C

Module 2 the web

The Role of the Web in Daily Life

  • Lesson objectives: explain the role of the web in daily life; describe websites and webpages; use e-commerce; explain how information literacy applies to web searches and research; conduct online research.
  • Key concepts:
    • Web is integral to daily activities (communication, commerce, information gathering, learning, entertainment).
    • Understanding how the web works supports safer and more effective use.

Web Browsing Terms and Fundamentals

  • Define web browsing terms (1 of 3)
    • Internet
    • Webpage
    • Website
    • Browser
    • Actions: Navigate, Home/Start page, Hyperlinks
  • Define Web Browsing Terms (2 of 3) Keep Track of Webpages
    • Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
    • Protocol (Hypertext Transfer Protocol, HTTP)
    • Server address
    • Pathname
    • File name
    • Web server
    • IP address
    • Domain name
  • Define Web Browsing Terms (3 of 3) Navigate the Web
    • Address bar
    • Cache
    • Breadcrumbs
    • Navigation bar

Top-Level Domain (TLD) and Internet Standards

  • Explain the Purpose of a Top-Level Domain
    • Top-Level Domain (TLD)
    • Table 2-2: Popular TLDs in the United States
    • TLDs and typical uses:
    • .biz — Unrestricted use, but usually identifies business
    • .com — Most commercial sites that sell products and services
    • .edu — Academic and research sites such as schools and universities
    • .gov — U.S. government organizations
    • .int — International treaty organizations
    • .mil — Military organizations
    • .mobi — Sites optimized for mobile devices
    • .net — Network providers, ISPs, and other Internet administrative organizations
    • .org — Organizations such as political or not-for-profit (any website can have the .org TLD, but traditionally used by professional and non-profit organizations such as churches and humanitarian groups)
    • .pro — Licensed professional
  • Describe Internet Standards
    • Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
    • World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)

Websites, Webpages, and Web App Concepts

  • Describe Websites and Webpages
    • Identify the types of websites
    • Explain the pros and cons of web apps
    • Identify the major components of a webpage
    • Identify secure and insecure websites
  • Identify Types of Websites (Categories)
    • Banking and finance
    • Entertainment
    • Portals
    • Blogs
    • Government or organization
    • Retail and auctions
    • Bookmarking
    • Health and fitness
    • Science
    • Business
    • Information and research
    • Search sites
    • Careers and employment
    • Mapping
    • Travel and tourism
    • Content aggregation
    • Media sharing
    • Website creation and management
    • E-commerce
    • News, weather, sports, and other mass media
    • Web apps and software as a service (SaaS)
    • Educational
    • Online social networks
    • Wikis and collaboration
  • Pros and Cons of Web Apps (short summary)
    • Pros: Access from any device with a browser and Internet connection; collaborate with others irrespective of location; store work on the app’s website; access latest version of the app without installing updates.
    • Cons: Must be online; files may be vulnerable to security/privacy violations; provider issues can affect access; apps may run slowly or offer fewer features; potential business risk if provider goes out of business.

Major Components of a Webpage and Security

  • The Major Components of a Webpage (Five Major Areas)
    • Header
    • Navigation bar
    • Body
    • Sidebar
    • Footer
  • Identify Secure and Insecure Websites
    • Secure Websites use encryption to safeguard transmitted information
    • Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)
    • Use digital certificates to vouch for authenticity of the website
    • Lock icon
    • Requires sign-in with username/password before entering sensitive information

E-Commerce in Daily Life

  • Use E-Commerce: roles in daily life; business and personal transactions; how to find deals
  • Types of E-commerce in Daily Life (Role in Daily Life 1 of 2)
    • Business-to-consumer (B2C): sale of goods/services to the general public; example: shopping websites
    • Consumer-to-consumer (C2C): one consumer sells directly to another; example: online auctions
    • Business-to-business (B2B): business providing goods/services to other businesses; example: market research websites
  • Pros and Cons of E-Commerce for Consumers (Role in Daily Life 2 of 2)
    • Pros: variety, convenience, budget
    • Cons: security, fraud, indirect experience
  • E-Commerce in Business Transactions (B2B E-Commerce)
    • Transferring goods, services, or information between businesses
    • Pricing can vary based on service level, terms, etc.
    • A team of people often reviews and makes a purchasing decision
  • E-Commerce in Personal Transactions (B2C / E-Retail)
    • Electronic storefront
    • Tracks selected items using cookies
    • Secure payments: 3D Secure; Transport Layer Security (TLS); online payment services
  • How to Find E-Commerce Deals
    • Find online deals via comparison shopping sites
    • Use digital deals: gift certificates, gift cards, coupons

Information Literacy and Web Searches

  • Apply Information Literacy to Web Searches
    • Define information literacy
    • Explain how search engines work
    • Use search tools and strategies
    • Refine web searches
  • Define Information Literacy
    • How one finds, evaluates, uses, and communicates online information
    • Enables: navigating multiple information sources (Internet, online libraries, popular media)
    • Selecting the right tool for finding information
    • Recognizing that not all information is created equal
    • Evaluating whether information is misleading, biased, or out of date
    • Managing information to become a knowledgeable decision maker

How Search Engines Work

  • General Search Engine
    • Compiles a database of information about webpages
    • Uses spiders/crawlers to build an index of terms and locations
    • On query, references its index and lists pages that answer the query
    • Ranking depends on: frequency and location of the search term on the page, how long the page has been published, and the number of other pages linking to it

Use Search Tools and Strategies

  • Search Tools (1 of 2)
    • Find online information based on criteria you specify or selections you make
    • Search engines
    • Search boxes on webpages
    • Web directory or subject directory
    • Specialized search tools concentrate on specific resources
  • Use a Search Strategy (2 of 2)
    • State what kind of information you are seeking, as specifically as possible
    • Phrase the search term as a question
    • Identify keywords or phrases that could answer the question
    • Select an appropriate search tool
    • Perform the search, and refine the web search to narrow or broaden results
    • Use a word stem to help broaden results

Refining Web Searches (SERP and Filters)

  • Refine Web Searches (1 of 3)
    • Learning from the Search Engine Results Page (SERP): subject filters; time filters; questions other users often ask about the same subject; search terms related to the original term; knowledge graph pulled from online sources
  • Refine Web Searches (2 of 3)
    • Search Engine Practices: most relevant results on the first page; results labeled as Ad or Sponsored link are from advertisers; each filter offers related features
    • Google often shows a "People also search for" list below a link you visited
  • Refine Web Searches (3 of 3)
    • Boolean Operators (Table 2-6: Common search operators)
    • "" (quotation marks) — find webpages with exact words in the same order: example "augmented reality" in business
    • | (vertical bar) — OR
    • - (hyphen) — NOT
    • * — Wildcard (placeholder for any number of characters): augmented* reality
    • #..# — Find webpages within a range of numbers: augmented reality 2017..2022

Conduct Online Research and Specialty Search Engines

  • Conduct Online Research
    • Use specialty search engines
    • Evaluate online information
    • Gather content from online sources
    • Apply information literacy standards
  • Use Specialty Search Engines
    • Wolfram Alpha — Answers factual questions directly, without listing webpages
    • RhythmOne — Finds videos or multimedia; uses speech recognition to match audio with search term
    • Ask a Librarian — Connects to librarians via online chat or forms
    • TinEye — Reverse image search to locate originals and indexed matches

Evaluating Online Information and Ethical Guidelines

  • Evaluate Online Information (CARS Checklist)
    • Credibility: identify the author and check credentials
    • Accuracy: verify facts and claims; check bias
    • Reasonableness: whether claims are fair and sensible
    • Support: look for reputable sources and authorities
  • Gather Content from Online Sources: Follow Ethical Guidelines
    • Copying photos might violate intellectual property rights
    • Copyright gives authors/arts rights to sell, publish, distribute
    • Some resources are protected by digital rights management (DRM)
    • Some material is in the public domain and can be used without permission
    • Fair use doctrine allows use of a sentence or paragraph with citation
    • Creative Commons (CC): organization that helps content creators keep copyright while allowing others to use, copy, or distribute

Citing Sources and Information Literacy Standards

  • Apply Information Literacy Standards: Citing Sources
    • A citation is a formal reference to a source
    • Each type of information source uses a different citation style
    • Failure to cite sources, even if paraphrased, is plagiarism

Additional Notes and Connections

  • Information literacy connects to critical thinking, research skills, and ethical use of information in academic and real-world contexts.
  • E-commerce concepts (B2C, B2B, C2C) illustrate how digital platforms transform markets and consumer behavior.
  • Top-level domains reflect organizational types and trust cues that influence user perceptions and security considerations.
  • Security emphasis (HTTPS, digital certificates, lock icon, sign-in requirements) highlights how user data protection rests on both technology and user vigilance.
  • Boolean operators and SERP features are practical tools for refining searches and locating high-quality sources efficiently.
  • Understanding DRM, fair use, and Creative Commons supports responsible content reuse and attribution in research and projects.