Material Detail

This lesson was created using Soft Chalk and received 3rd place in the 2016 SoftChalk Lesson Challenge.

The Internet, which began as a simple experiment to digitally connect researchers in two universities, has evolved into the world's information highway - handling daily communications among its 3 billion-plus users throughout the world. Comprised of hardware, software and protocols, this massive network provides individuals with knowledge, information and the ability to communicate, interact and collaborate instantaneously.

The Internet contains a wealth of knowledge; it is a valuable research tool. However, if you are unable to find what you are looking for, the Internet won't support your research needs. Knowing how to use search tools to better mine search engines and databases will improve your skills as a researcher. In addition, the Web is unregulated - much of what is published has no quality control, editors, or peer review, so learning to evaluate a website's credibility is another important research skill.

After reviewing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Investigate the difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web.
• Examine the primary protocols for internet traffic (TCP/IP, IPv4, IPv6).
• Recognize the role of a DNS in handling internet communications.
• Investigate search engines, subject directories and Boolean operators.
• Evaluate web sites and their content for potential use in academic research.

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