U3A Computing Class
Combining the beginners and advanced classes.
Leader – Brian Moore
Assisted by – Alan White, Neil Crossley, Neil
Smith, Tom Creer and John Sherwood
Week 1 of 10 weeks.
Dates for Autumn Term 2013= Sept 16, 23, 30
Oct 7, 14 Nov 4, 11, 18, 25 Dec 2.
All Mondays 4:15 to 5:45 pm Room 17
Computer Uses
Computer Uses
• Main uses= Browse Internet
including Facebook & Twitter, Email,
Letter writing , Other Office
Programs, Printing, Photo Display &
storage, Games, Telephone-Skype,
TV -Iplayer, Playing DVDs & Music.
• More unusual uses - Photo editing,
Music creation.
Overall Course objectives
• Proficiency in using the ordinary features of :=
• Microsoft Windows 7 and Office 2010.
• Microsoft Internet Explorer and Google including
Internet safety. Detail on browsing & Google.
• Using Facebook & Twitter.
• Email –Web based email only. Dealing with SPAM,
Distribution Lists.
• Word 2010 and basics of Excel and PowerPoint.
• Digital Camera Photograph organising and backup.
• Purchasing a Computer & Software.
• Safety – Avoiding problems – viruses, updates etc.
Today
• Computer & Laptop components. Main box,
Screen, Keyboard and Mouse etc. Later how to
connect up. (E.g. if new)
• Starting programs. This course will be using
Windows 7 and Office 2010 Programs.
• Switch on, including logon. You all have individual
accounts.
• Mouse Practical.
• Internet browsing - Simple instructions on Internet
Explorer and quick use of Google.
Computer Major components
Keyboard Special Keys
Esc – If you are in a menu you do not want, Esc will
get out of it.
Print Screen – Takes a copy of what you have on your
screen.
Ctrl – In Microsoft programs used to select one item
in a list.
Up Arrow, just above Ctrl – Types Capitals when held
down. In MS programs used to select all items
between in a list.
Alt Gr – Used to type special characters
Using the Mouse (Pointing Device)
• You can't do much in Windows until
you have tamed the mouse. It is used
for locating the cursor, for selecting
from menus, highlighting, moving
and changing the size of objects and
much more. It won't bite, but you
will have to show it who is in charge!
The Mouse and the Cursor
• The mouse you use in class has special light
underneath which detects mouse
movement when on a hard surface. Moving
it moves the arrow (cursor) on the screen.
• If you reach the edge of the mat and cannot
move the cursor any further, pick up the
mouse and put it back into the middle.
• Extra large or alternate shaped mice are
possible.
Mouse Actions
• Point - move the cursor with your fingers off the buttons.
• Single Click - the left button to select (highlight) a file,
menu or other object.
• Double-click - the left button to do something with a
Object.
(an “Object” is a something on the screen eg file, program)
• Right-click - single, to open a menu of commands that can
be applied to the object selected.
• Drag - keep the left button down while moving the mouse.
Used for resizing, drawing and similar jobs.
• Drag and drop - drag an object and release the left button
when it is in the right place. Used for moving objects.
• In the Practical we will use a Mouse Training Program.
Starting up
• Press the power switch or button on the computer.
• Various screens will flash by, here ending in the
Logon Screen.
• Here at Thomas More you need to Login to your
account with your Username from my list and
Password= “u3a.monday”.
• After a minute you will get to the desktop.
• On the first time you will have to click on “Yes” to
accept the Acceptable Use Policy.
• Home computers on Windows 7 with just one
account do not need Login.
Computer screen after logon
Running Internet Explorer
• Left click on Start, that’s on bottom left, then
Internet Explorer.
• Are now using Version 10. At the bottom it will ask
“Do you want to speed up browsing by disabling
Add Ons. Click on “Ask me later”.
• You should get a new screen about MSN with bing
web search and News.
• Most sites now ask if you want to accept Cookies?
Click on “Ask me later”.
Practical
• Is the screen power on? Are there any lights
showing at the bottom? If not the screen switch is
underneath slightly to the right of middle.
• Is the computer already on? Are there any lights on
the main box? If not switch on by a button on the
front of the main box and wait a minute.
• Wiggle the mouse, this often wakes it up to show
the login screen.
• At User name: type in your Username from the
sheet provided. Password: = “u3a.monday”.
Mouse Practical
• To start the mouse training program run the
Program Mouse Tutor B.pptx
It is in S:\U3A\U3A – Monday Group\WK 1
At this stage beginners will need help on this.
• After this. Start Internet Explorer so that you
can explore the World Wide Web (www).
Internet or Web.
• The world is your Oyster now! If you want to
know something somebody in the world is
bound to know about it. Finding it without
being sidetracked is the challenge.
• Today, just a few ideas. Type in • www.bbc.co.uk
• www.google.co.uk
• www.thetimes.co.uk
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
• http://www.creweandnantwich-u3a.org.uk