Internet Course Guide

Lesson 1: Introduction to the browser Explorer

A browser is a program that helps you view Web pages. The two most popular browsers are Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. In this class, we are going to use Internet Explorer -- Explorer, for short. Once you know how to use Explorer, it's a cinch to learn how to use Netscape Navigator because it is so similar to Explorer.

Running Explorer

To run Explorer, double click on the icon on your desktop that looks like this:

Explorer icon

You can also run Explorer by single clicking on the blue e on the Windows Taskbar usually at the bottom of your Desktop. Blue Explorer e on Windows taskbar.

Address Box

When Explorer opens, you will see a menu and toolbar. Note especially the address box shown below. That's the spot where you type in the Internet address you want to go to. The address shown is for the St. Petersburg Times.

Internet Explorer toolbar

Now type in http://www.sptimes.com in your own Explorer address box. Once you type in the address in the address box, there are two ways to actually get to the address. Either press the Enter key or click on Go at the right of the Address box:

Not necessary to use Delete key

After arriving at the St. Petersburg Times site, you can easily go to a new site.

Move your mouse cursor over the Times address in the Address box.
Your cursor should turn into an arrow.
Now left click. The Times address in the Address box should turn blue as shown below.
You can also make the Times address blue by pointing your mourse cursor (I beam) at the end of the Times address. Then left click and hold your clicker down as you drag your mouse over the Times address. (This click and drag technique is the usual way you select text in a Windows program.)
Either way -- just clicking or clicking and dragging -- should leave the Times address blue, ready to be replaced.

With the old address blue, just type in a new address and it will go right over the old one. Once you have made an address blue in Explorer's address box, you do not have to use your keyboard's Delete key to get rid of it. Typing a new address will automatically delete the old address and replace it with the new one. Use http://movies.aol.com as your new address.

That is the address of a movie information site. You can use it to look up movies playing in your local theaters. It gives you information on movie times and links to reviews.

Returning to previous site

To return to the previous site, click on the Back button on the Explorer toolbar. Then to return to the site you were on before you clicked the Back button, click on the Forward button.

Resources

Here you will find additional information related to this lesson at these Internet sites. Other sources for all the lessons are found in the Links page.

Desktop icons and toolbars for three popular browsers: Explorer, Navigator, and the AOL browser.
Includes directions on entering the Web site address in the browsers' address slot. http://www.gordonrichard.com/internet/browsersrtc.htm
University of the State of New York Libraries. The Internet Explorer window and toolbar. http://library.albany.edu/internet/ie.html
Microsoft What better source than creator of the Explorer. http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/ie6/default.aspx

Question Bank

Answer the Question Bank questions to make sure you have learned this lesson. Remember that your final exam will be made up of questions selected from this Question Bank.

Exercises

Be sure to do the Exercises for each lesson.
The next lesson is Lesson 2: Using addresses and links