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Internet Basics Introduction

The Internet. A vast domain open to your explorations. Like an explorer, if you enter the domain properly equipped, you will not only survive; you will prosper. Consider this lesson your field store. It come equipped with the basics you need to survive. Without these basics, you are sky- diving naked to an unknown destination.

This lesson is designed for you to gather information about internet basics. When you finish this lesson, you should be able to:

 Utilize e-mail as a communication tool.  Utilize chat tools as a communication tool.  Utilize News Groups as a communication tool.  Utilize listservs as a communication tool.  Utilize an FTP program to transfer files.  Establish a Web Account.  Utilize proper Netiquette in all on-line communications.  Make ethical decisions about the use of materials found online.

Unlike other lessons in this course, this lesson relies heavily on information already available elsewhere on the world wide web. What better way to gain exposure to this frontier than to experience it?

To start, you should visit and explore the following sites:

 Introduction to the Internet -- http://www.screen.com/start/guide/

 CACWeb FAQ -- http://www.personal.psu.edu/faq/cacweb.html

 Download an Internet Tutorial from the Florida Center for Information Technologies -- http://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/publications/firnsim/

Next, explore some basic communication tools. You will use them in this course.

 E-mail, chat and News -- http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/guides/email/index.html

 Eudora -- http://cac.psu.edu/ets/projects/modules/eudora.htm

 Listserv -- http://cac.psu.edu/ets/projects/modules/Listserv/ls1win/ls1-1-0.htm

 Introduction to Volano Chat -- http://cac.psu.edu/ets/projects/modules/laurie/vc/vc1-1-0.htm

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You also need to know how to manage files on the web.

 Managing Your Own PSU Web Page http://cac.psu.edu/ets/projects/modules/webstuf/manage/index.html

Does this new frontier have rules of conduct? You bet! See:

 Netiquette http://wise.fau.edu/netiquette/net/and also to http://www.hotwired.com/webmonkey/guides/email/lists.html

 Ethical Issues http://www.psu.edu/computing/policies/digitalmedia/index.html AND http://www.psu.edu/computing/policies/digitalmedia/dmfaq.html

To round out your explorations, make sure you complete the Internet Basics Summary

Additional Resources

Webmonkey - Internet Basics http://www.hotwired.com/webmonkey/guides/email/lists.html

Webmonkey - About the Web http://www.hotwired.com/webmonkey/guides/web/index.html

Webmonkey - Email, Chat and the News http://www.hotwired.com/webmonkey/guides/email/index.html

Webmonkey - Net Nuts and Bolts http://www.hotwired.com/webmonkey/guides/net/index.html

Webmonkey - Glossary of Terms http://www.hotwired.com/webmonkey/guides/glossary/index.html

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Netiquette

Netiquette is just what it sounds like, etiquette for the "net". This refers to all types of electronic communication.

As a user of the network, you may be allowed to access other networks (and/or the computer systems attached to those networks). Each network or system has its own set of policies and procedures. Actions which are routinely allowed on one network/system may be controlled, or even forbidden, on other networks. It is the users' responsibility to abide by the policies and procedures of these other networks/systems. Remember, the fact that a user can perform a particular action does not imply that they should take that action.

The use of the network is a privilege, not a right, which may temporarily be revoked at any time for abusive conduct. Such conduct would include, the placing of unlawful information on a system, the use of abusive or otherwise objectionable language in either public or private messages, the sending of messages that are likely to result in the loss of recipients' work or systems, the sending of "Chain letters," or "broadcast" messages to lists or individuals, and any other types of use which would cause congestion of the networks or otherwise interfere with the work of others..

Some E-Mail Dos And Don'ts

Don't Flame People

A flame is a nasty, personal attack on somebody for something he or she has written. ("Hey you scum-sucking pig! That's the dorkiest thing I've ever read!") Flaming is easy to do, especially if you don't know the other person. E-mail is "faceless" that way.

If you disagree with a particular individual's stance, or wish to comment on their netiquette, use appropriate communication practices to explain your position. Use the same skills that you would use if you were confronting the individual in person.

When Replying To A Message, Don't Include The Entire Original Message In Your Reply.

Most e-mail software lets you include the original message when you reply to that message. Sometimes that's OK, but most times you should include only enough of the original message so your reply makes sense. Why? Bandwidth (computer geek term), disk space on your mail server, and where appropriate, e-mail diskette, and cognitive overload (psychology geek term). For bandwidth, think of a pipe. You can only pour so much water (data) through the pipe (your communications service) at any one time. Because you're sharing the pipe with many other people, you only want to pour through what's absolutely needed - get rid of the excess. In terms of disk space, each message that you send takes up some amount of disk storage space: either on your e-mail providers' hard drives, or on your own storage media. Think of several people responding to the same message and re-sending the same text, including responses, in total, over and over. One message can expand in size rather quickly. If each of the 100,000 messages that are sent though our system daily, does this, it's easy to imagine a disk filling up in no time. For

3 T1L2 cognitive overload, think of a chapter summary versus the entire chapter. After you've read the chapter once, the summary's probably enough to jog your memory - you don't need to read the entire chapter over and over.

Don't Use ALL CAPS.

All caps in an e-mail message is considered shouting as well as rude. GOT IT? DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

Do Use Courtesy

Be polite and nice to everyone, even the dweebs you have to talk to. The keyword is civility.

Do Memorize Your Password.

Don't write it down where anybody can find it! If you forget your password, you can't access your e-mail and other important services!

Don't Share Your Password

A secret one person knows is a secret. A secret two people know is no secret. A secret three people know is knowledge shouted to the world. If someone else knows your password, they could do bad things using your e-mail account, and guess who will receive the blame?

Don't Ever Send Spam E-mail

Spamming means sending unsolicited e-mail to many (i.e., hundreds, even thousands) addresses gathered from newsgroups or conferences. The keyword here is unsolicited. If someone has requested you send them some information, that is fine. However, it is becoming more and more common to receive solicitations for a wide variety of products and services through "spam" e- mail whether you, as the recipient, have asked for the information or not. If you are reported to the postmaster at your internet provider for sending unsolicited spam e-mail, you will likely have your internet access discontinued. Do not do SPAM, ever!! For more information visit the web site:

Some Conferencing Dos And Don'ts

Always Put A Subject In The Subject Line

If a post is a reply to an original posting, use Re: "Subject" in the title. Some software automatically includes the "Re:". This allows for appropriate threading of the posts and signals when a shift in subject emphasis occurs. This concept is true for e-mail as well.

Always Post Topic Specific Material In The Appropriate Conference

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Though this sounds obvious, it is one of the most common errors users, new to conferencing (newbies), make. In less flexible forums it is cause for withdrawing user privileges. For example, it would be inappropriate to post a family history paper to an ideology conference.

Use Solid, Logical Evidence For Position Support

Support for a position can, and should, be documented in postings of a scholarly nature. For example, postings that refer to an assigned topic may contain references to class readings. Avoid opinion statements, unless it is appropriate for that discussion (like metaphysics).

Avoid Personal Criticisms In Postings

This is known as flaming and usually has the effect of moving the conference discussion away from the topic. If a serious difference of opinion with a particular conferee, that is personal in nature, occurs, send a message directly to the conferee. In this way, differences can be discussed directly with the other person while maintaining the integrity of the conference discussion.

Keep Postings Short, About One Screen's Worth Of Text

If a response is much longer, an attachment may be a better option.

Some Other Terms That Might Be Helpful

Trolling: Occurs when a user posts a message, usually false and inflammatory, to a newsgroup just to see the response. An example would be sending a "Beer stinks" message to the alt. brewers newsgroup. The best way to handle these messages is to either: 1) ignore them entirely, the poster is looking for a response; or 2) send a private Email to the poster.

Lurking: Occurs when a user simply reads messages and does not post. This is not usually a problem for participants, and is even recommended for new users (newbies) to get a sense of the "conversation" in a newsgroup.

Spamming: There is nothing that is looked upon as a greater "sin" than spamming newsgroups or conferences. Similar to e-mail, this is when a poster sends a message to, literally, hundreds of newsgroups or conferences that has nothing to do with the newsgroups' topics. Currently, the most common spams have to do with sending money through the US Postal Service, in the form of pyramid scheme, chain letters as a way to make money. This practice is illegal. The Postal Service will prosecute anyone they catch using the mails in a chain letter or pyramid scheme. It is considered fraud!. To add insult to injury, any poster caught spamming newsgroups, will probably be reported to the "postmaster" at their site, and is likely to have his/her internet access cut off. It does not matter whether his or her access is through an educational institution, or through a commercial provider. Do not do SPAM, ever!!

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Internet Basics Summary

This lesson is designed for you to gather information about internet basics. When you finish this lesson, you should be able to:

 Utilize e-mail as a communication tool.  Utilize chat tools as a communication tool.  Utilize a Listserv conference as a communication tool.  Utilize an FTP program to transfer files.  Establish a Web Account.  Utilize proper Netiquette in all on-line communications.  Make ethical decisions about the use of materials found online.

If you cannot do these things, you should review the lesson at least once. If you are still having difficulty, you should consider other sources of information that compliment this lesson, such as textbooks, tutors, and instructors.

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