Aims

This module is designed to give the learner the relevant knowledge and skills to use the Internet as a communication and research tool effectively and to develop the technical and authoring skills necessary to produce a simple HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) page for the World Wide Web.

The module also gives the learner an appreciation of the importance of ensuring security and confidentiality when using the Internet.

Areas of Study

Unit 1 History and Structure of the Internet

Learners should be able to:

• outline the historical development of the Internet from its inception in the 1960′s (Arpanet) up to the present time, to include the development of the World Wide Web
• define the nature of ownership, administration and funding of the Internet
• describe the Internet as a global network of computers operating in a non-centralised, dynamic structure
• evaluate the Internet as a new communications medium
• identify the various uses of the facilities available on the Internet in terms of:
  • personal relations and communications
  • personal and professional training and development
  • research
  • commercial public relations and marketing.

Unit 2 Internet Connection

Learners should be able to:

• list the features of an Internet Service Provider to include:
  • connection methods
  • cost comparison
  • obtaining IP addresses and domain names
• list the minimum hardware and software requirements for connection to the Internet
• explain the major factors that affect speed of access
• establish connection to an Internet service provider.

Unit 3 World Wide Web and Search Engines

Learners should be able to:

• demonstrate the use of a software “browser” package to navigate the World Wide Web to include:
  • use of hyperlinks
  • navigation between web pages
  • accessing document source and document information
  • the efficient use of bookmarks to store and locate Universal Resource Locators (URLs)
• explain URLs in terms of their component parts
• outline the different criteria used by search engines during a search
• outline the different techniques for conducting and refining a search
• use different search engines for research purposes
• download, save and print files locally
• describe other current Internet facilities available such as chat channels and real audio and video
• use FTP (file transfer protocol).

Unit 4 Security and Confidentiality

Learners should be able to:

• explain how a computer system can be protected from viruses transmitted via the net
• explain how filtering software can be used to control access
• outline the use of firewalls to protect against unauthorised access
• recognise the need to preserve personal privacy when using the Internet
• describe the use of encryption to maintain confidentiality on the Internet
• describe the use of digital signatures to verify identity on the Internet
• explain the purpose and potential risk associated with cookies.

Unit 5 Electronic Mail

Learners should be able to:

• demonstrate the use of at least one current email software package to include: compose, send, receive, reply, forward, print, store electronic messages and open file attachments
• attach a file to an email message
• create and manage mailboxes and transfer messages to and from relevant mailboxes
• explain the composition of email addresses in terms of their component parts
• demonstrate an appreciation of email etiquette as regards: content, length, style and tone of composed messages and use of acronyms and emoticons (eg LOL, IMHO)
• set up a web based email account
• describe other email facilities available to include:
  • RSS feeds
  • mailing lists.

Unit 6 Introduction to Web Publishing

Learners should be able to:

• evaluate web pages and sites in terms of their layout, relative technical, graphic and linguistic merits and deficiencies
• produce a page for publication on the World Wide Web using appropriate software or HTML tags
• recognise the most common file formats suitable for use in web publishing with regard to text, graphics, audio and video files.