Computer Basics 1 Computer Terminology & Basics of the Mouse and Keyboard Computer: An electronic device for storing and processing data according to instructions given to it. TYPES OF COMPUTERS Desktop Computer Laptop Computer Mobile Device COMPUTER HARDWARE All the parts of the computer you can touch MONITOR: The monitor is where you see what you are doing. The monitor is also called the screen. The monitor will have a button to click on to turn it on. SYSTEM UNIT: The brain of the computer. The system unit is where all of the information that helps the computer work is located. The system unit contains the hard drive, which is the main storage device. MOUSE: You use the mouse to tell the computer what to do. For example, you can open programs, files, and websites by clicking or double-clicking the buttons on the KEYBOARD: Like a typewriter. It's where you type letters, numbers, and can use various command keys like the spacebar and Enter. 1
THE MOUSE There are two buttons on the mouse the left & the right- and the scroll wheel. (If left handed, the clicks can be switched! - ask instructor after class how if interested) There are a few different ways to click: SINGLE LEFT CLICKING You tap the left button on the mouse once to open a link on the internet, to move the typing cursor, etc. DOUBLE LEFT CLICKING You tap the left button on the mouse twice, very quickly to open anything from the desktop or to open folders. SINGLE RIGHT CLICKING You tap the right button on the mouse once to see an optional pop-up menu. The pop-up menu can be used as a short cut to perform various actions (copy, paste, etc). SCROLL WHEEL Between the left & right mouse button is the scroll wheel. The scroll wheel is used to move windows up & down. The cursor needs to be inside the window in order to move it up or down. To move the window down, lightly pull the wheel toward you. To move the window up, lightly push the wheel away from you. THE TOUCH PAD Similar to the mouse, the touchpad is part of the laptop and allows the user to use their fingers as a way to move the cursor on the screen. There are also two buttons below the touchpad that allows you to left and right click. PRACTICE OPPORTUNITY 1. Single left click on the the Internet Explorer icon at the bottom of the Desktop. 2. A window will open and you will see PPL s Resource Page. Find the link that says Practice Computer Skills. Put the cursor on the link. Your cursor should change to look like a hand when it s on the link. When you see the hand single left click on the link. If you want to use Mousecerise at home go to: http://pbclibrary.org/mousing/mousercise.htm 3. Find Mousecerise and single left click on it. 4. Welcome to Mousercise! This site will help you practice using the mouse. 2
COMPUTER OPERATING TOOLS Some terms you should know DESKTOP: The screen you see when you first log-on to the computer. The desktop contains links to commonly used software, files, folders, and other computer programs. TASKBAR: The long horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen. Easy access to the start menu, pinned and opened programs, and notification of time and status of settings (ex. internet connection, volume control). [To change the taskbar settings right click on the taskbar and select properties.] START BUTTON/MENU: A complete list of programs on the computer. ICON: A picture that represents a program on the computer. Most programs have their own, unique icon. PROGRAMS: Items installed on your hard drive that allow you to do different things, such as write a resume, create a slideshow, or surf the Internet. Software is often called PROGRAMS or APPLICATIONS. SOFTWARE UPDATES: designed to fix problems with, or update a computer program or its supporting data. Common updates that frequently appear are Java and Windows Update. FILE: A piece of information you create and save on your computer, like a resume or a cover letter. You can tell what type of software created a file by looking at the icon. FOLDER: Just like a folder in a filing cabinet, a folder is where documents (letters, spreadsheets, etc.) are kept. Folders help you to organize your files. CURSOR: The arrow on the screen that follows your mouse movement. The way the cursor looks depends on the program you are using. Pointer Text Link (Basic Clicking) (Writing) (Clickable) 3
ALL PROGRAMS This allows you to view all programs that are installed onto the computer. PRACTICE OPPORTUNITY In the start menu do the following: 1. Click on All Programs 2. Use the scroll wheel and find the folder named Microsoft Office 3. Left click once on the folder 4. Notice how it opened to show all the different programs within Microsoft Office, this is where you d go in order to open any of those programs (i.e. excel, powerpoint, word etc.) 5. To open a program simply left click once. CHANGING THE VOLUME There is volume control in the taskbar that allows to you increase or decrease sound volume. PRACTICE OPPORTUNITY In the start menu do the following: 1. Click on the audio icon near the bottom right of the taskbar 2. Use the mouse to move to the slider 3. Hold down the left click on the slider and drag it up to increase sound or down to decrease sound. (Alternative way is to click on the or + signs). 4. To mute, simply click on the audio icon in blue 4
MINIMIZING AND MAXIMIZING WINDOWS WINDOW: Anytime you open a program (like Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, etc), you have opened a window. A window is the way you see a program, file, folder, etc. You can have multiple windows open at once. Most windows have three buttons in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. 1 2 3 5 4 1. Task Bar - The horizontal bar on the bottom of the desktop where open programs are displayed. Opened programs will have a box around the program icon. 2. Minimize - This button will minimize the program you have open on your desktop. It does not close the program and you can open it back up again on the taskbar. Opening the program up from the task bar is called maximizing the window. 3. Restore Down - This button will change the size of your window. Pressing this while the window is taking up your entire desktop will make it so that it only takes up a portion of your desktop. This will allow you to move this window to the desired location on your desktop, and to change the size of it. 4. Maximize - This button will change the size of your window. Pressing this while the window is only displayed on part of your desktop will make it so that it takes up the entire desktop. 5. Exit - This button will close the window which is being displayed. 5
STORAGE OPTIONS There are several devices that allow you to save your work. Hard Drives: Is a device for storing and retrieving digital information, primarily computer data. External Hard Drive Internal Hard Drive FLASH DRIVE: A device about the size of your thumb used to save documents. Holds around 500MB. All computers can use them Very reliable Hard to damage Cost more than floppy disks *** Flash Drives can be purchased at the Learning Center for $5.00 *** USB PORT: A small rectangular slot located on the front and/or back of the CPU. This is where you plug in your flash drive. All computers will have at least one USB port. Ethernet Port Microphone Jack USB Input (where you would plug a flash drive in) Headphone Jack 6
USING THE KEYBOARD 4 7 2 1 8 3 1 5 6 3 1. Shift - Makes letters UPPER CASE, instead of lower case. To capitalize a letter, hold down the Shift key as you press the letter. 2. Caps Lock - Permanently capitalizes letters when this is pressed. Press this again to unlock the capitalization. 3. Enter - Moves the typing cursor down a line. Inserts a line of white space below the line the typing cursor is on. 4. Backspace - Erases mistakes. Erases one letter to the left of the cursor each time you press it. 5. Delete - Erases mistakes. Erases one letter to the right of the cursor each time you press it. 6. Arrow Keys - Moves the typing cursor around the screen without using your mouse. 7. Tab - Inserts white space. The tab key is very useful for formatting text neatly. 8. Space Bar - Long bar at the bottom of the keyboard. Use this key to put one space between words. DO NOT USE to format text. Common Shortcuts: Ctrl + C = Copy, Ctrl + A = Select All, Ctrl + V = Paste adapt this work provided that this use is of a noncommercial nature, that any subsequent adaptations of the work are placed under a similar license, and 7
PRACTICE OPPORTUNITY 1. Double left-click on Microsoft Word. 2. You should see a blank document. Type your first and last name. Capitalize the first letter of each word by holding down the SHIFT key as you type the letter you want capitalized. 3. Press ENTER on your keyboard. This moves your typing cursor down one line. 4. Type your address. Capitalize the street name using the Shift key. 5. Press Enter again. Type the city you live in. After the city, type a comma and then the state s abbreviation. Both letters of the state s abbreviation should be capitalized. 6. Using your mouse, click to the left of the first letter in your first name. You will need to get your cursor very close to the letter before you click. Press Enter. What happened? 7. Now click to the left of the first number in your address. Press Enter. What happened? 8. Click to the left of the first letter in your city. Press the Tab key three times. What happened? 9. Now press backspace three times. What happened? EXTRA PRACTICE: PRACTICE YOUR KEYBOARD SKILLS On the desktop of your computer choose the Mavis Beacon program. Select Start New User enter your name and then click finish. Choose the Practice Area or Typing Games selections. Then you can choose the typing practice or typing game that you want, and practice using the keys on the keyboard. 8