Lesson guide

An instructional supplement to Microsoft Digital Literacy

Access information online

Digital Literacy
In this learning path, you will become
familiar with the concept of the internet and
how to access it. You will also be introduced
to the World Wide Web and how to access it
using a web browser. In addition to that,
search engines will be covered, including
how to use them effectively and how to
evaluate the results.
Get connected
Course module summary

 What can we do using the internet?

 What is the internet?
 How can you connect to the internet?
What is the internet?
The internet connects
people across the
world to one another,
through a massive
global network of
computers and devices.
With the internet you
can communicate with
people across the
world, access and share
information.

5
We can
communicate
with family
and friends that
live near and far.
We can do
business with
others without
being in the
same place.
We can play
games with
people we've
never met.
We can learn
and share
knowledge and
so much more.
Connect to a wireless network
You may often need to
connect a portable device to
the internet when you're on-
the-go or in a temporary
location. You can connect to
the internet wirelessly using
Wi-Fi.

1
Browse the web
The world's very first
webpage created in 1989
was very simple. It had
simple black and white text
without any media or styles.
Modern webpages are
becoming more and more
interactive and rich. There
are webpages for a variety
of uses. From webpages
that allow you to read
someone's personal blog to
webpages that help you
book tickets for travel.

2
Common uses of the internet
1. Communicate with people across the world,
access and share information.
2. Do business with others without being in the
same place.
3. Play games with people we've never met.
4. Learn and share knowledge and so much more.
Knowledge check question – get connected
What does it mean when a computer is "online"
a) The computer is fully charged.
b) The computer is waiting to connect to the internet.
c) The computer is connected to the internet.
d) The computer is powered on.
Knowledge check question – get connected
What does it mean when a computer is "online"
a) The computer is fully charged.
b) The computer is waiting to connect to the internet.
c) The computer is connected to the internet - Correct! Being online means you can access
resources on the internet.
d) The computer is powered on.
Knowledge check question – get connected
Which of the following terms does not apply to the internet?
a) Massive
b) An application
c) A network
d) Global
Knowledge check question – get connected
Which of the following terms does not apply to the internet?
a) Massive
b) An application - Correct! The internet is not an application. It is a network.
c) A network
d) Global
Knowledge check question – get connected
Which of the following is a wireless option for connecting to the internet?
a) Ethernet
b) Wi-Fi
c) Router
d) Modem
Knowledge check question – get connected
Which of the following is a wireless option for connecting to the internet?
a) Ethernet
b) Wi-Fi - Correct! Wi-Fi is a wireless option.
c) Router
d) Modem
Browse the web
Course module summary

 What is the difference between the internet and the web?

 What is a website?
 What is a web browser?
The World Wide Web is a collection of documents and resources that
people can interact with.
The world's very first
webpage created in 1989
was very simple.

It had simple black and

white text without any
media or styles.

Modern webpages are

becoming more and more
interactive and rich.

There are webpages for a

variety of uses
Using web browsers to browse the
web
1. Access digital content on the web using a web
browser, like Microsoft Edge, as a tool to access
and interact with content on the web.
2. Navigate between webpages using a web
browser by first typing a webpage URL into the
web browser.
Safely completing basic online
transactions
1. Do some online research first and search the web
to identify the product you need and a reliable
seller and where you might purchase it.
2. Read reviews written by others about the
product or service you are looking for.
3. Compare prices and policies from a few different
websites or sellers before making your purchase.
4. Be cautious when sharing your information to
create an account and verify that the site is
secure and trustworthy.
5. Familiarize yourself with the e-commerce
platform's warranty, refund, billing, shipping
policies.
Knowledge check question – browse the web
To access the World Wide Web, you need to use:
 Notepad
 Microsoft Edge
 Microsoft Word
 Microsoft Windows
Knowledge check question – browse the web
To access the World Wide Web, you need to use:
 Notepad
 Microsoft Edge - Correct! Microsoft Edge is a web browsing application.
 Microsoft Word
 Microsoft Windows
Knowledge check question – browse the web
Which of the following features of the browser allows you to open multiple webpages in the same
window?
a) Tabs
b) Favorites
c) History
d) Address bar
Knowledge check question – browse the web
Which of the following features of the browser allows you to open multiple webpages in the same
window?
a) Tabs - Correct! Tabs allow you move between different webpages.
b) Favorites
c) History
d) Address bar
Knowledge check question – browse the web
Which of the following opens a new webpage when clicked?
a) A hyperlink
b) A webpage
c) A URL
d) A tooltip
Knowledge check question – browse the web
Which of the following opens a new webpage when clicked?
a) A hyperlink - Correct! A hyperlink stores a link to a webpage.
b) A webpage
c) A URL
d) A tooltip
Knowledge check question – browse the web
Which of the following can provide you with information about a product based on other customers'
experiences?
a) Return policy
b) Search history
c) Shipping policies
d) Product ratings
Knowledge check question – browse the web
Which of the following can provide you with information about a product based on other customers'
experiences?
a) Return policy
b) Search history
c) Shipping policies
d) Product ratings - Correct! Product ratings express the opinions of customers about a
product.
Online shopping tips

There are many things we

can do online, including e-
commerce transactions.
The web allows us to make
purchases and conduct
online transactions from
our computers almost
instantly.

4
There are many reasons to
buy online.

You might be physically far

from a credible seller for the
product you want, or
perhaps you want to have
instant access to a variety of
stores and products at the
same time. Whatever the
reason, online shopping can
allow you to make purchases
quickly and easily using your
computer.
As always, be cautious
when sharing your
information to create an
account.

Never share personal

information beyond the
shipping and billing
information required for
purchase, and always
make sure you're on a
trustworthy site.
Search the web
Course module summary

 Why are search engines useful?

 How can you find content on the web using a search engine?
 How can you evaluate the credibility of an online source of content?
 Why is it important to think critically about the messages we come across online?
Search engines are powerful tools that make it easy to find information
online.

These software web applications look through the millions of websites on

the web to find specific content for you.
Search engines do their best to provide you with results that seem most useful
to you. However, they cannot always predict what you are looking for.

When searching, there is no need for long or full sentences. Bing uses specific
keywords to determine results.
Evaluate online information

As you browse through

search results and
content on the web, it's
important to be aware
of the types of content
you might come
across. Anyone can
create content on the
web, so you can't trust
everything you come
across.

5
The web is full of millions of
web pages containing lot of
information for us to access.

But we should always keep

in mind that anyone can
create content on the web.

So, you can't trust

everything you come across.
Evaluate media

There are various types of

media that many of us
come across on a daily
basis. From newspapers to
magazines to web articles,
information and messages
are all around us.
It's important that we
learn to evaluate these
messages carefully before
taking things to be true.

5
Media can be filled with the
attitudes and opinions of others
and messages can often lie
hidden beneath the surface of
what we see and hear.

It is important that we avoid

passively accepting these
messages, and instead learn to
think carefully and critically
about the media we consume.

We need to develop the skills

to read the media rather than
just absorb it.
Describe and evaluate different media
forms
1. Be aware of traditional forms of media including
newspapers, TV, radio, and printed books, and
more recent developments such as email, e-
books, online games, and apps.
2. Develop the skills to read the media rather than
just absorb it.
3. Develop media literacy skills by purposefully
assessing the messages and thinking critically
about them rather than just idly accepting them.
4. Consider new information encountered carefully.
Questions to ask when consider
media encountered carefully
1. Question one: Who created the message?
2. Question two: What techniques are used to
capture our attention?
3. Question three: how might different people
interpret this message?
4. Question four: What points of view, lifestyles, or
values are expressed in or left out of this
message?
5. Question five: Why is this message being sent?
Knowledge check question – search the web
The search results that you receive from a search engine can include:
 Images
 Webpages
 Videos
 All of the above
Knowledge check question – search the web
The search results that you receive from a search engine can include:
 Images
 Webpages
 Videos
 All of the above - Correct! Search results can contain images, videos, webpages and many
other types of content.
Knowledge check question – search the web
Which of the following considerations can help you effectively evaluate media messages?
a) Who created the message?
b) Who benefits from the message?
c) Why the message is being sent?
d) All of the above.
Knowledge check question – search the web
Which of the following considerations can help you effectively evaluate media messages?
a) Who created the message?
b) Who benefits from the message?
c) Why the message is being sent?
d) All of the above. - Correct! To evaluate media effectively, you should think about the
owner, who benefits, and why the message is sent.
Communicate online

Digital Literacy
This learning path will show you how to
communicate online effectively using email.
You will be introduced to web applications
that are used for instant messaging including
voice and video calls.
Communicate using email
Course module summary

 When is it appropriate to send an email?

 How can you get started with using email?
Intro to email

Email is a web service that

allows you to communicate
with friends, family, and
others online.
Email allows you to send and
receive mail electronically
using the internet.

6
With the internet, we can communicate
with others in new ways.

For example, instead of sending a letter

to someone using traditional mail, you
can send an email, or electronic mail.

With email, you also have a variety of

providers to choose from, and you can
sign up for one of these services for
free.
You can receive emails to your
online inbox from anyone who
has an email account even if
they don't use the same
provider that you do.

You can usually access your

email account from any device
that has a web browser. You
can also install email apps on
your desktop and mobile
devices so you can send and
view email on the go.
Sign up for email
To send and receive
emails, you first need
to sign up for an email
account. Many email
providers allow you to
create an account for
free. Once you sign up,
you'll have your own
private online mailbox
for sending and
receiving mail.

7
To create an email account, you'll need to:
1. Choose a provider, such as Outlook, Gmail, or Yahoo. You can create an
account with an email provider for free.
2. Create an email address: This is the address other people will use to
send mail to you. You choose your own email address as long as it's not
taken by someone else. It's usually a good idea to clearly use your name
in your email address so that others know who they're communicating
with.

3. Create an account: You'll be asked for basic personal info. You'll also set
up a password so no one else can access your mail.

4. Sign in: Your email account is a private mailbox that only you can access.
You need to remember your password and sign in when you want to view
your inbox or send mail.
Email basics
Once you have created
an account with an email
provider and you have
an email address, you're
ready to communicate
using email. You will
simply need to log into
your account to access
your inbox and send and
receive emails. You can
access your email using
your phone or computer
as long as you have an
internet connection.

7
Now it's your turn! Follow the steps below to send an email to
yourself.
1. Log into your email account.
2. Select the option to compose a new message.
3. Input the recipient - enter your own email address.
4. In the subject line, enter "My first email."
5. In the body of the message, type "Thanks for reading my first
email message."
6. Use the editor to change the word "first" to a bold font style.
7. Send the message.
Try-it: Signing up for email
1. Choose a provider.
2. Create an email address.
3. Create an account.
Using your email interface
Your mail interface might look a bit different if you're
using a different email provider or a different version
of Outlook, but the features are mostly the same,
which contains:
1. An inbox where messages are usually listed with
the name of the sender, subject of the email
message, and date and time email was received.
2. Folders appear in the folders pane besides the
message list, which helps with organizing emails.
3. A compose pane where you can write, edit,
format, and send an email message.
4. There are more features of mail, but these are
primary parts of the interface to help read,
organize, reply to, and send email.
Try-it: Sending an email example
1. Log into your email account.
2. Select the option to compose a new message.
3. Input the recipient, enter your own email
address.
4. In the subject line, enter "My first email."
5. In the body of the message, type "Thanks for
reading my first email message."
6. Use the editor to change the word "first" to a
bold font style.
7. Send the message.
Knowledge check question – communicate using email
When you sign up for an email account, which of the following will you create?
a) An email address
b) An email number
c) An account number
d) A payment plan
Knowledge check question – communicate using email
When you sign up for an email account, which of the following will you create?
a) An email address - Correct! You create your email address, which is a unique address.
b) An email number
c) An account number
d) A payment plan
Knowledge check question – communicate using email
Which of the following parts of the email interface do you use to view the contents of a message you
have received in Outlook?
a) Inbox
b) Reading pane
c) Drafts
d) Compose pane
Knowledge check question – communicate using email
Which of the following parts of the email interface do you use to view the contents of a message you
have received in Outlook?
a) Inbox
b) Reading pane - Correct! The reading pane is where a message is displayed.
c) Drafts
d) Compose pane
Knowledge check question – communicate using email
You can use email to send:
a) Text
b) Photos
c) Videos
d) All of the above
Knowledge check question – communicate using email
You can use email to send:
a) Text
b) Photos
c) Videos
d) All of the above - Correct! You can use email to send text, photos, videos, and many
types of content.
Knowledge check question – communicate using email
You receive a message from your manager about a project. A new person joins your team and you
need to share the project details with them. Which of the following actions should you use to share
the email with your new coworker without also sending the message to your manager?
a) Reply to the email and add your new coworker as a recipient.
b) Forward the email to your new coworker.
c) Reply to the email and bcc your new coworker.
d) Reply all to the email.
Knowledge check question – communicate using email
You receive a message from your manager about a project. A new person joins your team and you
need to share the project details with them. Which of the following actions should you use to share
the email with your new coworker without also sending the message to your manager?
a) Reply to the email and add your new coworker as a recipient.
b) Forward the email to your new coworker. - Correct! This action will send the email to
your coworker only.
c) Reply to the email and bcc your new coworker.
d) Reply all to the email.
Chat online
Course module summary

 How can you stay in touch with friends, family, and others using the internet and the web?
 What is instant messaging and what type of communication is it useful for?
 How can you use Skype or Skype for Business to quickly communicate with others online?
When you want to
send a quick direct
message to someone
and you expect an
immediate response,
you can send an
instant message or
IM just like with
mobile text messages.

IMs allow quick

conversations online.
When you want to have
a voice conversation
with someone without
using a cellular network
or landline, you can
make a voice call using
the internet.

You can call someone

using their phone
number or other
contact info directly
from your computer.
Skype is a popular Web service that includes instant messaging, voice calling, video
calling, and many other useful features. You can install it for free across different
devices or access it on the web using a browser. With so many ways to
communicate online, staying in touch with others is only a click away.
You can call anyone,
even personal contacts,
right from your device
using Skype for
Business.
Type any number in the
search bar here. Better
yet, type a contact name
from your company
directory, or use
keywords like a
department name.
Chatting online
1. Make a voice call to someone without knowing
their phone number.
2. Have a video call with someone in another
location.
3. Chat with someone using instant messaging.
4. There are many services that make this type of
communication possible, such as Skype—a Web
service that includes instant messaging, voice
calling, video calling, and many other useful
features. You can install it for free across different
devices or access it on the web using a browser.
Knowledge check question – chat online
You can use Skype to:
a) Make a voice call to someone without knowing their phone number.
b) Have a video call with someone in another location.
c) Chat with someone using instant messaging.
d) All of the above.
Knowledge check question – chat online
You can use Skype to:
a) Make a voice call to someone without knowing their phone number.
b) Have a video call with someone in another location.
c) Chat with someone using instant messaging.
d) All of the above. - Correct! Skype features include voice calls, video calls, and instant
messaging.