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Internet Basics
For Seniors

Volunteer Instructor: April Edmonds

9/14/2009
 Internet Basics
Course Length: 1 hour

Introduction

Course Objective: This course is a basic overview of the Internet using Internet
Explorer and the opportunity to become more comfortable with technology.

What is the Internet or World Wide Web (www)?

The Internet is made of many computers that are all connected world-wide. The
connection is like a spider web that is connected in the middle. The Internet
contains an infinite amount of information.

To Start Browsing the Web:

With your mouse, left click twice on the Internet Explorer icon from your desktop.

ADDRESS REFRESH STOP

SEARCH
BACK

FORWARD

HOME PRINT
HYPERLINKS TOOL
OPTIONS

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Moving Around:
To move to a particular Web address:
1. Left click once in the white box that says “ADDRESS” in the upper, gray
header of the Internet Explorer browser window. (Note the example shown
above is Internet Explorer version 7. It does not have the word “address”, just
the white box). USE THIS WHEN YOU KNOW THE EXACT WEB
ADDRESS. When using the address bar, we DO NOT use spaces between
letters or words.
2. Type www.google.com and press the ENTER key.

Hyperlink
To select a link on a Web page, left click once on the underlined works, which
called a link, or use the tab key until you see a frame around the desired link. When
the desired link is framed, press the “Enter” key.

Search
To search for something on the Web or when you do not TIP:
have the exact web address, left click once the “Search”
button in the browser toolbar, enter your keywords (e.g. Using quotes around
antique cars, dahlias) into the text entry box that appears your search terms
and press the “Enter” key. A list of Website links will appear returns information
after a moment and you can select from these links. Typing with only those
in antique cars will find Websites containing either of the two words. Example:
words. Typing in antique+cars will find Websites containing “health”
both of the two words. Typing in “antique cars” (including
the quotation marks) will find Websites containing the two
words in sequence just as you have typed them.

To return to the previously viewed Web page, click the “Back” button from the
browser toolbar. Repeat to move further back through the WebPages you have
viewed.

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 Exercise:

1. Left click once in the search box.

2. Type in aarp, then press the ENTER key.
3. Left click once on links within the website.

Favorites
SHOW ALL ADD

When you find a website that you like, you can save the link to your
favorites.

Look for the yellow star and the yellow star with a plus sign (graphic example
above).

Left-click once on the yellow star to show your favorites.

Left-click once on the yellow star with a plus sign to ADD a new favorite.

Customizing your Browser

Set your homepage
This is a website address that you set in the options. When you open Internet
Explorer, it is the first website that opens.

Type in
Home Page
Website
Address here

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 1. From the Menu Bar, locate the word “Tools”
2. Left-click once on “Tools”
3. Left-click once on “Internet Options”
4. Left-click once in the box under the words “Home Page”
5. Type in www.yahoo.com
Change text settings.

1. On the menu bar, locate the where it says “View”.

2. Left-click once on the word “View”.
3. Scroll down to the words “Text Size”.
4. Left-click once on “Text Size”. Move your mouse pointer over the arrow.
5. Scroll over to the text size “Larger”.

Internet Security

• Keep Your Personal Information Private.

• Never disclose your personal information; this includes your address,
birth date, Social Security number, and telephone number. If prompted for
this information, practice due diligence—investigate who is gathering the
information, why they are collecting it, and how they will use it.

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Secure Transactions

• Before using your credit card or debit card online to purchase something,
make sure the website address has https. The “s” is for secure.

https://
• This protects you from your credit card numbers from being stolen. If you do
NOT see the “s”, do NOT put in your credit card number.
• Keep Your Password(s) Secret.

Cookies
Cookies are like a “footprint”. Every time you surf to a website, a cookie is placed on
your computer. The cookie in returns tells the website you are visiting information
about you. To delete cookies:

1. Open Internet Explorer

2. Left-click once on “Tools”
3. Left-click once on “Internet Options”
4. Left-click once on “Delete Cookies Button”

Anti-virus Software

Like a cold, a computer virus will try to shut down or damage your computer. Once
your computer gets a cold, it can spread to other computers. To protect your
computer you will need anti-virus software installed. Your anti-virus software should
be set to constantly monitor your system using “real-time monitoring,” and you
should be sure your virus definitions are kept up to date.

Additional security information can be found at this website address:

http://secureflorida.org/

Sites of interest:
CNN News – http://www.cnn.com WebMD – http://www.webmd.com

Medicare – http://www.medicare.gov SeniorNet - http://www.seniornet.org

Weather – http://www.weather.com Security Admin. – http://www.ssa.gov

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Glossary
AOL
AOL, short for America Online, provides both Internet Access and special content to
its subscribers for a monthly fee. (http://www.aol.com)

Browser
A software application which displays Websites and simplifies navigating (browsing)
among the many available sites. Examples: Internet Explorer, FireFox or Chrome.

E-mail
E-mail is a way to communicate, almost instantly, with people anywhere in the world
at low or no cost. Text, pictures, sound, and video can be sent via email.

Internet (or “the Net”)

The Internet is a global network of computers, connected together 24 hours a day, 7

days a week. These computers store vast amounts of information, and the
networks can transmit that information extremely quickly. This makes the Internet an
amazing information and communications resource. The Internet provides a way to
quickly see lots and lots of information such as pictures, sound and video on almost
any subject.

ISP
Short for Internet Service Provider. Internet Service Providers provide Internet
access to those (for a monthly fee) who do not have their own Internet-connected
server computer. Popular ISP’s are Comcast or local phone company using digital
subscriber line (DSL).

On-line
When someone is online, it usually means the person is operating a computer that
is connected to the Internet (permanently or via a temporary, telephone line
connection or high-speed access). An online resource is a resource that can be
accessed via the Internet.

Search Engine
A special type of Website that allows you to search for particular types of Websites
and then access those Websites easily. Most popular is Google
(http://www.google.com).

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Need extra computer time?

The Leon County Library has computers are available for public use during regular
library hours on a first-come, first served basis. Each patron is given 2 - one hour
sessions on Internet computers. Printing is available and shall be limited to a
reasonable amount.

The Tallahassee Senior Center has computers available for seniors use during
regular hours. For additional information call: 891-4000.

Additional Resources
Local Library – http://www.leoncountyfl.gov/LIBRARY

Technology Dictionary - http://www.techterms.com/

Learn The Net - http://www.learnthenet.com/english/index.html

References:
2007. Stuur, Addo. Windows XP for Seniors. ISBN: 978-90-5905-044-0.
Http://visualsteps.com

Resources provided by the Tallahassee Senior Center Computer Lab.

2002. City of Seattle. Training Manual – Seniors Training Seniors in Technology.

Retrieved August 1, 2009, from http://www.seattle.gov/tech/seniors/toc.htm Special
thanks to City of Seattle for allowing permission to use content from their Seniors
Training Manual series.

2009. Learn Free. Retrieved September 10, 2009, from

http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computer/