 |
|
|
|
|
Ready to venture out into the wide world of the Web? To become a netizen, you'll need to find your way around the Internet, more specifically, the Web. It's really not hard. The best way to learn is to take the plunge.
|
|
"NO THANKS, I'M JUST BROWSING..."
Before you can explore the Web, you'll need a browser -- software that accesses and interprets information from the Internet. The Oprah Goes Online HELP pages will help you download, install, and tweak your browser - even choose your own homepage!
Beyond surfing the web, you can use your browser to send and receive e-mail, create a Web page, and access chat and newsgroups.
|
|
USING YOUR BROWSER
It's easy as one, two, three:
1. First, doubleclick on the browser's icon (that little picture that says Netscape, Internet Explorer, or America Online) on your desktop.
2. A window showing your browser's homepage will open. (You can always change your opening homepage)
3. Now the fun part! Type in a URL, hit Return, and "Cowabunga dude! " you're off and surfing!
FINDING YOUR WAY AROUND THE CYBER SEAS
To get to where you want to go on the Web, you'll need to enter a URL (say U-R-L, not "erl") - or Web address -- in the address bar at the top of the browser window. The address bar should be called "location" or "address."
A URL is usually written as http://www.something-or-other.com, often with some more words and slashes thrown in for good measure.
Using a URL:
1. Click your mouse once inside your browser's address bar.
2. Type in the Web address (URL).
3. Hit the Return or Enter key. Zap! You're on a new Web page. (Okay, maybe not "zap" exactly. It might take a few (5 -10) seconds.)
4. You can leave the page by clicking on the "Back" button in your browser, clicking on a link on that page, selecting one of your bookmarks, or typing in a new URL.
THE TOOL BAR
The tool bar is what you'll be using to make your browser work for you. It's located just above the address bar
and is made up of a series of icons, navigation buttons that tell your browser what functions you want it to perform.
|
|
 |
Using Your Browser's Tool Bar:
1. Use your mouse to place the arrow on the icon you want to use.
2. Click!
Easy huh? Your browser will probably include these buttons (they are sooo easy to figure out, you'll see):
A "Back" button (takes you back to the previous page),
"Stop" (stops a page from loading)
"Reload" or "Refresh" (starts a page loading again
A "Forward" button (when you go back, but then when to go back again, now it's forward, get it?)
Nine times out of ten this works. But sometimes, you may get a pesky 404 error message, or a page just takes forever to load. In that case, use your trusty Back, Stop and Reload buttons, or heck, just type in a brand-new URL!
|
|
BOOKMARKS (or Favorites or Best Sites)
As you surf, you'll find sites you like and want to revisit. But how will you ever find them again? Don't worry -- your browser takes care of that for you, so you won't have to spend all your time typing in URLs - even if you could remember them all! Bookmarks, called Favorites in some browsers, are shortcuts to those sites you want to visit again -- and again.
Using Bookmarks (Favorites or Best Sites):
1. Go to the page you want to save.
2. Choose the "Bookmarks" or "Favorites".
3. Select "Add"
(Those with America Online: their browser works much the same.)
From now on, when you want to visit a site you've bookmarked, click on favorites or bookmarks in your browser's menu bar and select the site you want.
Now you know how to catch the wave, so what are you waiting for? Go have fun on the high seas of the Web!
|
|
print this lesson |
back to lesson main page
|
|
|
![[ L E A R N ]](../images/learn/heading_learn.gif)
