Computer Basics 2
Seattle Public Library – Library Instruction
The Computer
Screen
C.P.U. (Central
Processing Unit)
The computer’s
“brain.”
Mouse
CD/DVD
Drive
USB
Port
Keyboard
These parts are all examples of Hardware.
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Computer Basics 2
Vocabulary Terms
Desktop
The screen that appears when the computer is first turned on. The on-screen
space where icons represent files and programs.
Saving a file
Saving a file allows you to do store your work on the computer for later use.
Once you save a file, you are able to you to view, print, or edit your work at a
later date. Here are some examples for places where you can save a file:
• CD or Compact Disc
A small, portable disk used to store information such as recorded music
or computer software.
• Hard Disk or Drive
Hardware inside a computer that stores operating system software,
application software and other computer files. A hard disk usually has a large
storage capacity.
• Flash Drive or Thumb Drive
A small, portable device used to store information. A flash
drive connects to the computer through the USB port.
Hardware
Anything that can be touched on the computer, such as the mouse or
keyboard. (Software controls the hardware.)
Icon
A small picture that represents a software program on the computer or an
action the computer can perform.
Mouse
A device that controls the movement of the pointer on the computer
screen. The mouse has one or more buttons that perform different
functions when clicked.
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Personal Computer (PC)
A small, relatively inexpensive computer designed for an individual user.
Individuals and businesses use personal computers for word processing,
accounting, listening to music, playing games, etc.
Pointers
• The arrow shows mouse movements on
the screen.
• The hourglass indicates that the
computer is working to finish a task.
• The hand identifies a link to a Web
page. Click on the link when the hand
appears.
• The blinking cursor indicates where
typing will appear. Click once in a text
box to make the cursor appear.
Scroll Bar
A tool that moves the viewable area of a window.
Software
A set of instructions that tell a computer how to perform tasks. There are two
basic software categories: system software, which makes a computer run
properly behind the screen, and application software used to perform
specialized tasks. Examples of application software include:
• Internet Explorer: a Web browser for viewing Web sites and Webbased e-mail.
• Word: a word processor for creating written documents that include
formatted text, charts, graphs, or pictures.
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Window
An enclosed area where work within a software program occurs. More than
one window may be open at a time to allow movement from one to the other.
Title Bar
Minimize, Maximize, Close
Address Bar
Scroll Bar
Text box
Button
Internet Explorer
window
Taskbar
Cut
Office
Button
Minimize, Maximize, Close
Save
Scroll Bar
Paste
Microsoft Word
2007 window
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Computer Basics 2
After-class activities
Activity 1 — Maximize, Minimize, Close
1. Start at the desktop.
2. Open Internet Explorer (double click its icon). If necessary, click the
maximize button to make the window fit the screen. Click the same
button to make it smaller. Click the minimize button to store the window in
the taskbar. To see the window again, click on its button in the taskbar.
Minimize Maximize
Close
3. Open Word (double click on its icon). Minimize Word.
or
4. Close Internet Explorer and Word (click on the buttons in the taskbar first).
Activity 2 — Web Browser Features
1. Open Internet Explorer by double-clicking on its icon:
(The Seattle Public Library Web page will appear.)
2. Scroll up and down the page using the scroll bar.
3. Move the pointer arrow across the page until the arrow changes to a hand
when the pointer is over a link. Click on a link to see another page on the
Seattle Public Library Web site (or, in some cases, another Web site).
4. Click on the
button in the tool bar to go back one page at a time.
5. Move the pointer over the text box on the home page (to the left of the
Find button) to search the Library catalog. Click once in the text box so that
the arrow changes to  . In the text box, type: emerald city
6. Click once on the
button. This opens the library catalog and retrieves a
list of books and other items that contain the words: emerald city.
7. Use the scroll bar to move the page up and down to view the list.
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Activity 3 — Copy and Paste
To copy text (a word or paragraph from a Web page, for example) and paste it
into a Word document:
1. Open Internet Explorer and move the pointer to the end of a line or
paragraph of text to copy.
2. Click and hold down the left mouse button while moving the mouse over
the text.
3. When the text is “highlighted” in blue or black, release the mouse button.
The text should remain highlighted in blue or black.
(If necessary, click outside the highlighted area, but not on a link, to remove the highlighting.)
5. Press the Control (Ctrl) key on the keyboard. Continue to hold it down and
press the c key. The highlighted text has now been copied.
6. Go to or open a Word document to paste the text into.
7. Click on the page in the location where you want to paste the text.
8. Press the Control (Ctrl) key on the keyboard. Continue to hold it down and
press the v key. The copied text should appear.
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Activity 4 — Saving a File to a USB / Flash Drive
1. Insert a USB drive in the USB port. (See the picture on page 1.)
2. Click on the save icon.
3. A box will appear on the screen with a title bar that reads Save As.
4. Choose where to save the file:
a) Click on the arrow to the right of the “Save as:” box
b) Click once on
Removable Disk
(F:)* from the
‘drop-down’
list.
5. Name the file:
a) Click on the arrow to the right
of the “Save as:” box
b) Delete the name in the box.
*Note: Instead of “Removable Disk” the
brand name of the USB drive may appear
here and it also may appear with a
different drive letter.
c) Type a name for the new file.
6. Click on the Save button.
Note: To save changes to a document once it has been saved to a disk, simply
click on the save icon in the toolbar. The document will be saved with the
changes under the same name and in the same location on the disk.
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Activity 5 — Open a
document in Microsoft Word
on a USB drive
1. Click on the Microsoft Word icon to open the program.
2. Insert the USB drive into the USB port.
3. Click on Office Button
4. Select Open from the drop-down menu. (The Open dialogue box will appear.)
5. To the right of the Look in: box, click on the small arrow and then click on
Removable Disk (F:)*
*Note: Instead of “Removable Disk” the
brand name of the USB drive may appear
here and it also may appear with a
different drive letter.
6. Double click on the document in the list.
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