1. Email

Email is the most popular service on the Internet. If you do not have an email account, set one up through your school or Internet Service Provider (if you have one) or through a free web-based email service such as Yahoo.com, Gmail.com or Hotmail.com.

2. Discussion Boards

Your instructor might decide to set up a class discussion board. If so, post a short message to the group. Describe yourself and what you plan to do after college.

3. Web Browsers

A web browser is a software program that receives and displays web pages. There are three main web browsers: Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari. Each browser works in slightly different ways. Choose three URLs (this works best with less popular locations), and view each web page in two browsers. What differences do you see?

4. Register a URL

A web page is identified by its URL (universal resource locator) such as http://www.cnn.com. The URL must be unique to the web site. The URL has two parts: 1) your chosen domain name and 2) the .com, .org, .net or other extension. Effective domain names are the first step to an effective web presence. The desire for domain names has created a new land rush. The problem is finding a web name that is still available.

Go to a domain name registrar such as http://www.networksolutions.com, domains.yahoo.com, or Register.com. Find five URLs (not just ones with different extensions such as jim.com and jim.net). How difficult was it for you? How memorable were your domain names? Did your URLs have competitors (had someone already registered your name with a different extension)?

5. Personalize Your Start Page

When a web browser starts up, it will display a default page. Usually, a web page will show the browser's company page. Most people never change this page. Your assignment is to change the page. Choose a URL to be the new start (or home) page. Select the whole URL and copy (from edit menu) or write down the address exactly, including upper and lower case.

For Macintosh computers: Select "Preferences" from the "Safari" menu. Then, click on "General," along the top row." Next, change your start page by typing or pasting your new URL where it says, "Home page."

For Microsoft Windows computers: If you're using Internet Explorer, select "Internet Options" from the "Tools" menu or the "Control Panel." Under the tab "General," paste or type your desired home page in the appropriate box and click "OK." For Firefox, select "Options" from the "Tools" menu. Then select "General" from the window menu. Paste or type your desired home page in the appropriate box and click "OK."

Now, see if you were successful. Click on the "Home" icon in the browser window or menu. On a Macintosh, you can also open a new window with apple-N. On Microsoft Windows Computers, you can use Alt-Home to open your home page.