World Wide Web Resources
Overview
I don't think there's any doubt that the World Wide Web
hypertext information system is the most ambitious attempt
yet to make the information resources of the Internet so easy
to retrieve that even a young child could do it”
- (Glossbrenner, (1995). A College Student's Guide, p. 61).
 The term "World Wide Web" or "WWW" is a collective one that refers to the millions of Web pages that exist on the Internet as well as the hypertext links that connect them. Web page access is gained using a computer program called a Web Browser. The most commonly used Browsers are Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer. An "URL" or Uniform Resource Locator address is typed into a form field at the top of the Browser main screen, which directs the browser to go to the web page specified. Inside most web pages you will find text, graphics, links (which give access to other webpages), and sometimes audio, video, or other multimedia files.
There are literally hundreds of thousands of webpages devoted to health-related topics. Some of these are written by professionals, others by lay people. Students and nurses can access current research findings, national and provincial sites and databanks, support group sites, and educational materials related to nursing, health, families, health promotion, chronic illness, and so on. Information accessed from Internet web sites is often two to three years more current than information published in paper texts and journals.
Ends in View
This learning activity is intended to give the learner the opportunity to:
1. Develop awareness of the information available using the World Wide Web.
2. Develop skill in using a web browser to access selected health-focused websites.
3. Search the World Wide Web for sites related to Chronic Illness and Family resources.
In Preparation
1. Learn how to access the Internet either by:
a) Attending a library orientation on campus to learn how to use campus systems
b) Sign up for an Internet account, and follow your Service Provider's instructions
2. Go to the following websites and read the information on how to use the WWW:
In Practice
1. Access the World Wide Web using Firefox or Internet Explorer (IE).
2. Go to one of the following Search Engines:
a) Google at http://www.google.com
b) Yahoo at http://www.yahoo.com
c) Bing at https://www.bing.com/
3. At the search prompt, type in the words, "Chronic Illness".
4. From the vast selection results that you get, choose five sites to visit. You may choose to focus on sites that relate to the chronic health challenge that your assigned chronic health family is
living with.
5. Print out relevant information about the sites, including the web url address,
e.g. http://www.who.int/home-page/ (The World Health Organization)
6. Repeat steps 3 to 5, but this time type in the words "Family Theory" or "Family Structure",
"Family Dynamics", or "Family Health".
7. Prepare a one paragraph summary of each of the ten sites you visited. Be sure to include the Url address for each site in your summaries.
In Reflection
1. How useful will accessing the World Wide Web be for your:
a) Scholarly Work?
b) Nursing Practice?
c) Personal Interests?
2. How is the World Wide Web metaphorically similar to a Spider's Web?
Can you see any
reason for it to be called "The Web"?
References
Chamberlain, E. (2003). Bare Bones 101: A basic tutorial on searching the web At:
http://www.sc.edu/beaufort/library/pages/bones/bones.shtml
Glossbrenner, A. (1995). Internet 101: A college student's guide. Toronto: Windcrest -
McGraw-Hill.
NEXT: E-Mail and Netiquette
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