0/5 - Computer Skills: Surfing the Internet
1. Warming Up: A New Story (10 mins)
2. Introduction to the Internet (30 mins)
3. Students practise (1 hour)
4. Conclusion and homework(20 mins)

Warming Up: A New Story (10 mins)

Aim
Students break the ice

How
The students sit in a circle. One of the students will be asked to say a sentence, which will start a new story. The second student will then be asked in turn for a sentence that will continue the story. In the introduction to this game, the students will be told to consider PLOT, CONTINUITY, ORIGINALITY, the BEGINNING, the MIDDLE, and the END.

Introduction to the Internet (30 mins)

Aim
Students have an idea of what the Internet is and how they can use it

How
Illustrate the use of the Internet by showing the World Wide Web, using a browser, visiting a Web site, using a search engine (for example 'Google'), clicking on links, perhaps downloading an image. Refer to the handout for additional explanation. The introduction should focus on the services, not the technology.

Students exercise (1 hour)

Aim
Students practise surfing and familiarize themselves with the Internet

How


Ask students to go to this Web site: http://www.google.com. Show the students how to search for a subject and point out the difference between searching for multiple words with and without parentheses. For example, search for:
the pearl of Africa versus search for: 'Pearl of Africa'


Now the students can start surfing the Web themselves. They need to go to the Google search engine. For instructions: <See Tools>.

Conclusion and homework

Group discussion on their work (20 mins)

Aim
Students develop their own opinion on what they might use the Internet for

How
Discuss with students what they could use the Internet for: new ways of distributing information, making communication easier, doing business, helping people better to understand each other and each other's cultures, etc.

Test the students' understanding:
name three services that you can use the Internet for
what do you need to be able to browse the Internet?
what does the google.com search engine do?

Homework
Tell the students to read the handout before the next lesson.

If you have extra time
If you have not finished the exercises of one of the previous lessons, let students work on those and let them try to finish. If there is time left, students can surf on the Internet.