Operation of the Internet

Understanding the Internet requires knowledge of terminology, but as or more important is the ability to frame and respond to questions about how it works. Provided below is a list of terms that will probably be useful in discussing the questions are provided further below.

Term `==================`	Description and Function `=============================================================`
host
router
client
packet
domain name
DNS
bridge
gateway
firewall
HTML
FTP
HTTP and HTTPS
IP address
TCP/IP
ISP
NSP
modem
redundancy
telnet
ssh
URL
LAN
packet switching
ethernet
UDP
.
.
.
.

Question `========================`	Response `===========================================================`
I can't log in? Can you? Is the net down?
Is your internet slow today?
I can't get to this-dot-that (a URL), can you?
What does "File Not Found" mean?
My e-mail is not working, is yours?
I got a message saying my e-mail was undeliverable? What does that mean?
My friend sent me an email but I never got it, why?
Isn't the internet like the telephone system?
.
.

Understanding how the internet works can be enhanced through role-palying activities. For example, students/participants can decide the roles that should be played to illustrate an activity such as e-mail delivery. Various individuals could then be assigned a role, determine how they play the role, and put on the play.

Though, often less instructive, teacher demonstrations and discussions can also enhance understanding. For example, the process of requesting and receiving a web page might be demonstrated and discussed.

Our
Copy/Use
Policy

All our original work is copyrighted. Upon request, we will grant permission to copy and use this material for personal, non-commercial, educational use.
If you use the ideas but do not copy our work, a citation to the DoDEA/UNI Computer Science Institute is appropriate.