The Internet, Email and Online Communication
Learn how the internet works, search safely, set up and use email, write professional messages and join online meetings with confidence.
About this course
The internet is now part of school, work, business and community life. Jobs are advertised online, schools share notes online, and many meetings happen on video. This course takes you from "What is the internet?" to sending a professional email and joining a video call.
You will learn how to use a web browser, search for reliable information, spot fake news and scams, create and manage an email account, and communicate politely and clearly online. Every lesson ends with a short practice activity so that you learn by doing.
The course is written for beginners. If you can switch on a phone or computer, you can start here.
What you will learn
- Explain in simple words what the internet and the web are and how your device connects to them
- Use a web browser with tabs, bookmarks, history and downloads
- Search the web with good keywords and judge whether a source can be trusted
- Create an email account and send, reply, forward and organise messages with attachments
- Recognise spam and phishing emails and protect your account
- Write a clear, polite professional email, including a job application
- Join and host a video meeting and share a file with a link
- Follow good manners (netiquette) on email, chat and social media
Course content
5 modules · 20 lessons · 4 h 16 min · 6 quizzes
Module 1: How the internet works
What the internet and the web are, how you connect, how to save data, and how to use a browser.
- What the internet and the web are 10 min
- Connecting: data, Wi-Fi, ISPs and saving bundles 12 min
- Web addresses, domains and safe sites 10 min
- Using a web browser: tabs, bookmarks, history and downloads 14 min
- Quiz: 7 questions
Module 2: Searching and judging information
How to search well, find different kinds of results and decide what to trust.
- Search engines and better searching 12 min
- Images, maps, news and translation 10 min
- Fake news and judging sources 14 min
- Copyright, citing sources and safe downloading 12 min
- Quiz: 7 questions
Module 3: Email from scratch
Create an account, send and organise messages, protect yourself from scams and use email on a phone.
- What email is and creating your account 14 min
- Writing, sending, replying and forwarding 14 min
- Organising your inbox: labels, search, signatures and contacts 12 min
- Spam, phishing and email on your phone 15 min
- Quiz: 8 questions
Module 4: Professional communication
Write emails that get results, apply for jobs by email and use chat and social media with good manners.
- Email etiquette, subject lines and tone 12 min
- Writing a job application email 15 min
- Formal and informal writing, out-of-office and busy inboxes 12 min
- Chat tools, WhatsApp for business and netiquette 14 min
- Quiz: 8 questions
Module 5: Meetings and collaboration online
Join and host video calls, schedule with calendars, share files by link and prepare for a virtual class.
- Video calls: joining and hosting 14 min
- Audio, video, screen sharing and meeting manners 12 min
- Calendars, invitations and sharing files with links 14 min
- Online forms, remote teamwork and joining a LAF Academy class 14 min
- Quiz: 8 questions
30 questions. Pass with 70% or more to earn your certificate.
What you need
- A computer, laptop or smartphone (an internet connection is needed for the practice activities)
- No experience needed