Year 11 · ICT · Autumn 1
Safety and security; audience; communication · Lesson 4 of 5
Communication tools and netiquette
Theory10.1 Communication with other ICT users using email10.2 Effective use of the internet
Year 11 · ICT · Safety and security; audience; communication · Lesson 4 of 5
You will learn to
- Describe the constraints on using email: laws, language, copyright, employer guidelines, security and netiquette.
- Explain the use of to, cc, bcc, forward, attachments and email groups.
- Describe what spam is and how to prevent it.
- Compare the internet, an intranet and an extranet.
Year 11 · ICT · Safety and security; audience; communication · Lesson 4 of 5
Success criteria
You have got it when you can say:
- I can write a netiquette list of at least six rules.
- I can say when to use bcc instead of cc.
- I can give one use each for the internet, an intranet and an extranet.
Year 11 · ICT · Safety and security; audience; communication · Lesson 4 of 5
Retrieval starter
Questions from before. Write your answers, then show them.
- Last lesson
A presentation for young children should have…
A Big text and pictures, few wordsB Formal languageC Dense data tables
A. Big text and pictures, few words
- Earlier this unit
Copyright protects…
A Only registered workB Only softwareC Creative work automatically, from the moment it is made
C. Creative work automatically, from the moment it is made
- Last year
An advantage of an SSD over a hard disk is…
A It has a bigger capacityB It is cheaper per GBC No moving parts, so it is faster and tougher
C. No moving parts, so it is faster and tougher
Year 11 · ICT · Safety and security; audience; communication · Lesson 4 of 5
Key words (1 of 5)
- Netiquette
- Good manners and polite behaviour when communicating online.
- cc
- Carbon copy: sends a copy to people whose addresses all recipients can see.
- bcc
- Blind carbon copy: sends a copy to people whose addresses are hidden from everyone else.
- Forward
- Send an email you received on to another person.
Year 11 · ICT · Safety and security; audience; communication · Lesson 4 of 5
Key words (2 of 5)
- Attachment
- A file sent along with an email.
- Email group
- One name that stands for a list of addresses, so one email reaches them all.
- Spam
- Unwanted email sent to large numbers of people.
- Intranet
- A private network inside an organisation, used only by its members.
Year 11 · ICT · Safety and security; audience; communication · Lesson 4 of 5
Key words (3 of 5)
- Extranet
- Part of an intranet that approved outsiders can log in to.
- ISP
- Internet Service Provider: a company that gives access to the internet.
- URL
- Uniform Resource Locator: the full address of a web page.
- Hyperlink
- Text or an image that takes you to another page, file or place when clicked.
Year 11 · ICT · Safety and security; audience; communication · Lesson 4 of 5
Key words (4 of 5)
- Web browser
- Software that fetches and displays web pages.
- Search engine
- A website that finds pages matching the keywords you type.
- Protocol
- A set of rules for sending data between devices.
- HTTPS
- The secure, encrypted version of HTTP, used for logins and payments.
Year 11 · ICT · Safety and security; audience; communication · Lesson 4 of 5
Key words (5 of 5)
- FTP
- File Transfer Protocol: rules for uploading and downloading files.
10.1 Communication with other ICT users using email · The explanation · step 1 of 12 · part 1 of 3
Constraints on using email
A constraint is a rule or limit on what you can do. Email is quick and easy, but it is not a free-for-all.
Cambridge lists six areas: laws, acceptable language, copyright, employer guidelines, security and netiquette.
10.1 Communication with other ICT users using email · The explanation · step 1 of 12 · part 2 of 3
Constraints on using email (continued)
| Constraint | What it means |
|---|---|
| Laws | Many countries have laws on email. For example, marketing emails need the person's consent and must include a way to unsubscribe. Emails must not be defamatory (harm someone's reputation with lies). |
| Acceptable language | No swearing, insults, threats, or racist or sexist language. What you write can be forwarded and kept. |
| Copyright | Attachments such as images, music or documents may be protected by copyright. You need permission to send them on. |
| Employer guidelines | Companies and schools have rules on what work email can be used for. Staff may be monitored, and breaking rules can lead to dismissal. |
| Security | Do not send passwords or bank details by email. Use strong passwords. Be careful with attachments, which may contain malware. Encrypt sensitive emails. |
| Netiquette | Internet etiquette: good manners online. See the next step. |
10.1 Communication with other ICT users using email · The explanation · step 1 of 12 · part 3 of 3
Constraints on using email (continued)
An email is a written record. It can be forwarded to thousands of people and used as evidence in court, so care matters.
10.1 Communication with other ICT users using email · The explanation · step 2 of 12 · part 1 of 3
Netiquette: good manners in email
Netiquette (net + etiquette) means behaving politely and sensibly online.
The rules below are what examiners expect you to know.
10.1 Communication with other ICT users using email · The explanation · step 2 of 12 · part 2 of 3
Netiquette: good manners in email (continued)
| Netiquette rule | Why |
|---|---|
| Do not write in CAPITALS | It reads as shouting |
| Be polite and clear; no abusive language | Text has no tone of voice, so it is easily misread |
| Use a meaningful subject line | The reader knows what it is about before opening it |
| Check spelling and grammar | Mistakes look careless and can change the meaning |
| Keep it short and to the point | People get many emails and skim them |
| Do not send spam or chain emails | They waste time and fill inboxes |
| Respect privacy; do not forward without permission | The sender may not want others to read it |
10.1 Communication with other ICT users using email · The explanation · step 2 of 12 · part 3 of 3
Netiquette: good manners in email (continued)
Netiquette is good manners. Do not confuse it with laws, which are enforced by the state.
10.1 Communication with other ICT users using email · The explanation · step 3 of 12 · part 1 of 3
To, cc and bcc
To: the main recipients. They are expected to read and act on the email.
cc (carbon copy): people who get a copy for information. Everyone can see who was in To and cc.
bcc (blind carbon copy): people who get a copy secretly. Nobody else sees their addresses, and bcc recipients cannot see each other.
10.1 Communication with other ICT users using email · The explanation · step 3 of 12 · part 2 of 3
To, cc and bcc (continued)
10.1 Communication with other ICT users using email · The explanation · step 3 of 12 · part 3 of 3
To, cc and bcc (continued)
bcc protects privacy. Sending to a big list in To or cc shares everyone's email addresses with everyone, which can break data protection rules and helps spammers.
A bcc recipient who presses 'Reply all' reveals that they received it. Remind people of this when you use bcc.
There is something to try for this step in the IGCSE library.
10.1 Communication with other ICT users using email · The explanation · step 4 of 12 · part 1 of 2
Forward and attachments
Forward sends an email you received on to someone else, with the original message included.
An attachment is a file sent with an email, such as a PDF, photo or spreadsheet.
Attachments have size limits (often around 20 to 25 MB). Large files are compressed (zipped) or shared by a cloud link instead.
10.1 Communication with other ICT users using email · The explanation · step 4 of 12 · part 2 of 2
Forward and attachments (continued)
Attachments are a common way to spread malware. Only open them from people you trust, and scan them with anti-virus software.
Before forwarding, check the original does not contain personal data the new recipient should not see. Forwarding without the sender's permission can break their privacy or copyright.
The explanation · 8 more steps
More on the lesson page
The lesson page has the rest of the explanation, step by step:
- Email groups
- Spam and how to prevent it
- Internet, intranet and extranet
- ISP, URL, hyperlink and web browser
- Search engines: speed and amount of information
- Judging whether information is reliable
- Protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, FTP and SSL
- Risks of using the internet and how to control them
Year 11 · ICT · Safety and security; audience; communication · Lesson 4 of 5
Quick quiz · 1 of 3
A format check on a postcode…
- A Checks only the length
- B Checks the pattern of letters and numbers
- C Checks the postcode exists
B. Checks the pattern of letters and numbers
The shape, not the truth.
Year 11 · ICT · Safety and security; audience; communication · Lesson 4 of 5
Quick quiz · 2 of 3
Smishing is…
- A A virus
- B Phishing by phone call
- C Phishing by text message
C. Phishing by text message
SMS phishing. By phone it is vishing.
Year 11 · ICT · Safety and security; audience; communication · Lesson 4 of 5
Quick quiz · 3 of 3
A digital certificate…
- A Encrypts your hard disk
- B Blocks pop-ups
- C Proves a website is who it says it is
C. Proves a website is who it says it is
The browser checks it and shows the padlock.
Year 11 · ICT · Safety and security; audience; communication · Lesson 4 of 5
Exit ticket
Answer on paper before you go. Then check.
Shoulder surfing is…
A A firewall ruleB Watching someone type their PINC A type of malware
B. Watching someone type their PIN Cover the keypad.
Two-factor authentication adds…
A A second proof, like a code sent to your phoneB A firewallC A longer password
A. A second proof, like a code sent to your phone Something you know plus something you have.