Changes

World wide web (www) is an application on the internet, which allows computers to access the internet in the form of a web page, using an application called the web browser. There are millions of pages of shared information on the computers in the network, created by many people and organizations, in the form of websites. The 'web-sites' we visit are nothing but folders of computers connected to the internet.  A web site is a collection of related web pages. Web pages are identified by means of a URL (uniform resource locater), which is treated as the website address, usually beginning with “[http://%E2%80%9D http://”] .HTTP stands for hypertext transfer protocol, which is the method used for transferring web page information from the server to your computer.   

World wide web (www) is an application on the internet, which allows computers to access the internet in the form of a web page, using an application called the web browser. There are millions of pages of shared information on the computers in the network, created by many people and organizations, in the form of websites. The 'web-sites' we visit are nothing but folders of computers connected to the internet.  A web site is a collection of related web pages. Web pages are identified by means of a URL (uniform resource locater), which is treated as the website address, usually beginning with “[http://%E2%80%9D http://”] .HTTP stands for hypertext transfer protocol, which is the method used for transferring web page information from the server to your computer.   

Initially the access to the world wide web was only for downloading, this was called Web 1.0. Subsequently the second generation of world wide web was evolved, called Web 2.0., where ordinary users can create their own materials and publish on the internet, using software tools like blog or wiki. A blog is like a e-journal and teachers can create their own e-journals for reflective practice using software tools such such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WordPress WordPress].   

Initially the access to the world wide web was only for downloading, this was called Web 1.0. Subsequently the second generation of world wide web was evolved, called Web 2.0., where users can create their own materials and publish on the internet, using software tools like blog or wiki. A blog is like a e-journal and teachers can create their own e-journals for reflective practice using software tools such such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WordPress WordPress].   

We have moved further along now to collaborative creation of web pages, through online collaboration platforms.  Now more and more processing can be done on the internet, where the data, results and analysis is stored the Internet and we can operate/ add/ access through various web based applications.  This is called [[wikipedia:Cloud_computing|Cloud Computing]].

We have moved further along now to collaborative creation of web pages, through online collaboration platforms.  Now more and more processing can be done on the internet, where the data, results and analysis is stored the internet and we can operate/ add/ access through various web based applications.  This is called [[wikipedia:Cloud_computing|Cloud Computing]].

==== Using a browser to navigate the world wide web ====

==== Using a browser to navigate the world wide web ====

To access the web sites or web pages on the worldwide web, we need to connect to the internet (through a connectivity device) and use an application called the browser.  In this unit we will be using a free and open source web browser such as [[Learn Firefox|Mozilla Firefox]]. It is an application that allows you to browse the world wide web and search for information.  Web browsers allow a user to quickly and easily get information provided on many web pages at many websites.  We already saw that each website is a page on the Internet and has an address. We can either copy and paste the link directly in the address bar of a web browser. The browser opens one web page, which has links to other web sites / web pages which we can visit by clicking on the links. Each of the subsequent pages will also have many links which we can click on. Thus we can visualise the world wide web as a huge mansion with many rooms, each room having many doors. When we enter a room (open a web page), we can access the resources in that room. We can also go from that room to other rooms through the several doors that this room has (go from one web page to another web page by clicking on any of the links on the page we are in). The new room also would have many doors. Thus we can go through the mansion from room to room (web page to web page) through the door (web link) in each room. Though the entire web is very huge, we only access it one page at a time.     

To access the web sites or web pages on the worldwide web, we need to connect to the internet (through a connectivity device) and use an application called the browser.  In this unit we will be using a free and open source web browser such as [[Learn Firefox|Mozilla Firefox]]. It is an application that allows you to browse the world wide web and search for information.  Web browsers allow a user to quickly and easily get information provided on many web pages at many websites.  We already saw that each website is a page on the internet and has an address. We can either copy and paste the link directly in the address bar of a web browser. The browser opens one web page, which has links to other web sites / web pages which we can visit by clicking on the links. Each of the subsequent pages will also have many links which we can click on. Thus we can visualise the world wide web as a huge mansion with many rooms, each room having many doors. When we enter a room (open a web page), we can access the resources in that room. We can also go from that room to other rooms through the several doors that this room has (go from one web page to another web page by clicking on any of the links on the page we are in). The new room also would have many doors. Thus we can go through the mansion from room to room (web page to web page) through the door (web link) in each room. Though the entire web is very huge, we only access it one page at a time.     

Browsing the web is taking the tour of the global virtual world, hence it will have rewards as well as expose you to risks and dangers. Refer to the last section in this chapter for Internet safety suggestions.   

Browsing the web is taking the tour of the global virtual world, hence it will have rewards as well as expose you to risks and dangers. Refer to the last section in this chapter for internet safety suggestions.   

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

|An important philosophical justification of using FOSS in education, is that the teaching learning processes should not be constrained by the access to learning resources. While proprietary software is prohibited from being shared or modified, FOSS has been developed to support free sharing and customisation as per needs of the user. Hence in this course, we will only learn to use FOSS tools. However the learning will focus on the processes that the tools support, so that the student-teacher can also easily figure out how to use a proprietary equivalent if required.  

|An important philosophical justification of using FOSS in education, is that the teaching learning processes should not be constrained by the access to learning resources. While proprietary software is prohibited from being shared or modified, FOSS has been developed to support free sharing and customisation as per needs of the user. Hence in this course, we will only learn to use FOSS tools. However the learning will focus on the processes that the tools support, so that the student-teacher can also easily figure out how to use a proprietary equivalent if required.  

File:Firefox_5_Searched_Address.png|400x450px|thumb|Search results will appear

File:Firefox_5_Searched_Address.png|400x450px|thumb|Search results will appear

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==== World wide web - A global digital library - connecting and learning ====

==== World wide web - A global digital library for connecting and learning ====

For making teaching more effective, a resource rich learning environment is necessary. However, in many cases, teachers only have the text book for their subject. The text book is intended primarily for the student and the teacher needs to access resources that are a super set of the topic as dealt in the text book, so that the teacher is well placed to teach using different approaches and with multiple resources, based on the learning contexts and needs of the students. Teachers must also be resourceful to address any doubts or questions that may arise in class or elsewhere on the topic. However, learning resources other than text books are not easily available to teachers. Also significant part of materials available is copyrighted, meaning teachers cannot make copies of the same for their use and it may be expensive to purchase all the required resource materials.  The world wide web with its millions of web pages can thus be a "'''Global Digital Library'''", which has resources on many topics.  However, to harness this library, we need to know how to search for information on the web.  After accessing the resources, making meaning depends on our skills to evaluate and organize these resources.  The resources available in the Global Digital Library can be organized into a meaningful personal digital library on our own computer, enabling self learning.   

For making teaching more effective, a resource rich learning environment is necessary though in many cases, teachers only have the text book for their subject. The text book is intended primarily for the student and the teacher needs to access resources that are a super set of the topic as dealt in the text book, so that the teacher is well placed to teach using different approaches and with multiple resources, based on the learning contexts and needs of the students. Teachers must also be resourceful to address any doubts or questions that may arise in class or elsewhere on the topic. However, learning resources other than text books are not easily available to teachers. Also significant part of materials available is copyrighted, meaning teachers cannot make copies of the same for their use and it may be expensive to purchase all the required resource materials.  The world wide web with its millions of web pages can thus be a "'''Global Digital Library'''", which has resources on many topics.  To harness this library, we need to know how to search for information on the web.  After accessing the resources, making meaning depends on our skills to evaluate and organize these resources.  The resources available in the Global Digital Library can be organized into a meaningful personal digital library on our own computer, enabling self learning.   

Resources are available on almost all topics that may be of interest to a teacher in English. The same amount of information is not available in other languages,  Teachers need and can contribute to on-line resources in Kannada, to increase the local language resources on the web.  Sources of information, even if freely available on the Internet, needs to be acknowledged. Resources are available in different formats on the Internet- images, videos, audio files etc. We must be aware of Internet safety while accessing images, videos and other information on the Internet.

Resources are available on almost all topics that may be of interest to a teacher.  Resources are available in different formats on the internet- text, images, videos, audio files etc.  The text resources, however, are available predominantly in English. The same amount of information is not available in other languages,  Teachers need and can contribute to on-line resources in Kannada, to increase the local language resources on the web.  Sources of information, even if freely available on the Internet, needs to be acknowledged.We must be aware of Internet safety while accessing images, videos and other information on the Internet.

The internet and the web, a product of digital ICT, have thus changed the way we think of accessing information or communicating.  The emergence of the internet and the web has changed the way we are accessing information. Getting data about something is not so difficult any more and this can be a great advantage for the teacher for her professional development.  With information being more readily available, learning needs to move in terms of building skills of accessing, organizing and evaluating information.       

The internet and the web, a product of digital ICT, have thus changed the way we think of accessing information or communicating.  The emergence of the internet and the web has changed the way we are accessing information. Getting data about something is not so difficult any more and this can be a great advantage for the teacher for her professional development.  With information being more readily available, learning needs to move in terms of building skills of accessing, organizing and evaluating information.       

Internet is also allowing new methods of learning through on-line courses and blended learning method, thus making us rethink what we learn and how (where) we learn.  This unit will help you learn how you can use ICT to ''connect and learn''.     

The internet is also allowing new methods of learning through on-line courses and blended learning methods, thus making us rethink what we learn and how (where) we learn.  This unit will help you learn how you can use ICT to ''connect and learn''.     

===== Accessing information on the internet  - Search engine =====

===== Accessing information on the internet  - Search engine =====

A popular way of finding information on the Internet is through the use of a search engine. Search engine is a website that can retrieve a large amount of relevant information in very a short time.  

A popular way of finding information on the internet is through the use of a search engine. Search engine is a website that can retrieve a large amount of relevant information in very a short time.  

The search engine has enormous implications for our processes of teaching-learning. In the  past, rote learning (remembering information) has been seen as important, since such committing information to memory would allow us to access it when needed. Traditional Indian schools also had memorising scripts as an important learning method. However, with ICT, that has changed. Due to information explosion, it is now impossible to commit to memory the numerous aspects of our daily lives. Secondly, thanks to methods of storage and retrieval, including use of search engines, the need to memorise has also reduced. Twenty years back, we used to remember peoples telephone (land-line) numbers, which were not too many. Now with large number of contacts we have, we do not need to memorise their phone (cell phone) numbers, since we can store it in the phone itself and can retrieve by name. In the same way, any factual information can be retrieved in a fraction of a second and hence not worth memorising.

The search engine has enormous implications for our processes of teaching-learning. In the  past, rote learning (remembering information) has been seen as important, since such committing information to memory would allow us to access it when needed. Traditional Indian schools also had memorising scripts as an important learning method. However, with ICT, that has changed. Due to information explosion, it is now impossible to commit to memory the amount of information surrounding us. Secondly, thanks to methods of storage and retrieval, including use of search engines, the need to memorise has also reduced. Twenty years back, we used to remember telephone (land-line) numbers, which were not too many. Now with large number of contacts we have, we do not need to memorise their phone (cell phone) numbers, since we can store it in the phone itself and can retrieve by name. In the same way, any factual information can be retrieved in a fraction of a second and hence not worth memorising.

Thus while in the past, significant amount of teaching was actually the dissemination of information, now that would neither be required, nor would students readily accept it. Teaching has to hence necessarily move to the next order of interpreting, critically reflecting on facts to assess and make meaning. Thus in a way, search engines have done the processes of learning a good turn, by making information transmission as a largely redundant part of learning. On the other hand, they have also enabled easy copying of materials, without requiring much effort to understand, potentially encouraging superficial learning.

Thus while in the past, significant amount of teaching was actually the dissemination of information, now that would neither be required, nor would students readily accept it. Teaching has to hence necessarily move to the next order of interpreting, critically reflecting on facts to assess and make meaning. Thus in a way, search engines have done the processes of learning a good turn, by making information transmission a largely redundant part of learning, while encouraging the development of skills of reflection and evaluation.  

===== Searching text and image resources =====

===== Searching text and image resources =====

# You could look for text information by simply typing the key word of your searching content, In the first image you can see text information accessed Digital Story Telling" in the search bar of the search engine. You can copy the shown information and can paste into your own text document.

# You could look for text information by simply typing the key word of the content you want to search. In the first image you can see text information accessed Digital Story Telling" in the search bar of the search engine. You can copy the search results information and can paste into your own text document.

# You can search for images from Firefox web browser, For example: If you want to search images about Digital Story Telling, simply type "Digital Story Telling" in the search bar of the search engine and select ‘Images’ link. Here you can select images that are licensed for reuse by specifying the search settings. If you want to download or save images to your computer, right click on the image and click on "Save image as". In the second image, you will see how to rename the image file and select appropriate folder to save.

# You can also search for images using a search engine.  For example: If you want to search images about Digital Story Telling, simply type "Digital Story Telling" in the search bar of the search engine and select ‘Images’ link. Here you can select images that are licensed for reuse by specifying the search settings. If you want to download or save images to your computer, right click on the image and click on "Save image as". In the second image, you will see how to rename the image file and select appropriate folder to save.

# Firefox has in-built search button for Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, Bing and few other popular search engines. The [https://duckduckgo.com DuckDuckGo] search engine does store your searches, which allows you privacy, whereas [http://google.com Google search engine]  and most other search engines store your searches.

# Firefox has in-built search button for Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, Bing and few other popular search engines. The [https://duckduckgo.com DuckDuckGo] search engine does not store your searches, which allows you privacy, whereas [http://google.com Google search engine]  and most other search engines store your searches.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="150px" caption="Searching text and image resources">  

<gallery mode="packed" heights="150px" caption="Searching text and image resources">  

File:Imageoer2.png|400x450px|left|thumb|Searching images using Google search engine

File:Imageoer2.png|400x450px|left|thumb|Searching images using Google search engine

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===== How to evaluate an Internet resource / web site =====

===== How to evaluate an Internet resource / web site =====