Meeting One--Getting Started

Objectives:

What is the Internet?

What is a Virtual Classroom?

What is a Mediated or Multimedia Classroom?

Some Basic Terminology

There are several basic terms and concepts which are essential to understanding how all of this works:

Internet: refers to the worldwide network of computers connected through telephone data lines. No one "runs" the Internet, making it either completely democratic or completely anarchic, depending upon your point of view. Internet locations are designated by the ends of their addresses (.com .edu . org . gov are the most used).

LAN: or Local Area Network, refers to a network of computers operating in a somewhat- closed environment such as a classroom, library, or other fixed space.

World Wide Web (WWW): refers to the "universe of network-accessible information, the embodiment of human knowledge" (W3C, The World Wide Web Consortium).

Web Browsers: the two most popular graphical browsers are Netscape and Internet Explorer (from Microsoft). Explorer has always been free, and Netscape may be downloaded free from the UConn ftp site. Additionally, there are text-only browsers such as Lynx and Charlotte.

HTTP: stands for "hypertext transfer protocol" and is the "method" used to transfer files using a graphical web browser.

FTP: stands for "file transfer protocol," a way of transfering files over the Internet.

Telnet: a program which allows remote connection to a site. When you go to the Yale library on your mainframe account, you are using a telnet program.

Eudora, Pegasus: two e-mail programs which may be used through a PPP connection or the university's backbone.

Backbone: the UConn backbone is an on-campus system allowing connection to the Internet and local networks. Connection to the backbone is only available through use of an Ethernet card and a special hookup. Most office computers are connected to the backbone as are the computers in the department's computer lab.

PPP Connection: a PPP or Point-to-Point Protocol connection is the way one accesses the Internet through a modem. You may acquire a PPP account through the University's Computer Center for a nominal fee, or you can get a PPP account through an outside vendor (such as AOL or NECA); remember, however, that connection through an outside vendor may hinder your access to certain UConn-subscribed sites.

I also have written another page, Information on the Internet and How-tos, which you might find helpful.