophon on page 561 of your text. Henceforward, I'll refer to this text as "the Weasel book." Write your name in the front cover of your text (so if you leave it somewhere, it can be returned to you).
(A1.2) Read page xiii of the Weasel book. What is a "proprietary tag"? What is an "acronym"?
(A1.3) Read pages 3–11 (up to "Writing Good HTML") in the Weasel book. Don't worry if there's stuff that you don't understand right now. If you come back to these pages a couple weeks from now, it will make more sense. You will be reading through almost everything in the Weasel book throughout the year, so that you know what's there. Highlight important material. Write notes in the margins. The more you use the book, the more valuable it will be to you.
(A1.4) Get a 3-ring notebook to hold assignments, handouts, and things printed from the web.
(A1.5) Complete WORKSHEET #1, if you didn't finish it during class.