Information Technology
Outcome 1: Using an IT System
Mac OS X Text Version
[ACCESS 3]
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Part 4:
Part 5:
Part 6:
About this section
A basic IT system
Starting up the system
Using the system
Shutting down the system properly
SAQ answers
1
3
10
15
22
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© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2004
This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part for educational purposes by educational
establishments in Scotland provided that no profit accrues at any stage.
Screenshots reprinted by permission from Apple Computer, Inc.
Clipart Images are used with permission from Microsoft Media Elements (Copyright © 2004
Microsoft Corporation, All rights reserved).
All terms mentioned that are known to be trademarks have been capitalised.
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ABOUT THIS SECTION
PART 1
What is this section about?
This section will help you learn how to use a basic IT system.
What will I learn?
At the end of this section, you will be able to:
 name the different parts of your IT system
 start up the system
 find your way to different programs
 open a file
 shut down the system.
How long should it take to do this?
You should complete this section in about 5–7 hours.
What do I need?
You need a computer with Mac OS X installed.
You also need the files First file and Clown. Your tutor will have
put these files in a folder in the computer for you. This folder has
your name on it.
Your tutor will show you how to find your folder.
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ABOUT THIS SECTION
How will I be assessed on my work in this section?
This section will help you with the rest of the unit IT Core Skills –
Access 3. Your work in this section will be assessed when you
do the next sections. The assessment will be practical and like
activities you have done already.
Your tutor will assess you when you are ready for it. Your tutor
will watch you doing the assessments to make sure that they are
your own work and to give you a little help if you need it.
The assessments may be linked to other subjects you are
studying. They will test that you can use a basic IT system well.
You can be re-assessed if necessary.
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A BASIC IT SYSTEM
PART 2
A basic IT system can help you do your work. It looks like this:
An IT system (computer) has two parts – hardware and software.
What you can see and touch (the actual equipment) is called
hardware.
Programs and instructions to make the system work are called
software.
The IT system needs both hardware and software to wor k.
There are three stages to making use of an IT system:
Stage
What happens in this stage
1.
Input
You put information into the system or
computer.
2.
Process
The computer processes your information.
3.
Output
The computer shows you the results of its
processing.
Let’s look at the hardware used for each stage.
There are online animations available called ‘A basic IT
system 1 and 2’.
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A BASIC IT SYSTEM
Hardware
Stage 1: Input
You use a keyboard
to enter and edit
information.
You use a mouse to select
commands and move objects
on the screen.
Stage 2: Process
The processor
is in a box like
this
or in a tower like
this.
The actual processor is a tiny ‘chip’
which looks something like this:
The processor receives the information entered by you at Stage
1. It can also make use of this information if it has instructions to
do so.
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A BASIC IT SYSTEM
Stage 3: Output
The monitor shows you
the results from the
processor on its screen.
The results can
also be printed
out on printers
like these.
Turn the page and try to answer questions on:
 the three stages of using an IT system
 the hardware devices used at each stage.
Stage
Input
Process
Output
Hardware devices used
Mouse, Keyboard
Processor
Monitor, Printer
You can find any answer by reading
these notes again.
Don’t look at the
answers till you have
tried all the questions!
You can correct your answers by
looking in SAQ Answers at the end
of this section.
There is an online animation available called ‘Stages of an
IT system’.
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A BASIC IT SYSTEM
Questions 1
1.
Use these words to complete sentences a) – d) below.
Score out each word as you use it.
hardware
keyboard
output
software
a)
What you can see and touch in an IT system is called
.
b)
An IT system needs hardware and
c)
The three stages of making use of an IT system are Input,
Process,
.
d)
You use a
2.
Label the parts of this IT system.
3.
Write in the boxes whether each of these is an Input or an
Output device.
to work.
to enter text.
There is an online version of these questions called
‘IT system quiz’.
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A BASIC IT SYSTEM
Did you answer the questions….
with a lot of help?
then try more questions below.
with little or no help?
then go to the next page.
Questions 2
1.
Draw a line between each hardware device and the stage
when it is used. The first one is done for you.
STAGE
OUTPUT
keyboard
monitor
INPUT
printer
2.
mouse
Use these words to complete the three sentences a)–c)
below. Score out each word as you use it.
keyboard
a)
I will use a
b)
A
the
c)
mouse
printer
monitor
to place information on the screen.
will make a paper copy of what is on
.
I can enter information into an IT system using a
.
There is an online version of these questions called
‘IT system quiz 2’
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A BASIC IT SYSTEM
Software
You now know about different hardware devices and what they
are used for. So let’s think about software.
Software is the name for a set of programs that makes the
computer work.
A program is a list of instructions that tells the processor what to
do next.
Some programs are for basic tasks, for example, to run the
printer or to recognise when the mouse is moving. Every IT
system needs programs like these.
Other programs are for complex tasks like:
 playing games
 running ‘hole in the wall’ banks
 running checkouts in supermarkets
 booking holidays.
Programs for tasks like these are called application
programs or simply applications.
You can buy applications in a software shop. Have you ever
bought a computer game? If you have, then you have bought an
application.
In this unit, you are going to learn to use two applications:
1. A word-processing application which helps you to write;
2. A database application which can organise and store
information that you need.
Check that you understand these words before you try the next
set of questions:
 software
 program
 application programs
 word processing
 database.
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A BASIC IT SYSTEM
Questions 3
1.
Use these words to complete sentences a) – e) below.
Score out each word as you use it.
programs
word processing
instructions
database
applications
a)
Software is a set of
work.
to help the computer to
b)
A program is a list of
c)
Large programs for particular tasks are called
d)
The application that helps you to write is
e)
A
application organises and stores
information you need.
.
.
.
There is an online version of these questions.
Here is the list of computer terms that you have met. Tick off
those that you now understand.
Hardware
Mouse
Software
Software
Keyboard
Program
Input
Monitor
Application
Output
Printer
Processor
Word processing
Database
Look back in these notes to find out about any you did not
understand.
Now you know the different parts that make up your IT system.
It is time to start using it.
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STARTING UP THE SYSTEM
PART 3
You may already know how to do some things on a computer.
Use the following checklist to get your starting point.
If you want to know how to…
1.
start up a computer
go to page 11
2.
use a mouse
go to page 15
3.
use the Dock to find
and start a program
go to page 16
4.
use the Close button to
close down a program
go to page 18
5.
use Finder to find and
start a program
go to page 19
6.
scroll up and down a
window
go to page 21
7.
shut down the system
properly
go to page 22
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STARTING UP THE SYSTEM
Starting up the system
The IT system that you will use in this part will have been set up
for you. All the hardware will be connected and the power
switched on.
Your monitor screen should look something like this:
Don’t worry if the background to your screen looks different. You
have the correct screen if:
 there are little pictures down the right side of the screen.
 there is a white bar along the top of the screen.
 there is a blue bar with little pictures along the bottom of the
screen. (You may need to move the pointer to the bottom of
the screen to make this pop up.)
Does you screen look like this?
YES
then skip the checklist on the next page.
NO
then the checklist on the next page will help
you sort it out.
There are online animations available called ‘Starting up
the System 1 and 2’.
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STARTING UP THE SYSTEM
Troubleshooting
Use this checklist to help you to get the correct screen on the
monitor.
Look at the monitor.
Are there moving
pictures on the monitor?
This is a screen saver. Move the
mouse and wait to see if the correct
screen appears.
Is the power light for the
monitor ON and the
screen blank?
The system has ‘gone to sleep’ to save
power. Move the mouse and wait to
see if the correct screen appears.
Is the power light at the
front of the monitor
OFF?
Switch on the monitor power button
and wait to see if the correct screen
appears.
Monitor
power button
Still not working?
Switch on the system’s power button,
either on the processor box OR the
tower. The computer will take a while
to start up.
System
power button
Seek help if the monitor still does not show the correct screen.
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STARTING UP THE SYSTEM
The desktop
The picture on the screen is your desktop.
Not all desktops look the same. A different background can make
the screen look quite different.
However, the three important parts are always there in some
form:
1.
2.
3.
the icons;
the menu bar; and
the Dock.
Let’s look at these parts in turn:
1. Icons
Icons are just little pictures which are shortcuts to parts of your
system.
There is an online animation available called
‘The desktop’
Below there is an example of one of these icons. Look to see if
the icon is on your desktop.
Icon
Purpose
This icon helps you to find your way in
your system.
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STARTING UP THE SYSTEM
2. The menu bar
The menu bar lies along the top of the screen.
3. The Dock
The Dock usually lies along the bottom of the screen.
It too may look different on your system but it always has the
Finder icon in the left corner and the Trash icon on the right.
Now it is time to start using your IT system.
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USING THE SYSTEM
PART 4
Moving the pointer with the mouse
 Place the mouse in the middle of the mouse
mat.
 Put your hand over the mouse with your
finger on the button.
 Put your arm on the table and try to keep
this arm still.
 Gently move the mouse using only your wrist and hand.
 Watch the pointer on the screen and see how moving the
mouse controls this pointer.
 Note how the pointer changes shape when it is over an icon.
Take time to learn to control the pointer on the screen .
Can you put the pointer …
 in the top right corner of the screen?
 in the bottom left corner?
 so that it moves across the middle of the screen?
There are online animations available called ‘Using your
mouse 1 and 2’.
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USING THE SYSTEM
Using the Dock to find and start a program
The Dock
 Move the pointer to the Dock at the bottom of the screen.
Your Dock may have
different icons and
programs.
 Move the mouse slowly across the mat. The name of each
icon will appear above it as you move the mouse.
 Move the mouse right across the Dock, and watch for the name
of each icon.
 Move the pointer outside the Dock. This makes the names
disappear.
Try using the Dock window until you can place the mouse over
whatever you want.
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USING THE SYSTEM
Starting a program from the Dock
 Move the mouse over the Dock again.
 Move the mouse over the Calculator icon.
 Click the mouse button. A window like this opens.
 Clicking on the icon instructs the computer to run the
calculator program.
You now know how to find and run a program using the Dock.
There is an online animation available called ‘Using the
dock to find and start a program’.
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USING THE SYSTEM
Using the Close button to close down a program
 Move the pointer to the red circle at the top left of the window.
This is the close button. An X appears in the red circle when
you move the mouse over it.
 Click the mouse. The window disappears and the program
ends.
You are back at the desktop.
There are online animations available called
‘Closing a Program 1 and 2’.
This activity helps you run a different program in a similar way.
 Move the mouse to the Dock.
 Click on TextEdit (Hint: its icon looks like a pen and paper).
This is a simple word-processing program. You can type into
the white space in the window using the keyboard.
 Click the Close button when you are finished.
You now know how to close a window using the Close button.
Every window has a Close button in exactly the same place.
You should close all windows on the desktop before leaving a
computer.
Now you are going to learn a different way of starting up
programs.
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USING THE SYSTEM
Using the Finder to find and start a program
Understanding the Finder
 Find this icon on the desktop.
 Click on it twice, quickly (this is called double-clicking).
A window like this will open.
This is an icon
of a folder.
This window shows how the information in your computer has
been organised.
Any work you do on the computer is saved as a file. This is a file
icon.
Some files can then be grouped and kept in a folder. This is an
icon of a folder.
The name of a folder helps you to remember what files are in it.
Your tutor has created a folder for you. The files that you are
going to use are kept in that folder.
Ask your tutor to show you how to find your folder in your
computer now.
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USING THE SYSTEM
Starting programs with the Finder
 Click on Hard Disc.
 Find and open your folder as your tutor has shown
you.
 Find this file icon. Check the file has the correct
name.
 Click on the icon. This window should open.
The computer knew that this file has been created by the wor dprocessing program called ‘AppleWorks’.
It opened the program. Look for the program name ‘AppleWorks’
on the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Then the computer opened this file.
There is an online animation available called
’Using Finder to find and start a program’.
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USING THE SYSTEM
Scrolling up and down a window
There is a bit of the page that you cannot see. It is off the bottom
of the window.
Whenever this happens, you need to use the scroll bar.
Find the scroll bar at the right side of the window.
 Place the pointer on the scroll bar.
 Click and keep holding down the mouse
button.
 Pull the mouse gently down the mouse mat.
 Let the button go when you see the bottom of the page.
This way of using the mouse is called to ‘click and drag’.
 Click and drag the scroll bar to move back to the top of the page.
 Move between the top and bottom of the page.
 Make sure that you can click and drag the scroll bar easily.
Use the Close box in the top left corner of the window to close
the file.
 Find this icon in your folder.
 Click on it to open it. You should see a picture of a clown.
 Close the file using the Close button.
You now know that clicking on the icon of a file opens the correct
program and then the file.
There is an online animation available called ‘Scrolling’.
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SHUTTING DOWN THE SYSTEM PROPERLY
PART 5
Do not simply walk away from a computer when you finish your
work.
You must always shut it down properly.
 Firstly, close all the open windows on the desktop using the
Close button.
 Click on the word Apple on the menu bar to open the Apple
menu.
Click on this option
 Click on the Shut Down option.
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SHUTTING DOWN THE SYSTEM PROPERLY
You have now shut down the system correctly.
To shut a computer down correctly,
1.
2.
3.
close all windows open on the desktop
open the Apple menu
click Shut Down in Apple menu.
Return to the checklist on page 10 and check that you now know
how to do all the tasks listed there.
Repeat any task that you cannot remember how to do. You will
need to know how to do them for the other sections of this unit, IT
Core Skills – Access 3.
There is an online animation available entitled ‘Shutting
down the system’
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SAQ ANSWERS
PART 6
Answers 1
1.
a)
What you can see and touch in an IT system is called
hardware.
b)
An IT system needs hardware and software to work.
c)
The three stages of using an IT system are Input,
Process, Output.
d)
You use a keyboard to enter text.
2.
monitor
processor
keyboard
mouse
3.
Input
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Output
Input
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SAQ ANSWERS
Answers 2
1.
Draw a line between each hardware device and the stage
when it is used. The first one is done for you.
STAGE
keyboard
OUTPUT
monitor
INPUT
printer
2.
mouse
a)
I will use a mouse to place information on the screen.
b)
A printer will make a paper copy of what is on the
monitor.
c)
I can enter information into an IT system using a
keyboard
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SAQ ANSWERS
Answers 3
1.
26
a)
Software is a set of programs to help the computer to
work.
b)
A program is a list of instructions.
c)
Large programs for complex tasks are called
applications.
d)
The application which helps you to write is word
processing.
e)
A database application can organise and store
information you need.
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