Internet Basics

April 2, 2011

Just learning how to use the Internet? Congratulations — there is a lot of opportunity for you ahead! Begin with the basics that you will find in this section.

Staying Safe and Secure Online
It is important to protect your personal information and your family members’ personal information when online. Always read a web site’s privacy policy before giving any personal information. On the GoodProspects^SM web site, we keep your personal information in a secure location, and we pledge that you will determine what information members of the site can see.

If the idea of being online makes you nervous because of privacy concerns, take the free Internet Safety Course, offered online by GCF LearnFree*. It will provide you with the strategies, skills and mindset needed to protect yourself, your computer and your privacy when you connect with the Internet.

Read more about online personal safety from Bill O’Brien.

Keeping kids Internet smart and Internet safe is important. Be sure that your children are protecting their personal information online, too. For tips on kids’ Internet safety, visit www.commonsense.com.

Creating an E-mail Account
Whether you’re looking for a job, or wanting to make use of online job search tools, it’s a good idea to set up an e-mail account. To join the GoodProspects^SM community so that you can explore careers, you will need an e-mail account.
E-mail Basics, a free online class offered by GCF LearnFree*, covers all the important skills you need to take advantage of this form of communication.

There are a variety of free web-based email services you can use, such as Gmail and Yahoo. Read more.

Using the Internet: Common Web Terms and Features
Are you new to the Internet? Are you wondering what is so important about being connected online? Maybe you would just like to know what’s new and how it can benefit you. Internet 101, a free introductory course by GCF LearnFree* will guide you through the basics, while providing up-to-date information on the latest online tools and technologies.

Welcome to the Web is a great site, too. Created primarily for youth, its ‘learn by doing’ approach teaches about common web features and tasks by asking you to actually do the tasks.

Joining an Online Community
Many web sites offer online community spaces for meeting people that share your interests. GoodProspects^SM invites you to connect with other career explorers and job seekers so that you can learn from one another, get advice from mentors and share your experiences. As with any social setting, you should exercise common sense, and make sure that your online experience is safe and secure. The most important thing to remember? Don’t share anything that you don’t want made public.

Read more about Online Community Safety.

Be sure to be informed about the privacy policy of any online community that you choose to join. Read the GoodProspects privacy policy.

Facebook is a popular online community where you can connect with people that share your interests.  Facebook 101, offered for free online by GCF LearnFree*, helps you understand how to create, use, and maintain a Facebook page of your own, including understanding the complex Facebook Privacy policies and settings.

LinkedIn is another community for people who share career interests.

*GCFLearnFree.org® is supported by the Goodwill Community Foundation, Inc. (GCF®) whose mission is “to create and provide education, employment, and life enrichment opportunities for people who desire to improve the quality of their lives.”