NorthStar Internet Basics (Lesson 1 - 5)
Desktop Computer
A big computer that stays on a desk. It's like the brain of your work or study space.
Wireless Router
A box that helps your computer or phone talk to the internet without any wires.
Tablet
A flat, touchable computer.
Internet
A global network connecting millions of computers, making it possible to exchange information.
search results
A list of website links where the search words are found.
Smartphone
A mini-computer you can carry in your pocket that can also call people.
Menus
A place where you can find lots of links in a website.
Laptop Computer
A portable computer that fits on your lap. It's like a mini-office you can take anywhere.
Chrome
Internet Browser: Windows to the internet. Different doors to enter the online world.
Edge
Internet Browser: Windows to the internet. Different doors to enter the online world.
Firefox
Internet Browser: Windows to the internet. Different doors to enter the online world.
Safari
Internet Browser: Windows to the internet. Different doors to enter the online world.
description (part of the search results)
The bottom black words; detailed information of what is on the website.
Spinning wheel
The cursor shape when the computer is thinking.
Hand
The cursor shape when you can click on a link in the website.
I-beam
The cursor shape when you type in a computer document/ webpage.
Pointer
The default cursor shape.
Homepage
The first page of a website.
bookmarks / favorites
The links you use often that you saved for easy access.
Address Bar
The space where you type the web address.
Web Address / URL
The unique code that takes you to a specific place on the internet.
search terms
The words you type in the search bar.
Scroll up/down
To move your view on a computer up or down; for most laptop computers, brush two fingers up/down/left/right.
.gov
Top-Level Domain: governments
.org
Top-Level Domain: organizations
.com
Top-Level Domain: short for 'commercial' - business
.edu
Top-Level Domain: short for 'education' - universities/colleges
Cable / DSL
Wired way your house can connect to the internet. Cable is like a fast highway, and DSL is like a reliable country road.
open (a tab)
You can __________ a new tab by clicking the + next to the tabs.
close (a tab)
You can __________ a tab by clicking the x.
news
You can filter your search results to show only the news.
images
Another word for "pictures"; you can filter your search results to show only the pictures.
Hyperlink / link
Something you click on to go to a different page.
search engine
Helps you find websites, webpages, images, videos, news, maps, and other information related to a specific topic.
search bar
Place where you type important words in the search engine to help you find what you are looking for.
link (part of the search results)
Click on the blue letters to go to a website.
Back button
Click to go back to the page you were on before.
Top-level Domains
Endings to web addresses, like ".com" or ".org". They tell you what kind of website you're visiting.
Advertisements (Ads)
Links to other website that is selling something.
adding bookmarks / favorites
On Google Chrome, you would click the star in the address bar.
Forward button
Use if you clicked the back button by mistake, to return to the previous page.
Refresh button
Use to open the page again, or reload the page. This can solve most problems with web pages.
