Internet Basics For Seniors

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Internet Basics

For Seniors

Volunteer Instructor: April Edmonds 9/14/2009

Internet Basics Course Length: 1 hour Introduction Course Objective: This course is a basic overview of the Internet using Internet Explorer and the opportunity to become more comfortable with technology. What is the Internet or World Wide Web (www)? The Internet is made of many computers that are all connected world-wide. The connection is like a spider web that is connected in the middle. The Internet contains an infinite amount of information.

To Start Browsing the Web: With your mouse, left click twice on the Internet Explorer icon from your desktop. ADDRESS

REFRESH

STOP

SEARCH

BACK FORWARD HOME HYPERLINKS

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PRINT

TOOL OPTIONS

Moving Around: To move to a particular Web address: 1. Left click once in the white box that says “ADDRESS” in the upper, gray header of the Internet Explorer browser window. (Note the example shown above is Internet Explorer version 7. It does not have the word “address”, just the white box). USE THIS WHEN YOU KNOW THE EXACT WEB ADDRESS. When using the address bar, we DO NOT use spaces between letters or words. 2. Type www.google.com and press the ENTER key.

Hyperlink To select a link on a Web page, left click once on the underlined works, which called a link, or use the tab key until you see a frame around the desired link. When the desired link is framed, press the “Enter” key.

Search To search for something on the Web or when you do not have the exact web address, left click once the “Search” button in the browser toolbar, enter your keywords (e.g. antique cars, dahlias) into the text entry box that appears and press the “Enter” key. A list of Website links will appear after a moment and you can select from these links. Typing in antique cars will find Websites containing either of the two words. Typing in antique+cars will find Websites containing both of the two words. Typing in “antique cars” (including the quotation marks) will find Websites containing the two words in sequence just as you have typed them.

TIP: Using quotes around your search terms returns information with only those words. Example: “health”

To return to the previously viewed Web page, click the “Back” button from the browser toolbar. Repeat to move further back through the WebPages you have viewed.

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Exercise: 1. Left click once in the search box. 2. Type in aarp, then press the ENTER key. 3. Left click once on links within the website.

Favorites SHOW ALL

ADD

When you find a website that you like, you can save the link to your favorites. Look for the yellow star and the yellow star with a plus sign (graphic example above). Left-click once on the yellow star to show your favorites. Left-click once on the yellow star with a plus sign to ADD a new favorite.

Customizing your Browser Set your homepage This is a website address that you set in the options. When you open Internet Explorer, it is the first website that opens.

Type in Home Page Website Address here

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1. From the Menu Bar, locate the word “Tools” 2. Left-click once on “Tools” 3. Left-click once on “Internet Options”

4. Left-click once in the box under the words “Home Page” 5. Type in www.yahoo.com Change text settings.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

On the menu bar, locate the where it says “View”. Left-click once on the word “View”. Scroll down to the words “Text Size”. Left-click once on “Text Size”. Move your mouse pointer over the arrow. Scroll over to the text size “Larger”.

Internet Security • Keep Your Personal Information Private. • Never disclose your personal information; this includes your address, birth date, Social Security number, and telephone number. If prompted for this information, practice due diligence—investigate who is gathering the information, why they are collecting it, and how they will use it. 5

Secure Transactions • Before using your credit card or debit card online to purchase something, make sure the website address has https. The “s” is for secure.

https:// • This protects you from your credit card numbers from being stolen. If you do NOT see the “s”, do NOT put in your credit card number. • Keep Your Password(s) Secret.

Cookies Cookies are like a “footprint”. Every time you surf to a website, a cookie is placed on your computer. The cookie in returns tells the website you are visiting information about you. To delete cookies: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Open Internet Explorer Left-click once on “Tools” Left-click once on “Internet Options” Left-click once on “Delete Cookies Button”

Anti-virus Software Like a cold, a computer virus will try to shut down or damage your computer. Once your computer gets a cold, it can spread to other computers. To protect your computer you will need anti-virus software installed. Your anti-virus software should be set to constantly monitor your system using “real-time monitoring,” and you should be sure your virus definitions are kept up to date. Additional security information can be found at this website address: http://secureflorida.org/

Sites of interest: CNN News – http://www.cnn.com

WebMD – http://www.webmd.com

Medicare – http://www.medicare.gov

SeniorNet - http://www.seniornet.org

Weather – http://www.weather.com

Security Admin. – http://www.ssa.gov 6

Glossary AOL AOL, short for America Online, provides both Internet Access and special content to its subscribers for a monthly fee. (http://www.aol.com) Browser A software application which displays Websites and simplifies navigating (browsing) among the many available sites. Examples: Internet Explorer, FireFox or Chrome. E-mail E-mail is a way to communicate, almost instantly, with people anywhere in the world at low or no cost. Text, pictures, sound, and video can be sent via email. Internet (or “the Net”) The Internet is a global network of computers, connected together 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These computers store vast amounts of information, and the networks can transmit that information extremely quickly. This makes the Internet an amazing information and communications resource. The Internet provides a way to quickly see lots and lots of information such as pictures, sound and video on almost any subject. ISP Short for Internet Service Provider. Internet Service Providers provide Internet access to those (for a monthly fee) who do not have their own Internet-connected server computer. Popular ISP’s are Comcast or local phone company using digital subscriber line (DSL). On-line When someone is online, it usually means the person is operating a computer that is connected to the Internet (permanently or via a temporary, telephone line connection or high-speed access). An online resource is a resource that can be accessed via the Internet. Search Engine A special type of Website that allows you to search for particular types of Websites and then access those Websites easily. Most popular is Google (http://www.google.com). 7

Need extra computer time? The Leon County Library has computers are available for public use during regular library hours on a first-come, first served basis. Each patron is given 2 - one hour sessions on Internet computers. Printing is available and shall be limited to a reasonable amount. The Tallahassee Senior Center has computers available for seniors use during regular hours. For additional information call: 891-4000. Additional Resources Local Library – http://www.leoncountyfl.gov/LIBRARY Technology Dictionary - http://www.techterms.com/ Learn The Net - http://www.learnthenet.com/english/index.html References: 2007. Stuur, Addo. Windows XP for Seniors. ISBN: 978-90-5905-044-0. Http://visualsteps.com Resources provided by the Tallahassee Senior Center Computer Lab. 2002. City of Seattle. Training Manual – Seniors Training Seniors in Technology. Retrieved August 1, 2009, from http://www.seattle.gov/tech/seniors/toc.htm Special thanks to City of Seattle for allowing permission to use content from their Seniors Training Manual series. 2009. Learn Free. Retrieved September 10, 2009, from http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computer/

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