Basic Computer Use
Computer Types These are two common types of computers: Desktop computers are stationary, heavier and larger than a laptop and have separate hardware, such as a keyboard and mouse. Laptop computers are portable, lighter and run on batteries. 1 2
Computer Types Desktop or a laptop? 1 3
Power Button The power button usually has this symbol. Activity 1! Locate the power button on your computer and monitor, but don t press the button. 1 4
Log On When you start a computer, you may be prompted to log on with a username and password. If not, the computer will automatically log you on. The user name is esl Activity 2! Log onto your computer. 1 5
Windows Operating System Windows shows computer programs on the desktop 1 6
Hardware Hardware is the name for the physical parts of your computer. 1 7
Hardware The System Unit is also known as the computer In a desktop computer, the system unit is the tower. The tower has many parts needed to operate the computer (it s like the brain of the computer) In a laptop computer, the system unit is the laptop itself. 1 8
Hardware The monitor is the screen of the computer where information is displayed. 1 9
Hardware The printer is a device that makes a paper copy of what is on the computer screen 1 10
Hardware A keyboard is a device to enter numbers and letters into a computer 1 11
Hardware A mouse is a device that allows you to tell the computer what to do. It controls the pointer you see on your screen. Laptop computers use a touchpad instead of a mouse. You use your finger to control the pointer. 1 12
Hardware A USB Port (Universal Serial Bus) is the most common way that hardware (keyboard, mouse, speakers, scanner) attaches to the system unit. 1 13
Keyboard Ctrl Holding Control down while pressing another letter key is a shortcut for the computer. Example: CTRL + P tells the computer to print. 1 14
Mice The left mouse button is used most often. 1 click Selects something (think of it as go ) 2 clicks Opens what you have selected To select text or drag an object Click and hold the left button while moving the mouse To stop selecting or to drop an object Release the left button Activity 4! Highlight all of the desktop icons and drag them to the right side of the screen. 1 15
Mice The right button displays a shortcut menu The scroll wheel moves up and down pages Activity 3! Right click on anywhere on the desktop. What happens? 1 16
Cursor Shapes Normal Select: basic navigation and clicking arrow Text Select: typing I-beam Activity 5! What cursor shape is used to open the Start menu? Link Select: hyperlinks hand 1 17
Mice Now, practice your skills using mouse aerobics! Go to: http://www.pbclibrary.org/mousing/mousercise.htm 1 18
Desktop This desktop is your home screen Desktop Icons Time, Date and Calendar Start Button Volume 1 19
Control Panel You can change most settings on your computer in the Control Panel Click Start, then click Control Panel in the right side of your menu. This bottom ribbon is also called the taskbar. 1 20
Recycle Bin Windows uses the Recycle Bin to hold deleted files If you delete an item, it is moved to the Recycle Bin for holding (like putting trash in the garbage can, it is still there until the garbage truck takes it away) To move an item to the Recycle Bin: 1. Right-click on the item, then click Delete OR 2. Drag and drop an item in the Recycle Bin Activity 7! Recycle the Word and Excel icons. Use a different method to recycle each one. 1 21
Recycle Bin The recycle bin stores deleted items until you empty it When you right click on a file in the recycle bin you can choose: 1. Restore (move it back to its original location) OR 2. Delete (gone forever) There is also the option to Restore all items or Empty the Recycle Bin. Activity 8! Restore both the Excel and Word icons to the desktop. If there s anything else left empty the recycle bin. 1 22
Adjusting the Volume 1. Click the volume icon in the taskbar (horizontal bar at bottom of screen) 2. Control volume and mute all audio using the volume icon in your taskbar (the horizontal bar across the bottom of your screen). Activity 9! Locate the volume icon in your taskbar. Practice adjusting the volume of your computer, then mute it with one click. 1 23
Headphone Jack The headphone jack allows you to plug in headphones so the sound won t issue from the speakers. This is the plug. Activity 10! Find the headphone jack. How do you tell it apart from the other similar jacks? 1 24
Storage Media Common storage media types include USB flash drives and external hard drives. There is also a hard drive inside your computer (an internal hard drive) that stores your computer s data 1 25
Software Software are applications or programs used to perform a specific task such as word processing, photo editing, movie editing, video chatting, etc. Software programs are upgraded periodically and different versions may be installed on different computers. 1 26