Simple Uses of the Internet
What the Internet Is; Uses of the Internet; Getting on the Internet; Safe and Responsible Use
On this page7 sections
- 01Learning Objectives
- 02What the Internet Is
- 03Uses of the Internet
- 04Getting on the Internet
- 05Safe and Responsible Use
- 06Practical Work
- 07Scenario-Based Questions
Learning Objectives
- Define the internet and state how it is different from the web.
- List the services available on the internet.
- Open a browser and find information on a given topic.
- State basic rules for safe and correct use of the internet.
What the Internet Is
The internet is a global network of computers joined together. When many computers are connected so that they can share information, they form a network. When networks all over the world are joined, the result is the internet.
The internet is not the same as the World Wide Web. The internet is the network itself, carrying information from one computer to another. The World Wide Web is one service that runs on the internet, providing pages that are viewed in a browser. Email, file transfer and instant messaging are other services.
Website means a set of related pages on the internet.
Uses of the Internet
The internet is used for communication through email, chat and video calls. It is used for research and education through online libraries, encyclopaedias and learning platforms. It is used for business through online shops, banking and advertising.
It is used for entertainment through music, films and games. It is used for news and current affairs, for government services such as JAMB and NECO, and for health information. It also supports remote work, where an employee uses a computer at home to serve an employer.
Getting on the Internet
To use the internet a device must be connected. At home this is usually through a router supplied by an internet service provider. In school a wired network connects many computers. A phone connects wirelessly. The connection may be called Wi-Fi, broadband or mobile data.
A browser is the program used to view web pages. Common browsers include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge. To find information, a learner types key words into a search engine such as Google or Bing.
Safe and Responsible Use
The internet is useful but it must be used correctly. Do not share your full name, address, school name or phone number with strangers. Do not accept friend requests from people you have not met. Tell a parent or teacher if anything online makes you uncomfortable.
Information found online is not always true. Check who wrote it, when it was written and whether other sources agree before using it in an assignment. Spend reasonable time online and keep a balance with study, rest and exercise.
| Internet service | Use |
|---|---|
| World Wide Web | Viewing and linking web pages |
| Sending written messages and files | |
| Instant messaging and chat | Talking live in short messages |
| Video calling | Talking face to face over the internet |
| Search engines | Finding information using key words |
| Online shopping | Buying and paying for goods |
| Streaming | Watching films and listening to music |
| File transfer | Sending and receiving documents |
| Online banking | Banking and payment services |
Practical Work
- Open a browser and load the front page of a search engine.
- Search for information on any topic of your choice and open three different results.
- Open five different websites and record what each one is used for.
- Bookmark one website and show how to open it again from the bookmarks list.
- Name two things you must not share online and explain why.
Scenario-Based Questions
- Explain the difference between the internet and the World Wide Web, using a simple example from daily life.
- A stranger in an online chat asks for your home address and your mother's phone number. Explain what you should do and why.
- A pupil finds an answer on a website but no other source agrees with it. Explain what the pupil should do before using it.
- Name four uses of the internet in education and four uses in business.
- Explain what a browser does and give two examples of browsers.
- A home has a laptop but no internet connection. Name two ways the laptop can still be useful.
- Why is it dangerous to use the same password for many websites?
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: BY THE END OF THE LESSON PUPILS SHOULD BE ABLE TO:
| Cognitive | i. Define the internet and state how it is different from the web. ii. List the services available on the internet. iii. Open a browser and find information on a given topic. iv. State basic rules for safe and correct use of the internet. |
| Affective | i. Appreciate the value of Simple Uses of the Internet in school, at home and in the community. ii. Show willingness to use digital tools carefully, safely and responsibly. |
| Psychomotor | i. Open a browser and load the front page of a search engine. ii. Search for information on any topic of your choice and open three different results. iii. Open five different websites and record what each one is used for. iv. Bookmark one website and show how to open it again from the bookmarks list. |
Rationale: The internet is a global network of computers joined together. Understanding what the Internet Is, uses of the Internet, getting on the Internet, safe and Responsible Use helps learners use digital technology confidently, safely and responsibly.
Pre-requisite Knowledge: In Week 7, learners studied Storage Devices, including what Storage Does, primary Storage, secondary Storage. The knowledge from that week is used again in this lesson.
Learning Material/Teaching Aid: Whiteboard, markers, computer or laptop where available, printed notes and charts on Simple Uses of the Internet, practical task sheets, learners' notebooks and pens.
Reference Materials: Digital Technology for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS 1); NERDC Digital Technology Curriculum; Digital Technology JSS 1 First Term Notes (Week 8); First Term examination and Continuous Assessment question papers.
LESSON DEVELOPMENT
| Stage/Step (Time) | Teacher's Activities | Student's Activities | Learning Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction 5 MINUTES | Welcomes learners, revises Week 7 (Storage Devices) with two quick oral questions, and asks what they already know about Simple Uses of the Internet. Elicits responses and writes the topic on the board. | Recall the previous lesson and share what they already know about Simple Uses of the Internet. | Connecting prior knowledge to Simple Uses of the Internet. |
| Step 1 6 MINUTES | Covers What the Internet Is: The internet is a global network of computers joined together. When many computers are connected so that they can share information, they form a network. When networks all over the world are joined, the result is the internet. | Listen, take notes and answer oral questions on "What the Internet Is". | Understanding: What the Internet Is. |
| Step 2 6 MINUTES | Covers Uses of the Internet: The internet is used for communication through email, chat and video calls. It is used for research and education through online libraries, encyclopaedias and learning platforms. It is used for business through online shops, banking and advertising. | Copy the key points, give examples from school and everyday life, and ask questions on "Uses of the Internet". | Understanding: Uses of the Internet. |
| Step 3 6 MINUTES | Covers Getting on the Internet: To use the internet a device must be connected. At home this is usually through a router supplied by an internet service provider. In school a wired network connects many computers. | Discuss in pairs, then report one point on "Getting on the Internet" to the class. | Understanding: Getting on the Internet. |
| Step 4 6 MINUTES | Covers Safe and Responsible Use: The internet is useful but it must be used correctly. Do not share your full name, address, school name or phone number with strangers. Do not accept friend requests from people you have not met. | Respond to questions, complete the examples on the board and note down "Safe and Responsible Use". | Understanding: Safe and Responsible Use. |
| Practical Work 6 MINUTES | Guides learners through the practical work: (i) Open a browser and load the front page of a search engine. (ii) Search for information on any topic of your choice and open three different results. (iii) Open five different websites and record what each one is used for. Moves round the class to check progress and correct unsafe or careless use. | Carry out the practical tasks individually or in pairs and record what they did in their notebooks. | Applying the lesson through hands-on practice. |
| Evaluation 3 MINUTES | Asks learners to: i. Define the internet and state how it is different from the web. ii. List the services available on the internet. iii. Open a browser and find information on a given topic. iv. State basic rules for safe and correct use of the internet. | Respond verbally and in writing to the evaluation questions. | Assessment and consolidation of the lesson content. |
| Conclusion 2 MINUTES | Recaps the main points: what the Internet Is, uses of the Internet, getting on the Internet, safe and Responsible Use. Links them to the assignment and previews Week 9: Introduction to MS Word. | Listen, ask questions and copy the assignment. | Reinforcement of key concepts and a preview of the next lesson. |
Assignment: i. Explain the difference between the internet and the World Wide Web, using a simple example from daily life. ii. A stranger in an online chat asks for your home address and your mother's phone number. Explain what you should do and why.
On this page9 sections
- 01Lesson objectives
- 02Key vocabulary
- 03Common misconceptions
- 04Teacher activities
- 05Student activities
- 06Practical / learning evidence
- 07Resources and preparation
- 08Assessment for learning
- 09Inclusion and homework
Lesson objectives
By the end of the week, learners should be able to:
- Distinguish the internet from the World Wide Web.
- Name the four things needed to get online and the role of each.
- Identify the parts of a URL, including the protocol and the domain.
- Carry out a guided search using precise keywords and open a result in a new tab.
- Apply four safety rules when online, including protecting personal information and reporting scams.
- Judge whether a web page is likely to be reliable using at least three checks.
Key vocabulary
- Internet: a global network of interconnected computer networks.
- World Wide Web: the collection of linked pages and sites that runs on the internet.
- Browser: software used to view web pages, such as Chrome, Edge or Firefox.
- URL: the address of a page, for example
https://www.example.gov.ng/learn. - ISP: internet service provider, the company that supplies the connection.
- Router: the device that shares a connection between computers or provides Wi-Fi.
- Search engine: a service that finds pages matching keywords, such as Google or Bing.
- HTTPS: a secure, encrypted connection between the browser and the site.
Common misconceptions
- "The internet and Google are the same thing." Google is one service on the web. The internet carries many services, including email and video calls.
- "Anything online is true." Anyone can publish. Check the author, the date and the evidence.
- "The padlock means the site is honest." The padlock shows that the connection is encrypted. It does not show whether the content is true.
Teacher activities
- Starter: ask learners to name the last thing they searched for and what they typed.
- Explain that the internet is the physical network of cables, routers and radio links, and that the web is one service that runs on it.
- List the four requirements to get online and ask learners to identify each one in the laboratory or on a phone.
- Open a browser and label the address bar, tabs, back, refresh, bookmark and history on the projected screen or a printed screenshot.
- Demonstrate a weak search and a strong search for the same question, then model the three reliability checks.
- Run the guided search task and close with the four safety rules written by the class.
Student activities
- Share their last search and the keywords used.
- Write the internet and web distinction in their own words.
- Identify the browser, connection type and device in use.
- Label a browser screenshot with six features.
- Complete the guided search: find three pages on one curriculum topic, record title, URL and date for each, and mark each as reliable or not, with a reason.
- Write the four safety rules and one example of a scam message.
Practical / learning evidence
A source record sheet with three entries showing Title | URL | Date | Author or organisation | Reliable? | Reason, plus a browser screenshot labelled with six features and a written list of four safety rules. No personal details, passwords or photographs are to be entered during the task.
Resources and preparation
At least one connected computer or phone with a browser, or printed browser screenshots and pre-downloaded pages. A projector or large screen if possible. A neutral search topic taken from another school subject. Offline route: printed pages saved before the lesson in a local folder, with the same record sheet. Test the connection and the selected pages before class, and have a backup topic if the network fails.
Assessment for learning
Check that URLs are complete and correctly copied. The reliability reason must refer to the author, the date or the evidence. Ask learners to explain what the padlock shows and what it does not show. Watch for personal information being typed and correct it immediately.
Inclusion and homework
Pair learners who have never used a browser with a confident partner, and provide a printed browser diagram for labelling. Extend confident learners with the site: and quoted-phrase search techniques. Homework: write five search keywords you would use to find information about a Nigerian university's admission requirements, without searching.