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COMPUTERS FOR BEGINNERS

Module 1: Basic computer skills

COURSE DURATION: 1-2 hours facilitated delivery.

PRE-REQUISITES: Beginner level, no experience required.

COMPUTERS FOR BEGINNERS is a course designed to introduce new computer users to

a range of common skills.

Module 1: Basic computer skills is an introduction to computer basics.

This module will take you through the basic computer skills, including:

1. Your Computer

2. Keyboard

3. Mouse skills

4. Using the Desktop

5. Start menu

6. Power options

1. YOUR COMPUTER

Computer hardware refers to the physical parts of your computer or laptop.

Components are either within the COMPUTER CASE or are attached, known as

PERIPHERALS.

Computer Case

The computer’s case, also called a tower, desktop case or box, may

be horizontal or vertical. The case contains the brains of the

computer, the central processing unit (CPU). Lights of the tower

interact when the computer is turned on. The tower also holds your

computer’s CD/DVD Drive, headphone outlet and USB ports.

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Peripheral Devices

Anything connected to your computer tower is a peripheral device.

This includes:

• Monitor: The monitor is the visual connection between you and the computer

• Keyboard: The keyboard enables you to communicate with the computer and

enter data.

• Mouse: The mouse is a hand operated pointing device.

• Printer: You can use a printer to print, and some also scan.

• USB: Universal Serial Bus is a connection technology for attaching peripheral

devices to a computer. USB flash drives, also known as memory sticks or

thumb drives, are an easy, portable data storage option.

Activity 1: Explore your computer case or tower.

Locate the following on your computer:

a) Power button

b) CD/DVD Drive

c) Headphone outlet

d) Microphone outlet

e) USB port

f) Power cable

g) Monitor cable

Monitor Mouse Printer USB

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2. KEYBOARD

The keyboard is the way of communicating data to your computer. The layout is that

similar to a typewriter, with some important additions. As you type, don't hold down

the key after you depress it. If you do keep your finger depressed on a particular key,

it will keep sending the computer commands and the result will be a string of

unwanted characters displayed on screen.

You will see a key marked Ctrl. This key helps you give the computer commands in

combination with other keys (such as Ctrl+P to print a document in many programs).

Holding down the Shift key causes the keyboard to print either the upper case of an

alphabetic character or the top character if two are displayed on the individual key.

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3. MOUSE SKILLS

The mouse pointer is usually an arrow or a

hand. It shows the movement and position of

the mouse on the computer screen.

The insertion point is usually a vertical or

horizontal line indicating where the next

character will go. The insertion point is not

the mouse pointer.

Left click allows you to select a link or menu

item. The icon or menu item will highlight

when you click it. Double click or press the

left mouse button twice very quickly to run a

program or open a folder.

Right click. A small menu screen will appear

offering you further options such as to delete

a program or to paste information. To close a

right click menu, left click on a clear area of

the screen.

Drag and Drop. Position the mouse over an

object, press and hold the left mouse button,

move the mouse and the object moves until

you let the button go.

Activity 2: Mouse Exercises

With your tutor’s help, navigate to the Moreton Bay Region Libraries Learn Online

webpage at https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/lol and single left click on the link

to ‘Mouse & keyboard exercises’.

1. Using your mouse, single left click “Mousing Around”.

2. Choose an activity type by clicking the appropriate choice: Mousing Around

Tutorial, Mousercise Exercises or the Practice Games. Press “Enter” to start.

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4. USING THE DESKTOP

The desktop is the main screen of your computer. When you turn on your computer,

the desktop is displayed once the start-up process is complete, which can take a

couple of minutes. The desktop includes a background image, also known as

wallpaper, along with icons of files and folders. Your desktop includes a taskbar

located at the bottom of the screen; you can find open programs on this taskbar. The

desktop also includes the start button, quick launch buttons and system tray.

Activity 3: Changing your Screen Resolution

You can change the resolution to make text bigger and easier to read.

1. Single right click on an empty space on the desktop.

2. Move your cursor down to “Personalize”

and single left click.

3. Single left click “Display”.

4. Single left click “Adjust Resolution”.

5. Single left click down arrow near “Resolution”.

6. Left click on the slider and hold button down.

7. Drag the slider until you reach your desired resolution and click “OK”.

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5. START MENU

The start menu is a feature of the Windows operating

system which makes it easy to find and open programs

and files, get help and access the system settings.

Single left click on the Start button located on the

bottom left hand side of your screen. This menu will

provide you with access to your recent documents and

programs, along with help and search features.

To see a list of programs installed on your computer,

hover over (move your mouse over, without clicking)

the words - All Programs. You can then left click one

of the listed programs to run it. If there are folders,

you can left click them to see all the available

programs within the folder.

If you would like to close the start menu without opening any documents or

programs, simply left click an empty space on the desktop background.

Activity 4: Start menu and Paint

1. Single left click on the start menu button.

2. Type ‘Paint’ in the search box.

3. Single left click on Microsoft Paint under “Programs” to open the program.

4. Practice signing your name using the Pen option. To write, hold down the left

mouse button and move the mouse.

5. Single left click on the eraser icon in the Paint toolbar.

6. Hold down the left mouse button and move the cursor

over your name to erase it.

7. Experiment with the many drawing options to the left of

your screen.

8. Once you have finished practising, close the Paint program

by single left clicking on the X in the top right hand

corner of your screen.

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6. POWER OPTIONS

You can select various energy saving modes such as hibernate, sleep, and standby if

you are going to be away from your computer. If you want to power off your

computer completely, always remember to shut down your computer correctly.

Activity 5: Shut down your computer

1. Begin shutting down by closing any open programs. If you shut down without

closing all programs, you may be prompted to save any unfinished work

2. Single left click on the Start button.

3. Single left click on the arrow.

4. Select “Shut Down” from the drop down menu by single left clicking on the word

then single left click on “OK”

APPENDIX: INTERNAL HARDWARE

Internal hardware includes motherboard, hard drive and RAM. The internal hardware

of your computer is often referred to as components, including:

• Motherboard: This is the main circuit board of your computer. Attached to the

motherboard, you will find the RAM and Hard Drive.

• Hard Drive: A computer’s hard drive is where all your data and information is

stored. A typical hard drive is about the size of your hand and can hold over a

Terabyte (TB) of data.

• CPU/Central Processing Unit: The brains of the computer. It is the hardware

within a computer that carries out the instructions of a computer program by

performing the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the

system.

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• RAM: Random Access Memory is made up of small memory chips. When you

open a program it loads from your computer’s hard drive to the RAM. The more

RAM your computer has, the faster the processing speed. When you turn the

computer off, RAM loses its data.

• Disc Drive: A piece of hardware that accesses multimedia discs, plays DVDs, CDs

and can “burn” information onto a disc.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Byte: a unit of digital information in computing; kilobyte (KB), megabyte (MB),

gigabyte (GB) terabyte (TB) and petabyte (PB) are terms or abbreviations used

around storage.

Desktop: the main screen of your computer displaying icons.

Icon: a picture or representation of a file or function.

Start button: located at the button left of the screen; can be used to find programs

and turn off the computer.

Taskbar: the toolbar situated along the bottom of the screen

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Moreton Bay Region Libraries can help you improve your computer and internet

skills. We offer a great range of books and resources, such as the below

recommended titles:

The complete idiot’s guide to using your computer – for seniors / Paul McFedries

Windows 7 in easy steps / Harshad Kotehca

Computer Basics: absolute beginner’s guide / Michael Miller

Teach yourself visually Windows 8.1 / Paul McFedries

Easy Windows 8 / Mark Edward Soper & Sherry Kinkoph Gunter

PCs for grown-ups / Paul McFedries

Troubleshooting your PC in easy steps / Stuart Yarnold

Visit your local library or www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/libraries for more

information.

Moreton Bay Region Libraries also offer free training, courses and tutorials, in the

library and online that cover basic computer skills for beginners through to

intermediate and advanced topics such as using the internet and social media,

internet security, blogging and using mobile apps.

For more online learning and practice, visit our Learn Online page at

https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/lol.