Basic Computer Use
Computer Literacy 1
Transition Plus Services
Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Identify desktop and laptop computers
Turn computer and monitor on and off
Log on to a computer
Identify specific computer hardware
Find and understand functions of keyboard keys
Use and identify types of mice
Customize your mouse
Recognize cursor shapes
Objectives
9. Adjust volume
10. Identify icons on desktop
11. Understand trash/recycle bin and how to retrieve
discarded files
12. Customize a computer for increased accessibility
13. Change screen resolution
14. Recognize types of storage media
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.
Computer types
Desktop or a laptop?
Computer types
Desktop or a laptop?
Computer types
Computers can be either a
Macintosh (Mac/Apple) or PC (personal computer).
PCs use Windows as their operating system, while Macs do not.
Throughout the course, we will be learning computer skills
on a PC with a Windows operating system.
Power button
The power button usually has this symbol.
Locate the power button on your computer and monitor,
but don’t touch it.
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.
In Computer Literacy 1, you must log onto the
computer with your username and password.
Hardware
Hardware is the name for the physical parts of your computer.
On the next several slides,
you’ll identify these pieces of hardware:
Hardware
The System Unit is also known as the computer.
In a desktop computer, the tower
is the system unit. The tower
houses many internal
components needed to operate
the computer.
In a laptop computer, the
system unit is the laptop itself.
Hardware
The monitor is the screen of the computer
where information is displayed.
Hardware
The printer is a device that produces a hard copy (paper copy)
of the computer’s processing results. In other words, the printer
copies onto paper exactly what is seen on your monitor.
Hardware
A keyboard is a device for entering
Numeric data (numbers) and alphabetic data (letters)
into a computer.
Hardware
A mouse is a device that
communicates instructions to the
computer and controls the pointer you
see on your screen.
Laptop computers use a touchpad
instead of a mouse. It senses the
position of your finger and then moves
the pointer accordingly.
Hardware
A USB Port (Universal Serial Bus) is the most common interface
to which a peripheral device (keyboard, mouse, speakers,
scanner, etc.) attaches to the system unit.
Keyboard
Tab
In a word processor application, the Tab key indents the cursor (to begin
a paragraph, for example). In other applications, the Tab key allows you to
move between fields (Shift + Tab to move backward).
Control
Holding Control down while pressing another key initiates a
specific action, defined by the application being used. For
example, CTRL + P generally allows you to print.
Keyboard
While working with text,
Backspace will delete characters
to the left of the insertion point.
To use the numeric keypad on the right end of the
keyboard for numbers, select Num Lock (a light
above it will turn on). If you want to use the keypad
to navigate within a document, turn Num Lock off.
Backspace
Number Lock
Keyboard
Using Caps Lock ensures all text is written in capital letters. The Caps Lock key should
be used with caution. Using ALL CAPS is usually not a good idea, because it can be
misunderstood as SHOUTING AT SOMEONE.
Caps Lock
Shift
While holding Shift, you can type in capital letters. Holding Shift allows you
to select characters displayed above non-alphabet letter keys. Holding Shift
allows you to select text while dragging your mouse.
Keyboard
In an email or word processing application,
Enter creates a new paragraph. Any
selected button or command can be
selected by pressing Enter.
While working with text, use this key to
delete characters to the right of the
insertion point. This key can also be
Delete
used to delete selected files.
Used to navigate throughout a document.
Enter
Arrow keys
Mice
Now, let’s learn about mice.
Mice
Not those kind of mice!
This kind of mouse:
Mice
The right button displays a
shortcut menu
You use the wheel
to scroll or zoom
Click the right mouse button anywhere on this slide. Notice the
options you are given on the shortcut menu. Next, use the wheel
to scroll up and down. What happens?
Mice
The left mouse button is
used most often. Click
once to select something
(like a file or email).
Double-click to open it.
To highlight a portion of
text or drag an object,
hold down the left button
while moving the mouse.
To stop highlighting or
drop an object, release
the left button.
Click on the picture of the mouse above with the left mouse
button. You should have selected the picture. Hold the left
button down and drag it to another part of the slide. Release the
left mouse button to drop it.
Mice
Make your mouse easier to use by
customizing it.
Mice can be customized for
left-handed people.
You can also control
clicking speed.
To adjust these settings,
visit the Mouse section in
your Windows
Control Panel.
Accessibility
You can have your computer speak to you, magnify your screen,
use an on-screen keyboard, adjust keyboard settings and more.
Visit the Ease of Access Center in your
Control Panel to increase accessibility.
Adjusting volume
You can also control volume and mute
all audio using the volume icon in your
taskbar (the horizontal bar across the
bottom of your screen). Remember to
use headphones when appropriate!
Locate the volume icon in your taskbar.
Practice adjusting the volume of your computer.
Cursor shapes
Normal Select: basic navigation and clicking
arrow
Text Select: typing
I-beam
Link Select: hyperlinks
hand
Desktop icons
Common desktop icons:
Internet Browser, Recycle Bin
such as Internet
Explorer, Firefox or
Safari
Control Panel
Recycle Bin
Windows uses Recycle Bin for discarded files
(Apple computers use Trash)
If you delete an item, it is moved to the
Recycle Bin. To move an item to the
Recycle Bin, right-click the item then
click Delete. Or, drag and drop an item
there.
Recycle Bin
The recycle bin stores discarded items until you empty it. Emptying the
recycle bin permanently deletes the files. When you right-click a file in
the Recycle Bin and click Restore, the file is restored to its original
location.
Screen resolution
To adjust the screen resolution on your computer, select
Display in your control panel.
Here, you can adjust how large or small objects
appear on your screen.
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.
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.