Using The Internet Safely and Effectively:

Tips for Students, Teachers and Parents

TABLE OF CONTENTS
What is the Internet?
Internet Search Engines
Basic Tips for Searching
Internet Safety Tips
Internet Sites for Teens
Internet Etiquette for the New Millennium

This Guide was prepared by

Michele McSween
Librarian
Alice Deal Junior High School
Washington, DC

July 1999

What is the Internet?

The Internet is a tool that offers a
world wide network of
information which can be
assessed through the computer. The amount of information
available on the world wide web is tremendous. The
information available on the Internet is constantly changing
because new information is being added every day!
The web is basically a common information space where people
can communicate by sharing information.
No one authority controls the World Wide Web. Anyone who has
access to a computer and the Internet can post a web site. The
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) oversees the development
of web technology.

Internet Search Engines

General Search Engines

Meta Search Engines

Once you are connected to the Internet, you will need a way to find
the web sites and newsgroups of interest to you. Many people
surf the Internet, going from site to site looking at information.
However, if you need to find specific information as quickly as
possible, you need to use a search engine. A search engine is a
service that indexes and organizes Web sites. Search engines help
you sift through the tons of information available to locate the
information you are seeking faster and more efficiently.

Internet Search Engines

The search engine scans the Web for information. The information
is added to a database. The database is indexed by the subject
content of the Web page, and may be searched by key word. The
major search engines are AltaVista, Infoseek, Lycos, and Excite.
For more specific information on a particular search engine, visit,
Ask Jeeves, http://www.ajkids.com.
Different search engines work in different ways.No one search
engine keep tracks of all of the information on the Internet.
Therefore, you should use several search engines to determine
which one produces the most useful results for your information
needs.

Internet Search Engines

A meta search engine uses more than one database. A

meta search engine does not develop its own database.
Instead, it uses several other search engines to conduct
your search simultaneously. It then organizes the results
and displays the results from a combination of sources.
Meta search engines include Metacrawler and Dogpile.

Basic Tips For Searching

Be specific.

The more specific your search word, the

more
on target your results will be.

Get more results by being

general.
If your search word is too specific, you
may get fewer or no results from your
search.

Basic Tips for Searching

Define your search terms using

Boolean
operators [And, Or,

And Not]
The major search engines allow you to
search
for the exact phrase, all the words
in a phrase
but not necessarily together,
or any words in a
phrase. A few search
engines do not give the
searcher these
options. In this case, the searcher can use
Boolean operators to expand
or narrow a
search.

Basic Tips For Searching

Using Boolean Operators
AND
Use AND to search for two (or more)
terms on the same page.
Example: sea AND Kayak

OR

Use OR to search for either of two (or

more) terms on the same page.
Example: kayak OR canoe

Basic Tips For Searching

Using Boolean Operators
AND NOT
Use AND NOT to search for pages that include
the first term and not the second.
Example: kayak AND NOT whitewater

Remember: For a more effective and complete search,

use
more than one search engine. Happy
Searching!

Evaluating Internet Resources:

The Good, The Bad, and the Garbage!

The Internet can be a valuable tool for school

assignments. However, everything you read on the
Internet may not be true. In doing any research, it is
important that you evaluate your source to make certain
that the information presented is accurate and relevant.
This also applies when using the Internet for
information and research.
The following guide from the DC Public Library
website [http://www.dclibrary.org] will help you
evaluate the resources and information you find on the
Internet.

Evaluating Internet Resources

Accuracy
Where does the information come from? Is there a bibliography or listing of
references? Can this information be verified elsewhere? Has the information
been presented in an impartial, unbiased way? Has the information been
reviewed or referred?

Authority
Who is the author? What are his/her credentials provided? Is there contact
information, such as an e-mail address? Is the author a recognized authority on
the subject? Has the author published work in any other format? Is the website
or author a part of an organization and does the organization support and/or
sponsor its creation?

Currency
When was the information gathered? When was it posted? When and how often
is the page revised?

Evaluating Internet Resources

Purpose
What is the purpose of the web page? Is it intended to inform or teach, sell
persuade, or entertain? Is the purpose clearly stated on the page?

Uniqueness
Can this information be located elsewhere in print or electronic media?
Could better information be found in a printed source?

Ease of Use
How easy is the website to use? Is the information well organized and easy to
access?

Citing Your Sources

Always cite your sources.

Why is it important to cite your

sources?
It is important that you give credit to the
person or organization who wrote the
information or created the document.
Using someone elses words or ideas and
representing them as your own is called
plagarism. Some material may be
copyrighted, meaning that the person who
wrote or created the document has the
exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish,
or sell the material.

What Every User Needs to Know

Never release any personal information home address, school name, or

telephone number to anyone on the Internet.

Never arrange to meet in person with someone.

Never respond to any messages that are harassing, threatening, or sexually

explicit.
Tell your parents if you receive e-mail or chat/bulletin board messages
that are harassing, demeaning or sexually explicit.

r
o
f
s
e
t
i
S
t
e
n
r
e
t
In
Ask Jeeves for Kids http://www/ajkids.com

Teen Hoopla http://www.ala.org.teenhoopla/

Internet Public Library, Teen Division http://www.ipl.org/teen/

Cyberteens Home Page http://www/mtlake.com/Cyberteens/

Internet Etiquette for the New Millennium

For an enjoyable and rewarding online experience, when
using chat rooms or sending e-mail,
Avoid using inappropriate or offensive language
Be cautious when using sarcasm or humor.
Be concise. Keep your messages short.
Avoid using ALL CAPS. Its considered shouting online.
Delete unknown e-mail attachments. They may contain viruses.
Never give out any personal information.

Tips for Parents

Keeping Your Child Safe On The Internet
Monitor the use of the Internet by your child.
Get to know the Internet and any services your
child uses.
Set reasonable rules and guidelines for computer
use by your child.
Make searching the Internet a family activity.

Resources for Parents

Below is a list of resources regarding the Internet for
parents.
The Parents Guide to the Information
Superhighway: Rules & Tools for Families Online.
http://www.SafeTeens.com
http://www.FamiliesConnect.com

A Final Word:
Reading is still the most basic survival
skill in todays information society.
However, one must also be
technologically literate to function in
todays world. The Internet is a
tremendous resource in the the research
process. While the Internet is a powerful
information tool, it can and should be
used along with other print and other
electronic resources.

Resources Used
:
http:www/safekids.com
http://www.dclibrary.org
http://wwweveryicon.com