Setting Up A School Website: Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

* Internet Service Providers: What's Included In the Account?

Both terminal and graphical accounts usually include access to the following Internet-related elements:

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The Terminal (Dial-Up) Account

This type of access is usually included within the more expensive direct account. With the terminal method, one uses a communications program such as Procomm Plus or Z-Term to connect to the host computer of the ISP. The user's computer tells the host computer what to do, but no information is directed back to the user's computer. This makes the user's computer a "dummy terminal" in that it is only able to do what the host can do. But that can be quite a lot. The down side is that most Internet providers r un on a UNIX operating system, which requires the user to learn those sometimes difficult commands. And teachers have little time to learn UNIX. Still, the terminal connection is fast and can be used when one does not wish to launch time consuming Windows applications.

When using the terminal account, e-mail is often sent by a user-friendly program that rests on the provider's computer called PINE. All the commands for PINE are conveniently listed at the bottom of the screen.

Pine's opening menu.
Image of opening menu of e-mail program PINE

To access the World Wide Web, one uses a text based browser called LYNX. By typing LYNX at the unix prompt (%), one can surf the web, but without graphics. This has its pluses and minues. the best thing about lynx is that it is fast. One does not always n eed pictures to gain the needed information.

What LYNX looks like in action.
Image of a WWW screen using the LYNX browser

Terminal accounts also contain an on-line text editor called PICO, which behaves very much like PINE. This editor allows one to edit or update web documents directly and while on-line, which is best for minor additions or corrections to a document.

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The Direct Account

Also called a SLIP or PPP account, this method allows for the use of such graphical web browsers such as Netscape, which is used by about 80% of everyone on the Web today. It also allows for the use of a great e-mail program called Eudora, which downloads your mail to your computer, where it can be read off-line. This type of account usually takes place within a Windows or Mac environment, which permits easy point-and-click use when browsing the WWW. This method may also be the best for teaching in that m any media can be employed to convey information from and to the student.

The graphical account also allows for the use of graphical "clients" (programs) such as WS-FTP, a program that lets the user send and receive files with point-and-click ease. This removes the need for odd UNIX commands to post and receive web documents pr oduced by students and teachers.

A look at the WS-FTP program. Note the local side on the left and the remote side on the right.

image of graphical interface of WS-FTP client

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The Commercial On-Line Service

These services are provided by large companies such as

Each one of these companies allow its users space on their computers to post web documents. The down side is that one must develop these documents on-line, which runs up the bill. These providers charge according to how much time is spent on-line.

Classroom Connect, a great on-line resource for educators, allows schools to place web documents on their server. Visit their information page to find out how to get in on the action.

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George Cassutto's Cyberlearning World

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