Internet: The information superhighway that everyone talks about. It is a network that connects millions of computers worldwide and allows them to "talk" to each other. The Internet is comparable to the phone lines that cover the globe. It is the infrastructure for everything you do online. When you go on the World Wide Web (www or "the Web"), you are using the Internet. In fact, you are using the Internet right now.
URL: The "Web address" of a particular Web site. URL stands for "Uniform Resource Locator." It is comparable to a phone number or a street address. It is the "www.
_.com" that you see in many commercials or in print ads. Our URL here at Scholastic is www.scholastic.com. You enter this address in the "location" field at the top of your browser.
Browser: The program that allows you to access information on the World Wide Web. It is a software program, like Microsoft Word or Scholastic's "I Spy" CD-ROM, that lets you view Web pages. The most commonly used browsers are Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer.
Online Services and Internet Service Providers (ISPs): The companies that you use to give you access to the Internet. Internet service is comparable to your local phone company giving you access to phone lines. America Online, CompuServe, EarthLink, and many local providers are companies that you may use to get on to the Internet.
Home Page: The main page of a Web site. When you type www.scholastic.com into your Web browser, you come to our home page. Home pages usually contain a "navigation bar" and use words and pictures to highlight the content on the Web site. These words and pictures function as "links" to all the different areas on the site.
Navigation Bar: A set of tabs or buttons that helps visitors move around a Web site. It is usually at the top of the screen, but may be along the side of your screen as well. The Navigation, or "Nav," bar contains words or iconic pictures of the different areas on the Web site. By moving your pointer over the words or pictures and "clicking," you will be "linked" to that area.
Link: Web sites use links to connect one Web page to another. A link may be a picture, a word, or a phrase. On many Web browsers the word or phrase is underlined or may be a different color from the rest of the text. This indicates that it is a link. By clicking on it, you get taken to another Web page.
Web Page: A single page of information on a Web site. It is comparable to a page in a book. What you are looking at right now is a Web page.
Pointer: The little arrow on your computer screen that shows you where you are moving your mouse over the screen. Moving the mouse moves your pointer.
Site Map: A single Web page that lists all the areas available on the Web site. It is comparable to an index in a book. In fact, many Web sites use the term index, or guide. A site map, index, or guide may explain what the areas of a Web site contain.
Scrolling: The ability to move up or down a Web page. Most Web pages extend beneath what is visible on the computer screen when you are first linked to the page. To see what is beneath the bottom of your screen, move or "pull" the gray bar on the right side of your browser down. You can do this by moving your pointer over the gray bar, clicking your mouse, holding your mouse down WITHOUT LETTING GO, and then moving your mouse. Once you get to where you want to go on the Web page, let go of your mouse.
Drop-down Menu: A list of words or phrases that the user may choose from. Click and hold the menu to see all the choices. The words or phrases appear in a small box, and the box has an arrow on the right-hand side. Drop-down menus might be used in a form to be filled out, such as when you are asked to enter the state in which you live. These menus may be used also to allow you to choose from a list of areas on the Web site. You use it by moving your pointer over the words in the box or the arrow and clicking once. This will reveal the list contained within. You may now choose which word or phrase best suits your purpose by moving your pointer over the list and clicking on the appropriate item.
Web Conventions
Your pointer suddenly turns into a hand: You have done nothing wrong. In fact, you have discovered one of the joys of a Web site, a link. If you move your pointer over the screen and it turns into a hand, you can click on that word, phrase, or picture. Doing so will link you to another Web page.
You move your pointer over an item and words start to appear: Called a "rollover," this Web convention supplies the user with helpful information about what you have just "rolled" your pointer over.
Searching: Sometimes it's hard to find all the information that a Web site has to offer. Using the search function helps you to locate the topics that interest you the most. There are many different ways to search a Web site, and different Web sites employ different techniques. Usually a Web site supplies you with a help file to explain searching in more detail.
If you're lost, scroll up, or scroll down: Most Web sites supply you with help to get around the site. Try looking for a navigation bar, which usually appears at the top of the screen. Often there are also text links at the bottom of the Web page. By using these you can move to a different area of the Web site or get to the home page and start again.
Hopefully this list has given you some pointers about what a Web site is and how to get around. Remember that exploring the Internet is not just a way to gather information, it is also fun. So "surf the Web" with abandon, and welcome to Scholastic.com.
Now click on the "Continue the Tour" button below to learn more about what Scholastic.com has to offer.
