Finding Your Way Around the Internet
Hi there. Welcome back to “Your Canadian Senior Moment”!
In our last lesson, we learned how to get your device connected to Wi-Fi, which is your key to unlocking the internet. Today, we’re going to take our first steps inside the digital world by learning how to search for information and send an email.
What is a Web Browser?
Think of a web browser as the front door to the internet. It’s a special program you use to visit websites, find information, and interact with the digital world. Common web browsers include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. You’ll find an icon for one of these on your device.
The long bar at the top of the browser is called the address bar. This is where you type in a website’s address, also known as a URL.
It can sometimes be helpful to have more than one browser on your computer. Many people like to have a second option in case a certain website works better on one than the other, or simply because they have a personal preference for a different style. A simple web search will help you find a safe place to download and install the one you choose. Note: My personal favourite these days is Vivaldi but you can’t go wrong with Chrome to get you started.
Your First Search
The easiest way to find information is by using a search engine. Think of a search engine as a helpful librarian who knows where everything is located on the internet.
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Open your web browser (like Google Chrome).
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In the search bar, type in what you are looking for. (For example: “best apple pie recipe” or “weather in Nova Scotia”).
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Press the Enter key on your keyboard or tap the search icon.
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You will be taken to a page of search results. Click on the result that looks most promising!
Understanding Email
Email is a way to send and receive messages digitally, much like sending a letter through the mail. It is one of the most common ways to communicate online.
Key Email Terms:
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Inbox: Where all your new emails arrive.
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Compose: The button you click to write a new email.
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Recipients: The people you are sending the email to.
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Subject Line: A short title for your email, so the recipient knows what it is about.
To send an email, you will need to open your email program (like Gmail or Outlook) and click “Compose” or “New Message.” From there, just follow the instructions on the screen!
Note from Bill: I have tried nearly every application that exists for email over my 35 years online and for me the most convenient is Gmail. You can use it in your browser, it’s free and it’s most widely accepted around the world. Is it perfect? No. But if you’re looking for perfect in this world… I think you know where I’m going with this. Marilyn uses Yahoo, and it’s not bad, but it’s no Gmail.
How to Sign Up for a Free Gmail Account
If you don’t have an email address yet, setting one up is easy! We recommend a free Gmail account, as it’s reliable and widely used.
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Open your web browser and go to: accounts.google.com/signup
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You’ll see a form asking for your name, a new email address (called a username), and a password. Create a username that’s easy for you to remember and a password that is strong.
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Google will ask for your phone number. This is for security, to make sure you’re a real person and to help you recover your account if you ever forget your password.
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After you’ve agreed to the terms of service, you’re all set!
Once you have your new Gmail account, you can start sending and receiving emails.
Your Turn to Practice!
Open your web browser and try to search for the local news in your community. See if you can find a news article you would like to read. Then, open your email and write a short email to yourself with a subject line like, “My First Online Search.”
What’s Next? In our next lesson, we’ll dive into a very important topic: understanding spam and avoiding scams in your inbox. We’ll show you how to identify and delete messages you should not open. We’ll see you then!
(Please remember: Your device and screen may look slightly different from our examples. If you run into any difficulty, please describe any problem in the comments and we’ll do our best to help you individually.)
Warmly,
Bill and Marilyn
Founders of Canadian Senior Moment
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