TERRIE'S CYBER CLASS

Rembrance Day November 11 2009

2009-11-01T15:37:00.005-06:00

Veterans' Week 2009: How Will You Remember?

Why Remember?

Canada's service men and women have served this nation from the First World War to current missions. They step forward in our time of greatest need — because they believe in peace and security around the world. They have left their villages and cities, their farms and fishing communities, to make a difference. And they did. And today's service men and women are carrying on the tradition.

Students access this website by double clicking on the link to the right. http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/

1. View the site and send an e-card to your friends and family so they can also remember.

2. Send an e-card to your instructor at aquariuspink@hotmail.com

Timeless Myths

2009-10-25T12:11:00.005-05:00

It's that time of year again.......................HALLOWEEN................

Visit the Link below and read about old urban myths and legends.

Which superstitions or old wives tales do you remember from your childhood. Do you know a different legend that is not mentioned on this website.

http://timelessmyths.co.uk

In a new document such as word or office word type a paragraph or two to describe some of the urban legends or superstitions you have read on this website also list any superstitions or old wives tales that your were told as a child.

Don't forget to write your name at the top of the page and insert today's date.

Print it out a copy for your portfolio and save it. You can also include clip art.

Have a fun filled Halloween Terrie.

Happy Thanksgiving Day

2009-10-04T09:47:00.008-05:00

Visit the site www.scholastic.com/thanksgiving

Read and see information about the first Thanksgiving.

Take note of the Scholastic Word Wizard box in the lower right hand corner.

WELCOME BACK

2009-09-13T18:06:00.004-05:00

Our new 12 week session has begun September 14th is our first day. I am so happy to be back and I am looking forward to working with new and old students. I hope you all had a very good summer in spite of all the rain we had. So tell the cat to get off of the computer it's time for you to get back to using it.

Let's have a great learning experience together.

Terrie

10 Common Digital Camera Questions

2009-06-07T16:21:00.002-05:00

Digital cameras provide several differences and benefits over film cameras. Before buying a digital camera, it's important to learn the basics about digital cameras, including the differences between point-and-shoot digital cameras and digital SLR cameras.

For beginning photographers, finding the right digital camera can be a chore. With so many point-and-shoot models and brands, all at varying price points, shopping can be confusing. Sort out the confusion by reading answers to these 10 common digital camera questions in our digital camera FAQ.

1. How Much Resolution Do I Need?

Most of the newer digital cameras have plenty of resolution for beginning photographers to make reasonably sized prints, which means the maximum resolution in a digital camera isn't as important as it used to be. Although resolution amounts are important in determining image quality, keep in mind that all digital cameras of a particular resolution aren't going to yield the same image quality. Lens quality, image sensor quality, and response times of the camera all affect image quality, too.

2. What Is the Cost of Printing Photos?

For the most part, printed digital photos are similar in cost to printed film photos, averaging 15 cents to 50 cents per print, depending on size.
Although it might seem as if printing photos at home is very inexpensive, you do have to remember the cost of ink and paper, and that cost can increase quickly if you use specialty inks or papers, made specifically for photos.

Some stores allow you to print photos from a kiosk, simply by inserting a memory card. You also can send your photos to various companies on the Internet, where they can be printed and either sent to you or picked up on location. In most instances, printing photos at a store is less expensive than printing at home.

3. What Do the Zoom Lens Numbers Mean?

The zoom lens measurements for a digital camera signify the amount of magnification the lens can produce. The numbers can be confusing, however, because some manufacturers highlight different measurements, including optical zoom, digital zoom, and combined zoom. Keep this in mind: Optical zoom is the most important zoom measurement because it measures the focal length of the lens.
For more information on zoom lenses, click here.

4. Why Does My Camera Have a Delay When I Take a Photo?

When using auto-focus mode, your digital camera may need a fraction of a second to focus on the image. In low-light conditions, this delay, called shutter lag, can last a full second or more, which could cause you to miss a spontaneous photo or which could cause blurry photos, if you can't hold the camera steady during the shutter lag. When large zoom lenses are fully extended, shutter lag increases. Most point-and-shoot models allow you to pre-focus by pressing the shutter button halfway before taking the shot.
When using a flash, you may experience shutter lag, too, because the camera's focus-assist light needs to fire to allow the camera to focus before it fires the main flash.

5. Why Does My Camera Have a Delay After I Take a Photo?

Such delays, called shot-to-shot delays, occur when the camera must transfer the image to the memory card and clear the sensor before shooting another photo. You can overcome shot-to-shot delays by shooting in burst mode, where the camera snaps several photos at a preset image size within a couple of seconds.

6. Is Image Stabilization Important?

Image stabilization, sometimes shortened to IS, helps prevent blurry photos from camera shake. IS can be optical, digital, or dual. Image stabilization is especially important for cameras with large zoom lenses.
Optical image stabilization is the best type of IS because it involves actually moving the parts of the camera to compensate for camera shake. Many recent point-and-shoot models now contain IS, although not all of them offer optical IS.
For more information on IS, click here.

7. Will Certain Types of Memory Cards Increase Transfer or Performance Speeds?

Memory cards, for the most part, all perform at similar levels, especially with beginner, point-and-shoot digital cameras. Some memory cards are labeled as "professional" or "high speed," but, with point-and-shoot cameras, you won't see enough of a performance boost from such memory cards over standard memory cards to justify the higher cost.

8. Are Image Quality Settings Important?

With almost every point-and-shoot digital camera, you can set various aspects of the image, including resolution and quality. Resolution refers to the number of pixels in the image. Quality involves the amount of compression used on the photo.
Images with more compression and fewer pixels will have less overall image quality, requiring less storage space. Images with less compression and more pixels will have more image quality, but they will require more storage space. Because memory is so inexpensive these days, you'll rarely want to shoot at settings that results in low image quality. Once a photo is shot, you can't go back and add pixels, after all. Images that you plan to print should be of a high image quality.

9. What Type of Battery Is Better?

Point-and-shoot digital cameras typically use either proprietary rechargeable batteries or disposable off-the-shelf batteries. Both types have some advantages.
Proprietary rechargeable batteries cost less to use in the long run, but, once their power is gone, your camera is useless until you can recharge. You can buy a second, backup battery, but it can cost $40 or more.

Disposable batteries typically add more bulk to the camera, and they're more expensive in the long run because they sometimes run out of power quickly, especially if you use the LCD quite a bit. However, if you're traveling and run out of power, picking up two more AA batteries at a local store is an easy process. You also can use rechargeable AA batteries.

10. Which Digital Camera Should I Buy?

The final question is one that, unfortunately, has no specific answer. The right camera for you likely isn't the right camera for your best friend. Everyone's photography needs are a little different.

The best way to figure out which digital camera you should buy is to do your homework. Determine how you'll use the camera, search for a model that has strengths you want, talk to family and friends

Software Programs.

* Photoshop Elements, which runs on both Macs and Windows, is worth investigating. Have at least one computer set up with Elements and such plugins as PhotoGraphicEdges to fix up the images.

* Consider having pictures printed locally at a one-hour processing center; it's less expensive and produces much better quality than using ink-jet printers. In our area, I pay reprint prices of 29 cents for a 4-inch by 6-inch print, and bring the images to them after burning just the ones we want on a CD-ROM. Make sure photos are cropped to the 4-inch by 6-inch ratio before taking them to be printed.

Charge the Battery

2009-06-07T16:19:00.003-05:00

A light on the camera or charger should tell you the status of the battery charging procedure.
When charging the battery, either in a separate charger or inside the camera, you must make sure you load the battery properly. Follow the directions on the charger, on the camera, or in the user guide or Quick Start Guide.

If you're using a battery charger, you should just connect the included electrical cord to the charger, insert the battery, and plug the charger into the wall outlet. If charging the battery inside the camera, you may have to connect the electrical cord to a port on the camera, such as a USB port.

Check the user guide for information specific to your camera.

When you start the charging process, you should see a light indicating that the unit is receiving power. While the battery is charging, the light often is a red, yellow, or orange color, depending on the model of camera. When the battery is fully charged, the light may change to a green or blue color, or it may shut off completely.

Insert The Battery

2009-06-07T16:17:00.002-05:00

The biggest problem people encounter with this step is incorrectly inserting the battery. When inserting the camera battery in the battery compartment, it fits only one way.

Most rechargeable batteries are marked with "positive" and "negative" posts, and you simply have to line up the posts with the proper areas inside the charger. Other rechargeable batteries have a unique shape or a notch on one end that must be lined up perfectly with the charger.

Most of the time, the battery will have a notch or a curved edge that will only allow it to fit in one direction. You'll need to use a little force to fit the battery tightly into the compartment, and it should almost click into place.
However, you don't want to use too much force. The pressure from one finger should be sufficient.

If a memory card slot is behind the battery compartment door, you'll want to insert the memory card in a similar manner. It will fit only one way.

Use the notches or curved edges on the memory card to align it properly. (Keep in mind that not every camera ships with a memory card, and you may have to purchase one separately.)

With most camera models, to remove the battery or memory card, you simply press the battery or card in another fraction of an inch, and the battery or card should pop upward a little bit, allowing you to pull it out of the slot. Pinch the battery or card between your thumb and finger to lift it out of the slot.

The compartment door should swing closed again with an audible click. If the battery or memory card is not properly inserted, though, the door may not close properly. It takes a little bit of force to close the door, but excessive force could cause the door to pop off the hinge.

Always check the user guide or Quick Start Guide to ensure proper insertion and removal of the battery or memory card.

Open the Battery Compartment

2009-06-07T16:15:00.003-05:00

With this Olympus camera, the battery and memory card fit behind the battery compartment door.

With most battery compartment doors for cameras, you have to flip a small lever or toggle switch to open the door.

The toggle switch unlocks the compartment door and allows it swing open. The toggle switch can be embedded in the compartment door, or it can be next to the door. Again, the Quick Start Guide should give you the exact location, if you can't find the door.

Find the Battery Compartment

2009-06-07T16:14:00.002-05:00

The battery compartment on this Olympus model is on the bottom of the camera.

Find the compartment for the rechargeable battery. Most of the time, the compartment is on the bottom panel or on a side panel of the camera. Use the Quick Start Guide to find the compartment door.

The memory card slot also might be hidden behind the battery compartment door.

Setting Up Your Camera

2009-06-07T16:12:00.003-05:00

Begin setting up your camera by finding the Quick Start Guide. With some models, it's a printed card or poster that's separate from the user guide. With other models, the Quick Start Guide may be printed inside the user guide.

The Quick Start Guide should provide easy-to-follow instructions for charging the battery, for inserting it correctly into the camera, and for inserting the memory card.

Most Quick Start Guides include both illustrations and printed instructions.

Just be certain to follow the instructions in order. Don't skip around.

The initial battery charging process can require anywhere from one to three hours, so don't expect to use the camera immediately after taking it out of the box.

If your camera uses disposable AA or AAA batteries, you simply have to insert the batteries in the camera. If, however, your camera requires a rechargeable battery, you'll have to charge it before you can use the digital camera. Some cameras use a separate charger

Digital Camera

2009-06-07T16:08:00.004-05:00

Taking the Camera Out of the Box

When you purchase a new digital camera, following the correct initial setup procedure is important. With most point and shoot models, it isn't overly difficult to learn to use your camera correctly, but it can be a little tricky if you've never done it before.
This set of articles will show you how to run the initial setup on your camera and how to use your camera correctly. By following the correct steps in the beginning, you can avoid problems later.

Keep in mind that every model of digital camera is a little different. This set of articles will not exactly follow every step you need to use with your particular brand and model of digital camera. The articles are designed more to provide general guidance in working with your new camera. For exact instructions, look toward your new digital camera's user guide or quick start guide.

As you open the camera's box, you'll notice it is packed tightly with components, user guides, and even a few advertisements. Find a large flat surface and lay everything out carefully. The camera's user guide or quick start guide should have a drawing or a list of all of the items in the box. Make sure you have everything before you begin charging the battery. Save all of the plastic bags and packing material.

2009-04-19T08:40:00.006-05:00

WEDNESDAY APRIL 22ND 2009

Check out this website and learn some interesting facts about the place we call HOME.

Is there anything we can do to keep our HOME beautiful and healthy?

http://holidays.kaboose.com/earth-day/index.html

The Top Six Alternative Search Engines

2009-04-12T18:52:00.003-05:00

The Top Six Alternative Search Engines
(About .com)

Looking for a new search engine? There are literally hundreds of really great search engines on the Internet that focus on specific topics: images, jobs, blogs, etc. You can find all sorts of great stuff using these alternative search engines that you might not be able to find on the more well-known search engines; plus, many of these search engines have really interesting

1. Blinkx

Blinkx TV is a search engine that helps you find audio, video, and podcasts using not only keywords and phrases, but also content in the actual clips that you're looking for. For example, if you wanted to find Kermit the Frog's "It's Not Easy Being Green", you could type in "having to spend each day the color of the leaves", and Blinkx would be able to fetch what you're looking for using not only your content, but the concept behind your content - the spoken word (or in this case, the lyrics).

2. IMDB

The Internet Movie Database is the biggest movie database on the Web. Featuring top movies, movie news, movie reviews, movie trailers, movie showtimes, DVD movie reviews,celebrity profiles,etc., the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is a mammoth depository of movie information.

3.Healthline

Healthline.com is a medical information search engine. Healthline is solely dedicated to finding medical information online, and it offers medically filtered results developed by trained medical personnel. It's really an excellent tool for finding all kinds of medical information.

4. BrainBoost
BrainBoost is an automated question-answering search engine. Here's how it works: you type in a question, any question, and instead of merely matching your search query in page text and titles like other search engines, BrainBoost actually goes the next logical step and sorts through the search results for you.

5.National Geographic's Map Search Engine

National Geographic's Map Machine is a gigantic collection of all the National Geographic maps in a searchable online database. There is so much to the Map Machine that it's best to look at it piece by piece. Start with the Map Machine categories to get a big picture view of all that National Geographic map search has to offer. There's a lot here, and it's all searchable: world maps, satellite maps of Mars, Globe Explorer aerial imagery.

6. Technorati

Technorati is a real-time search engine dedicated to the blogosphere. It only searches through blogs to find exactly what you're looking for. At the time of this writing, Technorati was tracking over 22 million sites and over a billion links, a mind-boggling amount.
Dogpile is a meta search engine, meaning that it gets results from multiple search engines and directories and then presents them combined to the user. Dogpile currently gets its results from Google, Yahoo, MSN Search, Ask , About, MIVA, LookSmart, and more.

Using Public Computers to check your e-mail

2009-03-09T12:44:00.002-05:00

Using a public computer to check your e-mail, bank accounts and travel arrangements may be more convenient than lugging around a laptop when traveling. But it's also more dangerous. PCs are easily located at Internet cafes, airports, libraries, hotel business centers and other public places. Unfortunately, unscrupulous souls target these machines in an attempt to hijack your sensitive information. To reduce the risk, consider these safety tips:

1) Scope out the snoops. Look around to see if anyone is watching you. This is particularly important if you are accessing a password-protected account. Someone could be observing and recording your private information.

2) Be wary of accessing your private data. Doing online banking, stock trades and other financial transactions is not a good idea. Neither is entering your credit card number to shop online. It's possible that a hi-tech thief may have installed keylogger software on the computer. It secretly records your key strokes, then e-mails it to him. Armed with that information, he can access your accounts--bad news.

3) Log out. If you've accessed a website that requires a login (for instance, your e-mail account), make sure to log out by clicking the appropriate link (usually locate at the top right of the page).

4) Close the browser. For extra protection, close all browser windows and any other programs that may be running.

5) Don't leave the computer unattended. If you have to leave temporarily, log out and close the program you are using. Don't just minimize the window.

6) Don't let the computer save your login information. Some programs offer to save your user name and password. Click "No" if a pop-up box offers this option. Some web browsers record this information anyway, so before you start surfing, disable this feature. Here's how to do it with Internet Explorer 7:

-On the menu bar, click Tools, then Internet Options from the drop-down list.
-Click the Content tab, then Settings in the AutoComplete section.
-Uncheck any boxes that are checked, then click OK to close the AutoComplete Settings and click OK to close the Internet settings.

Cover your tracks. You can delete the record of the sites you visited and any cookies that may be stored on the computer.

Here's how:
-On the menu bar, click Tools, then Internet Options from the drop-down list.
-Click the General tab, then Delete in the Browsing History section.
-In the Delete Browsing History box, click Delete All.

Consider fellow surfers. Avoid opening suspicious e-mail attachments or downloading software. Don't do anything that may potentially infect the computer and cause problems for the next user.

2009-02-28T13:54:00.008-06:00

For Literacy Plus Students Only

Movement for Canadian Literacy (MCL)

March 3rd-9th, 2009

In celebration of International Adult Learners Week (IALW)

We want to hear from you!
Join learners across Canada and explore our website. It's easy!

Go To:

http://www.literacy.ca/themes/mcl/learners/index.html

Double click on "Scavenger Hunt".

Answer the questions and give MCL feedback on what you would like to see on our website. Email your answers between March 3rd and March 9th for a chance to win a prize.

Family Tree Websites

2009-02-25T18:22:00.003-06:00

Build your Free Family Tree website online. Invite friends and family to view or update your site. Each private and secure website is loaded with Photos, Charts, Reports, Maps, Relationships, Events and Stories. Just add names of your relatives or import a GEDCOM file and instantly create your family tree website.

Visit http://www.tribalpages.com

Let's Talk about Addresses

2009-02-22T18:47:00.003-06:00

It is very important to type the address carefully.

It doesn't work and is very frustrating if you type the address wrong.

How do I say an E-mail address?

We say:

@_________at

. _________dot

_ _________underscore

For example: We say:

staff@misa.ns.ca____________ staff at MISA dot n s dot ca

Ottawa@on.sympatico.ca____ Ottawa at o n dot sympatico dot c a

S_smith@hotmail.com________ S underscore smith at hotmail dot com

How do I say an Internet address?

We say:

: _______________ colon

/________________slash

. _______________dot

- _______________dash

For example: We say:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/ http colon slash slash www dot cic dot g c dot c a

http://www.region.ottawa.on.ca/ http colon slash slash www dot region dot Ottawa

dot o n dot ca

Cyber Cafe for Eganville Seniors Club

2009-02-20T19:31:00.008-06:00

Welcome to our new partners at the Eganville Seniors Group. Your Valentine's day luncheon was wonderful as usual. I really enjoyed the music and the company. While we where chatting and brainstorming one of my new students at Literacy Pus asked about my blog on the internet that we have been using during our classes. One thing lead to another and before we knew it The Cyber Cafe was born. I am very excited to work with all of you on a regular basis through this blog.

Joyce and Maxine will assist us by getting in touch with me if any questions arise that need more explanation than just a few short sentences. Joyce and Maxine graduated from our program at Literacy Plus and they are accustomed to the way I work and understand my lingo.

You can use this section for sending questions under comments whenever you like. I will try to answer as quickly as possible. If you have any problems getting into the comments section send me an e-mail at aquariuspink@hotmail.com

I would like to know all of your first names your last names are not necessary. Please feel free to use any materials on this site.

Terrie

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY 2009

2009-02-08T18:29:00.007-06:00

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY 2009

Find the answers to our Valentine Trivia Hunt
Visit the links below to find the answers to the questions about Valentine's Day.
You'll have to be careful and read and think. Have Fun!!

Valentine Symbols Valentine's Facts and Superstitions

Saint Valentine's Story

I Love You in various languages from around the world

Valentine Cards

Here are the questions.

1. What did Esther Howland do?
2. What did people used to believe would happen if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine's Day?
3. Who imprisoned Valentine?
4. Why was he imprisoned?
5. On what date was Valentine supposedly executed?
6. How many Valentine cards will be bought in a year?
7. Name 2 countries, other than Canada that celebrate Valentine's Day.
8. In Roman mythology, February 14th is associated with which goddess?
9. What custom does the saying "He wears his heart on his sleeve" come from?
10. What is the flower associated with Valentine's Day?
11. When did Hallmark make its first Valentine Card?
12. How do you write I Love You in German?

Send or Print your answers?
E-Mail Terrie with the answers.
Please put Valentine Quiz in the subject area. If you don’t know how to e-mail yet.
Create a document and type your answers in point form.
Print it out and give to Terrie.

More Valentine Links
Happy Valentine's Day from Billy Bear Cards to make, pages, to color, games to play, an much more
Crafts for Valentine's Day Type Valentine Crafts in the search box to get a list of crafts

Valentine Games Bry-Back Manor

More Valentine FunValentine Fun Sylvan's Valentines Crafts, color pages, games and more

Valentine Games Valentine Cookies

Links to Websites

2009-01-25T10:56:00.016-06:00

Links to Websites that you will find useful.

I will be updating this list from time to time so check back for added websites.

Beginners:

Help with learning how to type go to:

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing

Community: Helping those less fortunate go to:

http://www.freerice.com/

Helping your memory:

http://www.gamesforthebrain.com/

Computer Lessons

www.jegworks.com/lessons

Intermediate and advanced students

Projects you are working on:

Creating a Business Blog
http://www.learnthenet.com/ENGLISH/html/82blog.htm http://www.virtualvocations.com/
http://www.about.com/ (Instructions for about.com )
type this heading in the search bar provided by the website.
Why should you start a blog for your business.

For Students working on Creating a Book
Welcome to Heart Healthy Living
http://www.hearthealthyonline.com/

What type of work would you like to do?
www.mygates.ca/index1.html

Training programs
http://www.customguide.com/excel-training.htm

Our Cyberclass is Back January 2009

2009-01-15T20:11:00.005-06:00

Hello Everyone, as the picture says just a note

to let you know we are up and typing again after a long long long siesta it seems.

Welcome to all new students and hello to any old students who still maybe checking out this site hoping for more information.

I will be posting some new lessons soon.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.......Terrie

Welcome Back Past and New Students 2006/07

2006-09-20T16:54:00.001-05:00

I do hope you all had a very enjoyable summer, this is our first week together and I am looking forward to spending the next 12 weeks with all of you. Terrie

Here are answers to a few questions you may of been wondering about.

Why is Computer Literacy Important?

Computer literacy entails having knowledge and understanding of computers and their uses. As computers become an increasingly important part of daily living, many people believe that computer literacy is vital to success.

What is a Computer and What Are its Components?

A computer is an electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory, that can accept data, manipulate the data according to specified rules, produce results, and store the results for future use. The electric, electronic, and mecanical components of a computer, or hardware, include input devices, output devices, a system unit, storage devices and communications devices. An input device allows you to enter data or instructions into a computer. An output device conveys information to one or more people. The system unit is a box like case that contains electronic components of a computer that are used to process data. A storage device records and/or retrieves items to and from storage media. A communications device enables a computer to send and receive data, instructions, and information to and from one or more computers.

Why is a computer a powerful Tool?

A computer is a powerful tool because it operates with amazing speed, reliability, consistency, and accuracy. Computers also can store huge amounts of data and information.

The Core Rules of Netiquette from the book Netiquette by Virginia Shea.
Rule 1: Remember the Human
Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life
Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace
Rule 4: Respect other people's time and bandwidth
Rule 5: Make yourself look good online
Rule 6: Share expert knowledge
Rule 7: Help keep flame wars under control
Rule 8: Respect other people's privacy
Rule 9: Don't abuse your power
Rule 10: Be forgiving of other people's mistakes

Survive Dickens' London Exercise 7

2006-04-17T19:45:00.001-05:00

Dare you take a tour of Dickensian London? You could meet Mr. Micawber, Mr. Pickwick or Fagin. Or you might catch smallpox and end up in jail. If you do well, you'll get to meet Charles Dickens.

Dodge through Victorian London, avoiding the gangs and villains and trials and tribulations of Dickensian London in order to seek out Charles Dickens in his chalet hideaway in Rochester.

You'll face tasks and choices - you might have to pick pockets for Fagin, or rob bodies for Gaffer Hexham. Perform well and you'll be able to wend you way through dark alleyways and winding streets. Make the wrong choice and you could end up in jail, or worse...

To play the game you will need to install Macromedia Flash. Visit WebWise for more information or go to Download.com Your computer may already have this program installed on it. Ask your instructor for more information.

www.bbc.co.uk/arts/multimedia/dickens

class

2006-03-30T13:33:00.001-06:00

Very good class. I am enjoying it. Thanks Terrie

How To Be Net Savvy

2006-03-29T08:28:00.001-06:00

EXERCISE #6

HOW TO BE NET SAVVY

Know the difference between email addresses & Website addresses:
anything with an @ sign (i.e. webmaster@nwrel.org, george@mycats.com) is an email address,
anything with www or http is a WWW address (i.e. http://www.nwrel.org/, www.washingtonpost.com)
Deal with the dreaded 404 errors: File Not Found Check your spelling - Web addresses must be exact
Start going back in the URL - you may be able to find what you need by backing up directories
Email savvy
Know your email address - if you use AOL, your full email address is yourscreenname@aol.com Be careful about who you give your email address to - double-check that you're not signing up for any unwanted advertisements
Free email accounts are available from a variety of sources on the Web - try http://www.yahoo.com/ or http://www.hotmail.com/ - use these as a "throwaway" email address for web forms
If a webpage doesn't come up the whole way or is taking abnormally long to load, try the Refresh or Reload button - sometimes this will load the page better.
Plug-ins are additional programs that help your computer to run or view extra programs on the Web. Some of the most popular are:
Adobe Acrobat PDF Files. This plug-in allows you to view that need to retain the original formatting. Examples of PDF Files are tax forms, registration forms, etc. Find the plug-in at http://www.adobe.com
Real Video files. This allows you to watch videos and hear audio clips on the web. Don't be tricked into buying the Real Player Plus - the plain old Real Player is free and does everything you need it to. Download it at http://www.real.com

EXERCISE 1-6

Connect to the Internet.
In the URL address box, type the following address: http//canada411sympatico.ca
Press Enter when finished.
When the page loads, click on Find a Person.
When the page loads, type in your name (as it appears in the phone book).
Make sure the province says Ontario.
Click on Search.
The search should bring up your name, address and phone number.
E-mail me with your experiences finding this website and your comments. Create a document in Wordpad or Word don't forget to use proper punctuation and check your grammar and spelling. Send it to me as an attachment.

STUDENTS I ENJOY READING YOUR COMMENTS SO DON'T FORGET TO E-MAIL ME AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF THESE WEBSITES AND ALSO LET ME KNOW OF ANY WEBSITES YOU HAVE FOUND THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS. TERRIE.

How The Internet Started Exercise 5

2006-02-27T18:39:00.001-06:00

HOW THE INTERNET STARTED

1. The Internet was created by combining the ideas and talents of many people and organizations who have made the Internet the valuable resource it is today.

2. ARPANET The U.S. Defense Department created a network that linked military computers together. It was connected in a way that if one section of the network was damaged, the remaining computers on the network would still be able to communicate with each other.

3. The National Science Foundation created NSFNET in the mid 1980's this allowed universities and schools to connect to each other. The National Science Foundation improved the network to allow more information to transfer. This improved high-speed network which became the Internet.

4. Most of the people accessing the Internet were scientists and researchers. In 1990's many companies started to offer access to home users. This allowed anyone with a modem and a computer to access the Internet.

5. The World Wide Web was created in the early 1990's by the European Laboratory for Particle Physics. The first publicly accessible Web site was created in 1993.

6.By the mid 1990's over 30 million people had access to the Internet . To reach this huge market, most big companies created their own sites on the World Wide Web.

CONNECT TO THE INTERNET

1. You can connect to the Internet using any type of computer such as an IBM=compatible or a Macintosh. The computer must have a modem, to connect to the Internet.

2. You need special software to use the Internet. Most companies that connect you to the Internet offer the software free of charge.

3. Setting up a connection to the Internet can sometimes be confusing. Make sure the company you use to connect to the Internet with has a technical support department find out if you can contact the technical support department in the evenings and on weekends as well as during business hours.

4.You can use a local company or a large national company to connect.

5. These companies are call ISP servers Internet Service Providers. The Internet offers, Electronic Mail, Information, Programs, Entertainment, Discussion Groups, Online Shopping, E-Books.

Exercise 5:

Using www.learnthenet.com don't forget to save this website on your favorites.

Complete the following exercise and send it to me by e-mail.

Intro to the Internet Terms & Concepts.

For each of the terms below, complete the following.

A. Find the Definition/Explanation.

B. How was it found.

1)Internet?

2)Network?

3)Who governs it?

4)Nicknames for it?

5)World Wide Web.

6)What is the difference between Internet & WWW?

What is a Blog (aka Web Log/Weblog)? Exercise#4

2006-02-20T19:00:00.001-06:00

What is a Blog?

There are several definitions of what a blog. or weblog (web log) is and/or what it should be. It is a chronologically organized site updated by an individual (or a group of individuals) using these main items in each entry or post:

a) Main Body - where personal commentaries, ideas, and/or stories are typically written in the first person.

b) Date/Time Stamp - show the day and or/ time the entry.

c)Title - to give a general idea of what the entry is all about. However, this is not always used by all bloggers (people who keep blogs).

There are items incorporated in various blogs depending on what each blogger may want in their own blogs. Items include calendar, archives, comments, links.

What is the difference between blogs and websites?

Before pointing out the differences, let's begin by mentioning the three things that blogs and websites have in common: 1) Both are ways to publish information and other data online, 2) Both can be started and kept by any individual who is inclined to do so, and 3) Both have URLs that anyone with an Internet connection can access. However, the similarities end there.

The main difference between the two is that blogs tend to be a lot more dynamic than websites. Blogs are updated on a regular basis with posts or entries that usually contain date/time stamps. Websites, on the other hand, are designed to be static. So, there is no need to update regularly and/or to add the date/time of update. Also websites are updated with pages rather than posts or entries.

Even with WYSIWIG (What You See Is What You Get) tools, some form of formatting knowledge is still required for designing and updating websites. If you already have a blog set up, you just need to write an entry and or post an image, click on a button that says something like publish this entry, and your blog will already be updated, Knowledge of HTML and FTP is optional. (computer programmer language).

Another point of difference is in communities. While websites may maintain community-based tools like message boards and guestbooks, blogs encourage community building much more than websites, what with tools like comments functions, trackbacks, tag boards and other features.

How Internet Cookies Work Lesson #3 (Reading)

2006-02-06T18:47:00.002-06:00

What Are Cookies

Cookies are programs that Web sites put on your hard drive. They sit on your computer gathering information about you and everything you do on the Internet, and whenever the Web site wants to it can download all of the information the cookie has collected (wrong)

Definitions like that are fairly common in the press. The problem is, none of that information is correct. Cookies are not programs, and they cannot run like programs do. Therefore, they cannot gather any information on their own. Nor can they collect any personal information about you from your machine.

A cookie is a piece of text that a Web server can store on a user's hard drive. Cookies allow a Web site to store information on a user's machine and later retrieve it.

How Do Web Sites Use Cookies?

Cookies evolved because they solve a big problem for the people who implement Web sites. In the broadest sense, a cookie allows a site to store state information on your machine. such as
How many visitors arrive.
How many are new visitors. repeat visitors.
How often a visitor has visited.
The way the site does this is by using a database. The first time a visitor arrives, the site creates a new ID in the database and sends the ID as a cookie. The next time the user comes back, the site can increment a counter associated with that ID in the database and know how many times that visitor returns.

Clean Start for your Computer in 2006 Exercise 2

2006-01-22T21:21:00.001-06:00

Exercise 2.

Establishing new computer habits in 2006 will stop a few frustrating days spent in front of the computer trying to figure why it is so slow,why programs suddenly stop working and why you've been hit by a plague of pop-up ads. There are several easy steps you can take to help keep your computer clean.

Empty Your Cache: Pronounced 'cash' it is a storage place where your computer looks to find data or instructions that programs use over and over. this occurs every time you go on the Internet.

Cookies: are messages sent to your computer from the web server of the site you just visited. Your computer saves the message, and the next time you visit that website, the page loads automatically because it is saved in your cache.

The easiest way to empty your cache is using your Internet browser. At the top of the page, click on Tools go to the bottom of the menu and select Internet Options. In the pop-up window, go to the Temporary Internet files section. Click the buttons that say Delete Cookies and Delete Files.(select the box that says delete all offline content) and then hit 'OK'. This may take a long time if you haven't done this for a long time.

There is a history section at the bottom of the Internet Options window and you should click the Clear History button. Set the days to Keep Pages in the History for the number of days you want your computer to remember what websites you have visited. Keep it at zero days if you are sharing your computer and want some privacy.

Defragment: To keep you computer working smoothly, you should defragment your hard drive about once a month. You can compare this to cleaning out a filing cabinet. As you use your computer and programs files get moved and put in different spots. Defragmenting helps find all those moved bits of files on your computer and putting them in the right spots so when your computer goes to look for a file it knows where to look first and can find it faster. To defragment your computer, go to the Start button-All program-accessories-System Tools, and select the disk defragmenter. Depending on how long it has been since you have done this it may take awhile to finish.

Use your Anti-Spy Ware Programs: You should run your cleaning programs at least once a week or more often if you can. There are free download programs out there that do a good job. The number one free download is Lavasoft AdAware. There is also Windows AntiSpyware that you can download at www.microsoft.com/. Whatever method you chose, make sure to keep your computer clean and save yourself time and a lot of frustration over the next 12 months Happy New Year!
Free downloads at www.dsvs.org

Please E-mail me and let me know.

1) How long it took your computer to defragment.
2) Is this the first time you have used this part of the Windows Program?
3) Any other comments you may have.

Blended Learning- Exercise 1 Describe a Website

2006-01-10T18:11:00.001-06:00

Blended Learning........... Is learning that employs multiple strategies, methods and delivery systems. You may also hear blended, learning described as 'integrated learning' multi-method learning, it treats learning as a journey or process.

I am introducing an online component for my students in the hope that going online will help students overcome fears about computers and develop a range of new skills.

The expectation is that online delivery will increase flexibility for me and my students.

Exercise No. 1

Use the links below to visit these websites. Once you have visited these sites, create a document in word or wordpad telling me what you thought of these sites and answering these questions. Save the document in your 3.5 disk as well as in your named folder on your desktop.

1. Visit the links below and in your own words describe these sites in a document. Also include answers to the following questions in your document.
2. Did you find the information helpful to you?
3. Do you think you will visit these sites again?
4. What did you find to be the most interesting information on these sites?
5. Did you find the sites easy to navigate?

E-mail me your completed document as an attachment to Aquariusadvantage@yahoo.com
Work on this project whenever you have time at home or in the classroom.
Don't forget to leave a comment. Terrie:)

Websites:
http://www.nald.ca

http://www.lleo.ca

http://www.thewclc.ca/edge