The Internet is a combination of words inter and networking, that is the Internet or between networking. The Internet is also known as the Net, which is a computer network that connects millions of computers all over the world.
If these two computers are connected through this networking, they can share information as if they are connected directly. Now, the initial lone computer is able to communicate with other host or computers.
The Internet is like a huge electronic city. Each citizen owns an Internet Address that can exchange information or news.
As its nature is like a space similar to the hemisphere, the Internet is known as cyber space.
When the computer is connected to the Net, it is like a spider in the centre of a huge web. All the spokes of the web can furnish information from other computers.
BASIC INTERNET
This section will discuss a number of basic things about the Internet including the history of the Internet, communication protocol through the Internet and the uses of the Internet in education.
The History of the Internet
Before the Internet came into being, ARPAnet (US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) or the American Department of Defense in 1969 created a computer network to avoid the destruction of centralised information in the event of a war.
Communication Protocol
The Internet is a communication system that uses the physical connection (usually the telephone lines) to connect computers to the computer netwwork. The Internet uses a standard communication procedure to communicate with other computers.
A Protocol is a set of guidelines or language used by computers to communicate in a network. This special Protocol is known as Transmission Control Program/Internet Protocol or in short TCP/IP.
The Internet is also known as a packet switch network because each data that passes through it will be broken into smaller packets. Each packet is sent separately through a series of switches that is called a router. As soon as they reach their destination, the packet is combined into one as its original form. TCP dan IP are two protocols that aim to break the data into packet, to direct them through the Internet, and then combining them again when they it reach the desired destination.
(a) Types of Pathway The types of pathway that are given by the internet provider are as follows: (i) IP ( Internet P r otocol ) Connection If we want to connect all our hardware and software or access the Internet, the we have to use the IP ( I n ternet Prot ocol ) address.
(ii) Dial UP Connection If we use the modem to dial up to ISP to connect to the Internet, then it is known as the Dial UP access.
(c) IP Address IP Address consists of four numbered sections that begin with the numbers 1 to 255, and each section is separated by a dot (.). For example microsoft IP address is 198.105.232.4.
Domain Name
Domain Abbreviation • Country
Web Browser Software
Internet Language This aims to build software in the Internet and allow users to access the various homepage created. Homepage creators have to use specific language used in the Internet that is:
• HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)
• JAVA. language
The Uses of the Internet
- Information that can be obtained faster and cheaply using an application
-Reduce cost of paper and production and circulation.
- As an advertisement media/ promotion
- Interactive Communication
- As Research and Development tool
- Data Change
BASIC INTERNET SERVICES
Website
The Information placed on www is known as "homepage" atau "webpage" and each homepage has its own address. In this application there are a number of application that are carried out such as: • Order or buy an item online • Register online • Access the multimedia and others
Webpage is an interesting and important application on the Internet. This application is known as " The killer application " or " The world is in your finger tips " because we can easily get the information. The webpage is a 'HTML' document on the World Wide Web. Usually this document contains hypertext link with other documents on the world wide web. The language 'Hypertext Markup Language ' (HTML) is used to create a web page and to make a link with a page with another page on another web . HTML is a set of text codes and its named tags that format documents so that it can be read by the web browser.
Electronic Mail or e-mail is a basic Internet facility that is very popular. An email is an activity of exchanging message which is one way the user can write and send letters electronically through the Internet to anyone throughout the world who has an e-mail account.
Other users are able to receive the e-mail from users who know their e-mail address. Messages in the e-mail are usually written in text form or ASCII and sent from the userÊs computer to another computer through the telephone lines. If you send an e-mail to your friends, the e-mail message will remain in their inbox until such time they check their e-mails. Similarly, you too will have an inbox of e-mails to receive e-mails sent to your e-mail account.
The Electronic mail is a facility or application that is much used in the internet. It allows the sending and receiving of messages, files in the form of programmes, graphic pictures and computer software.
Using the e-mail has a lot of advantages. Among them are they are fast, cheap and easy. There is no other postal service that can compete with the speed of the e-mail. The e-mail is also cheap because it does not require stamps for postal payment. You are only charged for a minimal access fee. Most of the e-mail software are free, in fact there are a variety of free e-mail services that are offered in the Internet.
(a) E-Mail Criteria
(i) There are two criteria that need to be fulfilled before your computer can send or receive e-mails. • You computer must be connected to the Internet.
• You e-mail software has to be opened in your computer.
(ii) Two conditions that must be fulfilled before using an electronic mail are:
• You must have an e-mail account and know your e-mail address.
• You must know the e-mail addresss of the recipient.
(b) E-Mail Address
Each e-mail address uses the following standard format:
username@host.domain (e.g ali@yahoo.com)
or
username@hos.subdomain.domain (e.g ali@oum.edu.my)
E-mail Account Two e-mail services provided are as follows:
(i) E-mail account paid for where you need to subscribe to the Internet Services Supplier such TM Net, Jaring, or a registered institution including Open University Malaysia (OUM).
(ii) Free E-mail accounts through the servics of World Wide Web are called e-mails based on web (Web-based e-mail). • http://www.hotmail.com • http://www.eudoramail.com • http://www.altavista.iname.com • http://mail.yahoo.com
Group-Web
The Internet also allows a group of users to gather, discuss and chat or exchange information in a group. This is known as the the Group Web. There are many sites which provide this facility through Yahoo, AltaVista to name a few. The following is an example of the Group Web introduced by Yahoo.
Portal
Portal is also a part of this group web where the portal is a website that provides a gateway for a variety of information. You have to first visit the portal website that usually contains the website directory and search engine. To obtain information on a specific subject, go to any of the web servers and search using the keywords. The web server provides a search directory that is known as a portal.
Portals vary according to search engines where the portals use man to arrange and classify the host in the internet. This method produces a more systematic and easier method to use. (b) Other Basic Services
(i) File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is an application in the Internet to download and upload files in the FTP server. In this way, we are able to obtain free software downloaded from any homepage in the Internet.
(ii) Videoconferencing
Videoconferencing is communication through the Internet among users from various locations. The hardware needed by users are computers, tv cameras, communication software and tools for communication. It can be considered as a type of conference in cyber with participants from various locations. They can interact online with each other.
(iii) News Group
A News Group is a discussion forum that are separate discussion columns and each column has a separate discussion topic. In a column there may be more than one person exchanging ideas and opinions. So this opinion is viewed by all in that column. It can be accepted as a Bulletin Board, such as the one in schools or offices, where anyone can ÂstickÊ articles or viewpoints for others to read. Through the application of the News Group, the article or letter is placed quickly in the required group.
(iv) Telnet Through Telnet, we are able to access other computers without having to have that computers program. Hence, what is viewed on our screen is the contents of the other computer. This is known as " Remote Login".
Examples of what can be done with Telnet are: • Searching for library, campus catalogs • Accessing databases • Accessing Bulletin boards of Government Organisations. To use Telnet, we have to possess an IP address or domain name and we have to also have the right to access that is by using a login name and password.
(v) Gopher Gopher is an application that can find information on the Internet, but only those in the form of a text or text based. To get information through Gopher, you have to connect with a Gopher server in the Internet.
(vi)Chat
Chat is an Internet application programme that allows us to chat online with other internet users. This application program is known as IRC ( Internet Relay Chat ). Here, communication is through the keyboad and it has to be connected to the IRC server
7.3 THE USE OF THE INTERNET IN EDUCATION
The information in the Internet is more open and wide in nature and not confined to only one location. In fact it covers the whole world. The Internet is a useful tool in assisting educators to vary their teaching and learning aids to a more interesting media. Accessing into this vast resource provides a venue for teachers and students to obtain information needed. The Internet service definitely provides a more thorough and complete source of reference.
The Internet services also provides a wide variety of resources for education. The Internet is seen as a warehouse of information that can be accessed from a distance. This resource is not only suitable for individuals but also as a group or as a teaching aid in educational institutions.
Internet access can make communication with people all over the world a reality and even bring the educational experts to the classrooms.
The Internet has been used as a source to obtain various materials and information related to teaching and learning. It also serves as a useful means of communication among teachers, between a teacher and a student, and among students themselves.
The Presentation of Information
The Internet is a able to present information in education more clearly and effectively. There are many suggestions forwarded to have learning software which are Internet assisted.
(a) Projects Teachers have used a number of computer-assisted programs in their projects. A project can cover a number of concepts and skills that have been learnt. Among the sugggested websites are:
• http://www.gsn.org • http://www.stolaf.edu/network/lecc/ • http://www.nptn.org.cyber.serv/AoneP/academyone/Projectindex.html It is necessary to integrate projects based on the Internet well, especially in terms of access an arrangement of materials.
(b) Lesson Plans There are many prepared lesson plans on the Internet that can be shared by teachers all over the world. Among the websites that you can visit to access lesson plans are:
• http://www.sci.lib.Uci.edu/SEP/SEP.Internet • http://www.scun.edu:80/hceduo13/ • http://www.forum.swarthmore.edu/arithmetic/arith.units.html • http://www.teachnet.com/lesson.html • http://www.mmserve.com/educ • http://www.coe.missouri/~kyle/edu.html
Interesting and Latest Information
Information changes everyday, and millions of information are available easily, quickly and cheaply through the internet. Students can get information about natural disasters such as Tsunami, Typhoon Katrina or Wilma and be able to share information and take part in forums with their friends on the Internet.
Teachers too can find information quickly for the teaching and learning process. Apart from information, the Internet also provides attractive graphics, pictures and animation for the learning process.
Reading Material and Language Skills
The Internet has thousands of magazines, journals and newspapers. Students can get news about a matter through the newspaper from all over the world. To read the newspaper from all over the world, you can visit the following webpage.
Information Sharing
With the Internet, the teacher can share information, ideas or special problems with other teachers especially through electronic discussions groups. There are numerous electronic discussion groups in the Internet that you can participate for free that connects you to teachers from around the world. Among the websites are as follows:
• http://fthejournal.com • http://place.scholastic.com/EL/index.htm • http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/techgap • http://fromnowon.org
The Searching of Information
Are you searching for something? The Internet can be the fastest and cheapest way to search for information. By using a search engine effectively, you can:
(a) Try various kinds of search engine. Although the base is the same, each one has a clear difference in terms of search.
(b) Use the correct keywords. Avoid general terms as keywords as this would entail seaching through a wide selection.
(c) Use the "advanced search option". This enables you to use "Boolean operators" (AND, OR, NOT, NEAR, +, -).
(d) Read "hints" and "help" in each search engine. It contains information about how the engine functions.
Clearly, the Internet is a wide source of information. Information search involves the search process of specific information in the internet. Two main methods is the search engine and the portal. Besides that, the use of USENET, FAQ, the email discussion field and the archieve sites can be used as additional sources.
Teaching and Learning On the whole, all categories of learning can use the internet.
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