JSS 3 First Term

Learning Objectives

• Explain what the internet is and the part an ISP plays.
• Describe IP addresses, URLs and the World Wide Web.
• Compare common web browsers and explain how a search engine works.
• Judge the trustworthiness of online information and search safely.

Starter Scenario

Chidi in Abuja sends a short birthday message to his cousin Amara in Lagos at exactly 9 o'clock in the morning. The message arrives on Amara's phone within one second, even though Lagos is over 600 kilometres away. How did the message travel so fast? The answer lies in the internet, a vast network of networks, and the Internet Service Providers that connect Chidi's phone to Amara's phone through routers, cables, satellites or fibre optics. The message is broken into tiny pieces, sent across many networks, and reassembled on Amara's device almost instantly.

The Internet and ISPs

The internet is a world-wide system of interconnected computer networks that allows billions of devices to exchange information. It is not owned by one person or one company. Instead, thousands of organisations, governments and companies around the world help keep it running. The internet supports many services, including the World Wide Web, email, instant messaging, video calls, online gaming, streaming, cloud storage, and online banking. When people say they are going online, they mean they are connecting to the internet to use one or more of these services.

An Internet Service Provider, or ISP, is a company that gives individuals and organisations access to the internet. Without ISPs, homes and schools would have no way to connect. In Nigeria, popular ISPs include MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile and Starlink for satellite. Fibre broadband providers also serve major cities. Schools often subscribe to a business ISP plan that provides a reliable, high-speed connection. ISPs charge fees for their services, typically monthly or yearly. Different plans offer different speeds and data limits. A school that downloads many videos and files will need a faster, higher-data plan than a household that only browses the web.

IP Addresses

Every device that connects to the internet is assigned a unique number called an IP address. IP stands for Internet Protocol. The IP address works like a house address because it tells the network exactly where to send data. There are two versions of IP addresses in common use today. IPv4 uses four numbers separated by dots, such as 192.168.1.1, and each number can range from 0 to 255. IPv6 uses a much longer format with both letters and numbers. IPv6 was created because the world ran out of IPv4 addresses. Without a valid IP address, a device cannot send or receive data on the internet. Some devices share a public IP address while using private IP addresses internally.

URLs and the World Wide Web

A URL, which stands for Uniform Resource Locator, is the address of a specific page or file on the internet. Every web page, image, video and document online has its own unique URL. A typical URL has several parts. The protocol part specifies the rules used to transfer the page, usually http or https. The domain name is the main name of the website, such as www.school.edu.ng. The path is the specific location of the page within the site, such as /subjects/digital-technology. The letter s in https stands for secure, meaning the connection is encrypted so that data travelling between your device and the server cannot be easily intercepted.

The World Wide Web, or WWW, is a system of interlinked hypertext documents that are accessed through the internet. It was invented by Tim Berners-Lee in 1989 at CERN, a research organisation in Switzerland. When you visit a website, your browser sends a request to a web server, which responds by sending back the web page in a language called HTML. The browser then renders the HTML into the text, images and layout you see on screen. The World Wide Web is often confused with the internet. The internet is the network infrastructure, while the web is one of many services that run on it. Email, messaging apps, and online games also run on the internet but are not part of the web.

Web Browsers

A web browser is software that lets you access, retrieve and display content from the World Wide Web. When you click a link or type a URL, the browser handles the entire process of connecting to the server and displaying the page. Popular browsers include Google Chrome, which is made by Google and is the most popular browser with a wide range of extensions. Mozilla Firefox is made by the Mozilla Foundation and has a strong privacy focus. Microsoft Edge is made by Microsoft and is built into Windows, integrating with Microsoft services. Safari is made by Apple and is the default browser on iPhones, iPads and Macs. Browsers store your browsing history, which is a list of pages you have visited. Clearing your history regularly is a good safety habit, especially on shared devices.

Search Engines and Safe Searching

A search engine is a tool that finds and lists web pages related to a search query. Popular search engines include Google, Bing and Yahoo. When a learner types a query, the search engine does three things in rapid succession. First, it crawls, when software called spiders or bots visit web pages and read their content. Second, it indexes, when the information gathered is stored in a huge database called an index. Third, it ranks, when the engine checks its index and displays the most relevant results, ranked from most to least relevant. Search results often include sponsored links, or ads, at the top. These are paid placements and may not always be the most relevant or trustworthy result.

Learners should practise safe searching by using specific keywords rather than vague phrases to narrow results. They should look at the website address before clicking, noting that trusted sites often end in.edu,.gov or well-known.com or.org domains. They should check the date of the article or page, because outdated information may no longer be accurate. They should avoid clicking on the first result if it is marked as an ad, unless they are sure it is from a trusted source. They should use safe search filters to block inappropriate content. They should never enter personal information on a website they found through a search unless they are sure the site is legitimate. They should cross-check important facts by looking at two or three different sources. If a result looks suspicious or too good to be true, they should not click on it.

Not every search result is equally trustworthy. Learners should practise critical evaluation by asking the following questions. Who wrote or published the page, and are they an expert on the topic? What is the purpose of the page, to inform, to sell, or to persuade? Does the page contain spelling errors, strange formatting or excessive pop-ups? Can the information be confirmed by other reliable sources? Being able to judge the quality of information is a key digital literacy skill and is essential for safe and responsible internet use.

Practical Work

1. Write the parts of the URL www.school.edu.ng/subjects/ict and explain each part.
2. Name four web browsers and state one feature of each.
3. Describe the three steps a search engine follows: crawling, indexing and ranking.
4. Rewrite a vague search into a precise one using better keywords.

Scenario-Based Questions

1. Kemi wants to visit www.verifiednews.ng. Write down the four parts of this URL and explain what each part does.
2. Two ISPs in Abuja offer internet plans. ISP A gives 50 Mbps at 15,000 naira per month. ISP B gives 10 Mbps at 8,000 naira per month. A cybercafe owner needs fast internet for many customers. Which ISP should the owner choose and why?
3. A pupil types www.old-example.com into a browser and sees an error page saying the site cannot be reached. Give two possible reasons for this error.
4. Aisha searches for symptoms of malaria on a search engine. The first result is a sponsored ad selling herbal medicine, while the third result is from a hospital website. Explain how Aisha should decide which result to trust.
5. A school blocks students from visiting certain websites during class hours. Explain the role of a web browser in this scenario and name one way the school might block the sites.
6. A trader sends a link to his friend saying, Click this to win a free phone. The link leads to a page that asks for the friend's bank details. Name the type of online trick this is and explain how the friend can check whether the link is safe.
7. A pupil writes a search query using very general words like stuff about animals and gets thousands of unrelated results. Suggest two ways the pupil can improve the search to get more useful results.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: BY THE END OF THE LESSON PUPILS SHOULD BE ABLE TO:

Rationale: The internet is a world-wide system of interconnected computer networks that allows billions of devices to exchange information. Understanding starter Scenario, the Internet and ISPs, iP Addresses, uRLs and the World Wide Web helps learners use digital technology confidently, safely and responsibly.

Pre-requisite Knowledge: In Week 1, learners studied Review of Networks, the Internet and Digital Safety, including what is a Computer Network, types of Networks, the Internet and How it Works. 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 Internet and Web Technologies, practical task sheets, learners' notebooks and pens.

Reference Materials: Digital Technology for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS 3); NERDC Digital Technology Curriculum; Digital Technology JSS 3 First Term Notes (Week 2); First Term examination and Continuous Assessment question papers.

LESSON DEVELOPMENT

Assignment: i. A learner says the internet and the World Wide Web are the same thing, and another says Wi-Fi is the internet. Define each of the three terms, explain the difference between the internet and the web, and correct the two statements. ii. (a) Differentiate between a Web Browser and a Search Engine, giving two (2) examples of each. (b) Explain what a URL is and state its main function when browsing the internet. (c) Outline three (3) tips for conducting effective and safe searches on the internet.