Computer Basics

ObjectivesBy the end of this workshop you will be able to:

Identify the parts of the computer and recognize the difference between hardware and software

Turn the computer on and off Use a mouse to navigate between windows on the computer

desktop Identify the parts of the desktop Open and close the computer programs

In our other workshops you will learn about: Word Processing including:

Formatting basic documents How to cut, copy and paste in a document

Internet Navigation including: How to recognize an authoritative website Basic search skills How to navigate the BPL website remotely using the Internet

Email including: Setting up your personal email Composing, sending and receiving email Sending attachments with your email

Please keep this handout for reference and review.

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The Computer and its parts

It is worthwhile to have a basic understanding of the different components that make up your computer. Computer components are divided into hardware and software. The hardware components are the parts of the computer that you can touch and see – computer screen, mouse and keyboard. The software components consist of information or programs, that tell the computer’s hardware what to do. Computer software includes programs such as Microsoft Word, which enables you to write a letter and Internet Explorer, which enables you to search over the Internet.

HardwareThe physical parts of a computer are called hardware. They include: System unit – the main part of the computer that houses many pieces of the computer’s hardware. Inside the system unit you’ll find the microprocessor, hard drive, RAM and some other components. The system unit contains ports, which is the computer term for plugs. Ports are located on the back and front of the system unit. The front of the system unit contains storage drives, including CD/DVD drive and USB ports.

Storage drives – used for storage of information. The system unit contains the hard drive, where the permanent memory of the computer is located. The system unit also contains portable storage drives which allows information to be stored permanently but not on the hard drive. Some types of portable storage include the floppy disk, CD/DVD storage drives and USB or flash memory drives.

Keyboard – a finger tip device that consists of a variety of keys. While similar to a typewriter there are additional keys especially designed to allow information to be entered into the computer. Mouse – a point and click device that controls the pointer on the computer screen. It enables us to send commands to the computer.

Computer screen – also known as the monitor, it is similar to a TV screen. It allows information to be displayed visually.

Printer – a device that makes a ‘hard’ copy of information from the computer.

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SoftwareComputer software performs functions, provides instruction and tells the hardware what to do. Two general types of software include the operating system and computer programs.

Operating system – manages the computer. It keeps all parts of the computer organized and allows them to work together. Two common operating systems are Windows by Microsoft and Mac by Apple.

Computer programs - - a piece of software that enables the computer to perform specific actions. You can use browsing software such as Internet Explorer to help you navigate the Internet, or use word processing software such as Microsoft Word to help you create text documents.

Turning the Computer on

All computers work a little differently, but most follow the same steps for turning on. Both the system unit and the monitor must be turned on. Look for the power button , on both of these, push in and let go.

The computer requires a few minutes to load information. During this time you may see different numbers and letters moving across the screen. The software is telling the computer what to do. When the computer is finished loading its information, the monitor will display either a Log On window or a desktop screen filled with icons. Log on Window – used for computers with multiple users such as those in our library. Enter a User name and Password into the text boxes. Notice that the Password will display each character as a big black circle ● to preserve the confidentiality of the Password!

Desktop – after logging in or turning on your own computer you will find the desktop visible on the computer screen. This is the starting point where we access all software, files, and hardware components that make up the computer.

The computer’s desktop is similar to a real desk. Just as you would use a desk to access paper or pen for writing letters, a phone for connecting to others, or folders to sort documents, you will use the computer desktop to access the various tools located on your computer. From the desktop you can access programs that enable you to type a letter, search the internet for information and create email messages to communicate with others. Remember that some software programs, such as Internet Explorer for

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For BPL computers in the lab: User name: studentPassword: Learn123

searching and Email for communicating, require you to be connected to the internet in order to work.

The desktop is composed of the background (1), icons and shortcuts (2), start button (3), start menu (4), taskbar (5), taskbar buttons (6), and system tray (7).

1. Desktop background – a decorative image, often called wallpaper. You may customize this with your own choice of image or personal photo.

2. Icons and shortcuts – small pictures on the monitor representing an object such as a document, program, folder or link to the Internet. Each icon tells you the name of the program or file. To open, put the mouse pointer on the shortcut or icon and double click.

3. Start button – the gateway to the computer. Clicking on the start button opens the start menu that provides you with a variety of options including the option to shut-down the computer. The start button is always visible on the computer screen making it a good way to navigate the desktop.

4. Start menu – displays the many options including cascading menus that provide access to programs, files, setting and search functions available on your computer. Two frequently used menus are Programs and Settings. The Programs menu provides access to all the programs available on the computer. The Settings menu is full of specialized tools used to change the ways Windows looks and behaves. This is where you can make changes such as the date and time, background or wallpaper, and change the speed of the mouse click.

5. Taskbar – the long horizontal blue or grey bar along the bottom of the desktop. It is between the start button and the system tray. If programs or files are open, they will have a button visible on the task bar. When you are shutting down your computer the task bar buttons must all be closed.

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6. Taskbar button – displayed on the taskbar when a program/file window is open. Each button will have a title identical to the open window.

7. System tray – displays the clock and other icons representing programs that are part of the operating system, e.g. anti-virus programs, sound settings etc.

For an online tutorial about your computer try http://www.nald.ca/clr/basics00/cover.htm or if you are online Press Ctrl and click on the link Computer Basics from the National Adult Literacy Database.

Keyboard and Mouse

The keyboard and mouse are two input devices allowing us to communicate information to the computer. If you find the mouse too difficult, there are keyboard combinations that can perform the same functions.

Familiarize yourself with the keyboard. It is similar to a typewriter keyboard with extra keys, including command and function keys and a complete numeric keypad, similar to that on an adding machine.

Found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_keyboard

Some keys are used more often than others, so you will want to become very familiar with these keys.

The enter key moves the cursor to the next line similar to the hard return on a manual typewriter. It also tells the computer to start processing. information such as a search on the internet after entering a web address.

The backspace key moves the cursor backward and deletes the text.

The delete key moves the cursor forward and deletes the text.

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The shift key works as it did on a typewriter. In combination with a letter key it capitalizes the letter. Held down in combination with a number key, it will produce the symbol above the number.

The cursor control keys or arrow keys move the cursor up, down, left and right.

A combination of CTRL + ALT + DELETE will prompt a security window to display on the screen. Form this window you can log off windows, shut down the computer or close a program using the task manager. Closing a program this way is a handy by-pass to use when a program becomes frozen and disables all activity.

If you are online press Ctrl and click on Keyboard Practice or go to http://www.adamfrost.net/elearningMaterials/keyboardSkills2/keyboard2.html to practice.

Using the mouse

The mouse is a device that enables us to communicate with the computer. We can give the computer instructions by clicking the buttons of the mouse.

On the computer screen you will notice a white arrow. This is called a pointer (also a cursor or arrow). The pointer is connected to the movements you make with the mouse. Moving your mouse back, forth and side-to-side on the mouse pad will move the pointer on the screen in the same direction. The mouse rests on the mouse pad, or flat surface, which is used to sense the movements of the mouse and move the pointer around on the computer screen.

Using the mouse is a skill that can be easily perfected with practice, practice, practice! Learning to use the mouse requires time and practice like any other new activity. Computer games etc. help you develop your mouse skills.

Using Windows

Windows by Microsoft is a popular operating system used by many people and institutions, including our library. Windows is the operating system that manages the computer, keeping it organizes and allowing its parts to work together. The desktop is part of Windows.

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The Windows operating system allows you to open many programs at the same time. Each program opens in a different window. You can open a window for a software program to write a letter, a second window to search for information on the Internet and a third window to read you email, all at the same time. The picture above has three open windows on the desktop and three taskbar buttons, with the same name as each window, on the taskbar at the bottom.

You can easily move from one window to another by using the taskbar buttons. Clicking on a taskbar button will bring its corresponding window forward and on top of the other open windows. Note that the window on the top, the active window, is easily recognizable because the taskbar button and the title bar, on the top of the window, are both a darker colour. Working with windows

When you open a program to perform a task, e.g. letter writing, web searching etc., the program will open in a window. A window is made up of various parts including the title bar, minimize button, restore down button, close button, menu bar, tool bars and scroll bars. These parts help you work with the window and/or program and surround the display or working area.

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The title bar, at the top of the window, displays the name of the file or website and the program that is operating it in the left hand corner. In this example, the name of the file is IPAC 2.0, which is the website for the Belleville Public Library’s online catalogue and the program used to access the catalogue is the internet browser, Microsoft Internet Explorer.

In the right hand corner of the title bar are three small squares. When you put your cursor on these squares, a small text box will pop up, indicating what will happen when you left click on your mouse. Clicking the left or minimize button will make the window shrink down to a button on the taskbar. You might do this when you want to hide a window but not close down the program. To revert to the original full screen, click on its taskbar button.

The restore down/maximize button, in the middle, of the three buttons on the upper right title bar, performs two functions depending on the size of the window. If the window fills the entire screen, clicking on this button will restore down or reduce the window to a smaller size. When the window is a smaller size than the full screen, clicking on maximize button will restore the window to its full size. Full screen display provides the best visibility. Other open windows can be hidden behind the currently open window, just as curtains hide windows.

The close button, the red X button on the upper right corner, will close the window and the corresponding taskbar button will disappear from the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. Certain programs, such as Microsoft Word, will require you to save your work before completely closing the window.

The menu bar contains menus such as file and view. Clicking on a menu title will display its drop-down menu options. You can select an option from the menu by scrolling down to the desired option and clicking. Remember that you can use the key to scroll down to your selection and press enter or scroll down using you mouse to selection.

For example, go to the File menu to find the option to Print what is on your screen.

Or, go to the Edit menu to Cut, Copy, and Paste text.

The tool bar contains buttons that help you to perform tasks. Tool bars are different depending on the software program you are using. Many of the tasks can also be found on the menu bar. There are some common toolbar buttons such as (Print). Clicking on this button will print the contents of the current screen view.

The vertical and horizontal scroll bars help you to bring the hidden portions of the screen into view. Remember that the scroll bar only appears when only when there is content outside the

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visible screen area. If the scroll bar is small, then there is quite a bit of content for you to find by scrolling.

The tutorial found in the section ‘Using the Mouse’ will explain more about scrolling and give you practice.

Turning off the computer

When you are finished with the computer it must be turned off.

Go to the Start Button to shut down the computer. Using the mouse, move the pointer to the Start menu and rest it on Shut Down…Left click on Shut down. You will get a new text box appearing which will ask you What do you want to do? On the drop down menu there will be several options. Using your mouse highlight Shut Down and click on it. Shut Down will now appear in the option box and will be what the computer performs. Click on the OK button will tell your computer to Shut Down.

**Your computer will now shut down with out you pressing any other buttons. You should also turn off the monitor power to conserve energy.

Conclusion

During this workshop you have learned the basics about operating a computer. The computers in our library have some differences. They are for Internet use which includes searching and email, and for looking at our library catalogue. They are not used for word processing. Our computers open automatically at the desktop and are always ready to use. Just click on an icon on the desktop to get started.

A member of the library staff will be ready to help, but remember, to learn more about computers and software, the library has many excellent, current books about computers and the many functions they perform.

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