Student’s manual

ENGLISH FOR COMPUTERS’

TECHNICIANS

INGLÉS
1º CFGM Informática - Explotación de
Sistemas Informáticos.
IES LOMO DE LA HERRADURA.
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Lesson 1: Outer Hardware
Take a look at the computer in front of you. No, not just
the screen. Look at all of the other parts. Do you know
what they are? Do you know what they do? If you
already know - great! Give yourself a big pat on the back!
But if you don't know about all the gadgets surrounding
your computer, then read on and find out!

The Basics

Lets start with the center of any computer system. Do you see something
shaped like a box nearby? It will have a power switch and a light or two. It
should also have a place or places to insert disks. This is the case that
houses all of the important computer components. If it stands up tall, it is a
tower case. If it sits flat, it is a desktop case. Ask your parents to let you
look at the back of the computer (never do this without permission,
because there is a lot of dangerous electricity back there!). You will see
lots of cords and cables coming out of the back of the case and going to
other computer parts like the monitor.

Your computer case probably has a place to insert floppy disks or CDs.
These are called the floppy disk drive and the CD-ROM. The floppy disk
drive reads information from a very thin disk that is inside a flat, square
plastic case. You can also write information to these disks and 'save' it. CD-
ROM is short for Compact Disk - Read Only Memory. A compact disk is a
shiny, circular disk that stores information. A CD-ROM can only read
information from the disk. Many new computers have a CD-RW (RW stands
for ReWrite) instead of a CD-ROM. CD-RW allows you to write information
to the disk as well as read from it. Also, some new computers have a DVD
(Digital Video Disk) drive instead of a CD-ROM or CD-RW. A DVD looks just
like a CD, but it holds much more information. You can watch movies, listen
to music, or play computer games from DVDs. One important thing to know
is that you can play CDs in a DVD player, but you cannot play DVDs in a CD
player!
Input Devices

There are several ways to get new information or input into a computer.
The two most common ways are the keyboard and the mouse. The keyboard
has keys for characters (letters, numbers and punctuation marks) and
special commands. Pressing the keys tells the computer what to do or what
to write. The mouse has a special ball that allows you to roll it around on a
pad or desk and move the cursor around on screen. By clicking on the
buttons on the mouse, you give the computer directions on what to do.
There are other devices similar to a mouse that can be used in its place. A
trackball has the ball on top and you move it with your finger. A touchpad
allows you to move your finger across a pressure sensitive pad and press to
click.

Other types of input devices allow you to put images into the computer. A
scanner copies a picture or document into the computer. There are several
types of scanners and some look very different, but most look like a flat
tray with a glass pane and a lid to cover it. You can input photographs into a
computer with a digital camera. Photos are taken with the camera away
from the computer and stored on a memory chip. Then the camera is
plugged into the computer, so that the images can be downloaded. Another
input device is a graphics tablet. A pressure sensitive pad is plugged into
the computer. When you draw on the tablet with the special pen (never use
an ink pen or pencil!), the drawing appears on the screen. The tablet and pen
can also be used like a mouse to move the cursor and click.

Output Devices

Output devices display information in a way that you can you

can understand. The most common output device is a monitor. It looks a lot

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a like a TV and houses the computer screen. The monitor allows you to 'see'
what you and the computer are doing together.

Speakers are output devices that allow you to hear sound from your
computer. Computer speakers are just like stereo speakers. There are
usually two of them and they come in various sizes.

A printer is another common part of a computer system. It takes what you

see on the computer screen and prints it on paper. There are two types of
printers. The inkjet printer uses inks to print. It is the most common
printer used with home computers and it can print in either black and white
or color. Laser printers run much faster because they use lasers to print.
Laser printers are mostly used in businesses. Black and white laser printers
are the most common, but some print in color, too.

Digital Camera Microphone Printer Joystick Headphones

Mouse Screen Speakers Keyboard Floppy disk
Flash memory read Scanner Modem Hard disk

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Now, classify these words into three groups:
Peripheral devices
Input devices Output devices Input-output devices

1. Draw a sketch of a PC (Personal Computer) and show the

different parts that you have learned in the class.

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 2. Fill in the gaps:

Printer Speakers Monitor/screen DVD

Keyboard
Digital Camera Pen drive Mouse Floppy disk

a. ………………………………………. is a device with allows you to watch

what you’re working on the computer
b. ……………………………….……… has keys for characters (letters,
numbers and punctuation marks) and special commands
c. ……………………………………… has a special ball that allows you to
roll it around on a pad or desk and move the cursor around on
screen.
d. ……………………………………… takes what you see on the computer
screen and prints it on paper
e. With a ………………………………………… you can input photographs
into a computer, with this device by a USB cable
f. ………………………………………… is a device that allows you to hear
sound from your computer.
g. The ………………………………………… reads information from a very
thin disk that is inside a flat, square plastic case.
h. A …………………………………………… looks just like a CD, but it holds
much more information.
i. ……………………………………………… is a flash memory card that
plugs into the computer's USB port

3. Make a list with the parts of a computer that you have learned in the class.

Software

Hardware

Directions: What do you know about how computers work? Use the
information you find at the Web site provided below to answer the questions
on this page. Write your answers on the lines next to each question.Web
Resource: Computer Lessons for Kids and Small Adults
http://www.kidsandcomputers.com/starter.htm
Which three parts of the computer receive input?
Which three parts of the computer give output?
What does the computer hard disk do?
What does DOS stand for?
What kind of file has a name that ends with .gif?

In computer language, what does cd\ mean?

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Lesson 2: Hardware on the Inside

Computers are made of many electronic

components or parts. These components each have a
special job and they all work together to make your computer operate.
Some components are hidden inside the computer where you can't see
them. Others can be seen partly from the outside.

Power It Up!

Every computer needs a power supply to take electricity from your house
and convert it into a current that works for your computer. The electrical
cord that comes out of your computer comes out of the power supply. When
it is plugged into the wall, electricity travels from the electrical wires in
your house into the computer's power supply. When your computer is
turned on, the power supply allows the converted electricity to travel to
other components inside the computer.

Circuits

The motherboard gets its name because it is like a mother to all of the
other circuit boards. Found at the bottom of a desktop case or the side of
a tower case, the motherboard is the largest circuit board and has many
smaller boards plugged into it. It holds all of the most important parts of
the computer.

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On the motherboard, you will find several expansion cards. Each of these
cards has a special purpose. The sound card contains special circuits for
operating the computer's sound. The video card handles graphics that are
displayed on the monitor. There are also expansion cards for other
computer components including the drives and ports.

The modem is an expansion card that allows computers to talk to each

other. A modem plugs the computer in to a phone or cable line so that
information can be transferred between computers. Current modems can
run up to 56,000 bits per second. Don't know what a bit is? Don't worry,
we'll get to that in a later lesson

The brain of a computer is the CPU or Central Processing Unit. Like a brain,
it controls information and tells other parts what to do. The type of CPU in
a computer also determines how fast that computer can operate. A CPU
generates lots of heat, so there is usually a small fan nearby to cool it
down.

A very important computer component is the BIOS chip. BIOS stands for
Basic Input Output System. In very simple terms, the BIOS chip wakes up
the computer when you turn it on and reminds it what parts it has and what
they do.

RAM & ROM

Have you ever heard the terms RAM and ROM? These two terms sound
very similar and can easily be confused by beginners. However,
understanding what they mean and what they do can help you to remember.

RAM stands for Random Access Memory. RAM chips will remember what
you tell them and can even change to remember new information. But, when
the computer is turned off, RAM forgets everything you told it. This is why
it is so important to save your work on a computer - if the computer gets
turned off, RAM will lose all of your work!

ROM stands for Read Only Memory. ROM is good at remembering, but
cannot change it's mind. It holds information that is built into it. ROM is

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like reading a library book - lots of information is there, but you can't
change it (because you never write in a library book). RAM, on the other
hand, is more like a journal - you can write information into the journal. But
if you change your mind, you can erase and write in new information.

Ports

Ports are the places on the outside of the computer case where you plug in
hardware. On the inside of the case, they are connected to expansion
cards. The keyboard, mouse, monitor, and printer all plug into ports. There
are also extra ports to plug in extra hardware like joysticks, gamepads,
scanners, digital cameras and the like. The ports are controlled by their
expansion cards which are plugged into the motherboard and are connected
to other components by cables - long, flat bands that contain electrical
wiring.

Disk Drives

Disk drives read information off of storage disks. The three most common
disk drives are the hard drive, floppy disk drive and CD-ROM. In lesson 1,
you learned a bit about the latter two, which are usually installed inside the
front of your computer case so that you can get to them from the outside
to load the software. The hard drive, however is hidden inside the
computer because the disks are not meant to be removed. Information that
you save on your computer is stored on these hard disks. You can learn more
about storage disks in Lesson 4: Storage; but first, check out Lesson 3 to
learn about bits and bytes.

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Lesson 3 - Bits & Bytes
Did you know that all of the information that
travels through your computer is based on two commands? It's true. The
only data that a computer can understand is on and off. But, the millions of
combinations of those two commands given in series are what make a
computer work.

Binary Code

Remember the power supply that is inside your computer and how it sends
electricity to all of the components? That electricity
is what creates an on signal. The memory chips inside
your computer are divided into thousands of tiny
compartments called bits. Each bit has an electronic
switch or gate. On means the gate is open and letting
electricity go through. The computer reads on or open
switches as a number 1. Closed gates are off because
the electricity is blocked and cannot get through. The
computer reads off bits as 0. It is by grouping these
bits together to form a series of 1/0 commands, that data is formed. Eight
bits are grouped together to form a byte. In this group of eight, there are
256 possible combinations of 1/0. The grouping of 1/0 within a byte is
called Binary Code.

Here's an example of the Binary Code in action: When you type the letter
A on your keyboard, electrical signals are sent from the keyboard to the
CPU. The CPU turns the signals into binary code. Then, the computer reads
the code and sends it on to the monitor to display the letter A.

KB, MB & GB

You may have seen these abbreviations many times before. Do you know
what they mean?

• KB = kilobyte = about 1,000 (one thousand) bytes, (1024 or 2^10)

• MB = megabyte = about 1,000,000 (one million) bytes, (1,048,576 or
2^20)
• GB= gigabyte = about 1,000,000,000 (one billion) bytes
(1,073,741,824 or 2^30)

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As you can see, these abbreviations stand for a specific number of bytes.
And each byte holds 8 bits capable of forming 256 combinations of 1/0.
Wow!

The number that comes before one of these abbreviations represents the
computer's memory capacity. For example, if a computer has 64MB of RAM
that means that the computer can handle 64,000,000 (64 million) bytes of
random access memory (that's 64,000,000 microscopic 8-bit panels). Hard
disk space is also measured in bytes. So, a 15GB hard drive has
15,000,000,000 (15 billion) bytes for storing memory.

Look at your keyboard. Each character key is represented by a number that

is held in a single byte. Remember how the letter A is sent to the CPU to be
translated into binary code? The numerical value of the uppercase letter A
is 65. That number 65 is represented in one byte - a combination of 1 and 0
or on and off switches. The computer cannot understand letters, so it
translates them into numbers that are represented by patterns of on and
off. To get an idea of how much on/off data a computer can store, just
imagine pressing one key one billion times! How long would it take? If you
pressed the key 5 times per second, it would take you over 6 years of
continuously typing to reach 1 billion keystrokes equal to 1GB of memory!
And many computers today can store over 20GB of memory on their hard
disks! Incredible! So, the next time your computer is taking a long time to
load a web page, think of how fast it really is going!

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 Lesson 4: Storage
The purpose of storage in a computer is to hold data or information and get
that data to the CPU as quickly as possible when it is needed. Computers
use disks for storage: hard disks that are located inside the computer, and
floppy or compact disks that are used externally.

Hard Disks

Your computer uses two types of memory: primary memory which is stored
on chips located on the motherboard, and secondary memory that is stored
in the hard drive. Primary memory holds all of the essential memory that
tells your computer how to be a computer. Secondary memory holds the
information that you store in the computer.

Inside the hard disk drive case you will find circular disks that are made
from polished steel. On the disks, there are many tracks or cylinders.
Within the hard drive, an electronic reading/writing device called the head
passes back and forth over the cylinders, reading information from the disk
or writing information to it. Hard drives spin at 3600 or more rpm
(Revolutions Per Minute) - that means that in one minute, the hard drive
spins around over 3600 times!

Today's hard drives can hold a great deal of information - sometimes over
20GB!

How Hard Disks Work

The process of reading and writing to a hard disk is done with electricity
and magnetism. The surfaces of this type of disks can be easily magnetized.
The electromagnetic head of the disk drive records information to the disk
by creating a pattern of magnetized and non-magnetized areas on the
disk's surface. Do you remember how the binary code uses on and off
commands to represent information? On the disk, magnetized areas are on
and non-magnetized areas are off, so that all information is stored in binary
code. This is how the electronic head can both write to or read from the
disk surface.

It is very important to always keep magnets away from your computer! The
magnets can erase information from the hard disk!

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Compact Disks

Instead of electromagnetism, CDs use pits (microscopic indentations) and

lands (flat surfaces) to store information much the same way hard disks
use magnetic and non-magnetic storage. Inside the CD-ROM is a laser that
reflects light off of the surface of the disk to an electric eye. The pattern
of reflected light (pit) and no reflected light (land) creates a code that
represents data.

CDs usually store about 650MB. A DVD or Digital Video Disk holds even
more information than a CD, because the DVD can store information on two
levels, in smaller pits or sometimes on both sides.

Why Do You Need External Disks?

You might wonder: If all the information is stored safely inside my

computer, why would I need to store it outside? There are several reasons
why portable storage is so important.

CDs and other kinds of external memory make it possible to backup

important information in case it is lost by the computer. Do you remember
in Lesson 2, we talked about RAM and ROM? RAM loses its memory each
time the computer is turned off, but ROM keeps information stored even
when the computer is not turned on. Well, sometimes computers have
problems that can cause them to crash. No, that doesn't mean they jump
off the desk and smash on the floor. A crash is something that happens
inside the computer's circuits and can make it forget things. Some crashes
can even make ROM forget everything! Having important information
backed up on disks will allow you to put it back into your computer's
memory. Backup disks can save you lots of time and headaches.

Disks also allow information to be transferred between different

computers. Let's say that you are working on a project using a computer at
the library, but you don't finish it by closing time. There's your project
sitting in the computer. How do you get it home to finish it on your
computer? You write the information to a disk, take it home and upload the
information into your computer from the disk. What an easy way to
transfer information!

Uses of Compact Discs

The most common use for compact discs (aside from playing music) is
storage of software programs. When you purchase a computer game, the

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program that tells your computer how to run the game is stored on a CD.
You move the program into your computer's memory by installing it. Some
programs are transferred completely into your computer's hard drive.
However, many programs are very large and would take up lots of memory
space on your hard drive. To keep that from happening, these programs are
designed to only upload part of the program onto your computer. The rest
of the program stays on the software disk. The program cannot be run
from your computer unless you have the CD in the disc drive so that RAM
can read the rest of the program from it.

With the introduction of CD-RW (disc drives that can write to compact
discs as well as read from them), CDs can now be used for storage. Using a
CD-RW, computer data can be backed up to a CD. All kinds of information
can now be saved on CD. Many people store music files or family photos on
CD.

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Lesson 5: Programs
Programming

In Lesson 3, you learned that all of the information

that travels through your computer is stored on bits as either an on or off
signal. Using bits and bytes in different combinations to represent a code is
known as programming. These codes allow the computer to understand
instructions. Computer programmers are people who write these codes to
create programs. There are even programming languages that make it
easier, so that these people don't have to remember all the bit or byte
combinations. Programming allows people and computers to communicate
more easily.

Computer Programs

A program is a set of instructions that tells the computer how to perform a

specific task. For example, your favorite computer game is a program. In
order for your computer to know how to play that game, you (or your
parents) must first install the program from the game software - usually a
CD. Installing the program means that you are copying the program or
instructions that are stored on the CD on to your computer's hard drive.
Programs can also be downloaded from the internet directly to your hard
drive.

Many programs (especially games) are very large and would take up lots of
memory space on your hard drive. To keep that from happening, these
programs are designed to only copy part of the program onto your
computer. The rest of the program stays on the software. The program
cannot be run from your computer unless you have the disk in the disk drive
so that RAM can read the rest of the program from it.

Other programs install completely on your hard drive, so that they can be
used without running the CD. This is very helpful with programs that are
designed to help the user perform a specific task, such as typing a letter or
creating a birthday card. Having the program run without the CD, frees up
the CD-ROM drive in case you might need to run a clip art CD to add some
pizzazz to your creation!

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Types of Programs

There are many different types of programs for the computer. They are
grouped according to the tasks that they perform. Here are some very
common types of programs and some examples of their uses:

Word processing - letter writing, essays, writing stories

Database - address books, mailing lists

Spreadsheets - storing financial information

Research - encyclopedias, informational programs

Entertainment - games, music/video programs

Education - skill practice games, tutorials, how-to programs

Desktop Publishing - creating birthday cards, newsletters, etc.

Programs do much of the work for us, when we perform tasks on the
computer. The program instructs the computer in a language that it
understands. Think of how hard it would be to dictate a story for someone
else to type if that other person spoke a foreign language! You could learn
that person's language, but that could take years. The easiest way would be
to have a translator. Programs are like translators that allow people to work
with computers without learning the computer's language.

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Lesson 6: Operating Systems
What is an Operating System?

The most important program on any computer is the Operating System or

OS. The OS is a large program made up of many smaller programs that
control how the CPU communicates with other hardware components. It also
makes computers easier to operate by people who don't understand
programming languages. In other words, operating systems make computers
user friendly.

Do you remember ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM

(Random Access Memory) from Lesson 2? ROM and
RAM are very important to the OS. Part of a
computer's operating system is built into ROM. That
part contains the most essential programs that the
computer needs in order to run correctly. The ROM operating system is
also known as the BIOS (Basic Input Output System). You may remember
from Lesson 2 that the BIOS is responsible for waking up the computer
when you turn it on to remind it of all the parts it has and what they do.

The operating system also contains other programs that are important, but
not essential to making the computer run. The part of the operating system
that contains these programs is stored on a computer's hard drive and is
booted to RAM whenever the computer is turned on. This part of the
operating system is known as DOS which stands for Disk-based Operating
System.

Types of Operating Systems

Different computer manufacturers use different operating systems. Apple

has specific operating systems for its line of Macintosh computers. When
IBM released their Personal Computer or PC back in the early 1980's, they
did not get a copyright on it, which allowed many other companies to build
similar computers that were IBM-compatible; in other words, they used the
same operating system as the IBM PC. There are different operating
systems available for PCs, but the most common is Windows, which was
developed by a company named Microsoft. Windows is similar to the
Macintosh operating system, because it also uses a mouse and a GUI

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(Graphical User Interface) that uses graphics or pictures to help the user
navigate within the computer system.

There are several versions of Windows (95, 98, NT, 2000), just as there
are several versions of Macintosh operating systems (System 7, System 8).
Operating systems are constantly being improved or upgraded as
technology advances. When a company thinks that their operating system
has been advanced enough from the one already on the market, they
release their new version for sale. Users can then purchase the new version
and upgrade the part of the operating system that is stored on the hard
drive. The ROM OS is not affected by the upgrade. Upgrading an operating
system can have several advantages, such as simplifying tasks and
navigation. However, there can be disadvantages, too. Many Windows 95
users upgraded to Windows 98 and discovered that many of their older
programs would no longer run within the new operating system.

The Computer Revolution

The introduction of the Macintosh OS and the later introduction of

Windows played a large part in making computers accessible to so many
people. The user-friendly interfaces of both operating systems made it
easier for people with no computer training to learn to use these amazing
machines. Other machines, such as typewriters and payroll calculators
quickly became a thing of the past, as computers became so easy to use and
so affordable

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Lesson 7: Files & Folders
Computer hard drives hold an enormous amount of data or
information. It is very important that all of the data is
well organized. That way it is easy for the computer to
find what it is looking for. Knowing how a computer's
organization system works will help you to find what you
are looking for. Computers use files and folders to
organize data.

What is a file?

A file is a collection of data that is stored together. Files can be stored on

a hard drive, a floppy disk, or a CD. Everything that a computer does is
based on data stored in files. You can do lots of things with files - create
them, name them, rename them, save them, or delete them. Certain files
can even be looked at, listened to, and run.

In some ways, files are like television shows. All TV shows have 3 things,
just like computer files:

Name

Location

Length

Just as you recognize your favorite TV program by its name, you can also
recognize a file by its name. File names often consist of 2 parts: name and
type. There are many different types of TV shows - comedies, dramas,
cartoons, sports shows, game shows, etc. Similarly, computer files come in
different types - text files, graphic files, program files, email files, etc. In
many computer systems, files are named so that you know what type of file
it is just by looking at the abbreviation behind the name. A period is used to
separate the name from the type, like this: "name.type". If TV show titles
came in 2 parts like computer files, they would give the name of the
program, followed by a period, followed by the type of show it is. It might
look like this: "Sillykids.toon" or "EmergencyRoom.drama" or
"Football.sport"! One important thing that you should know about file types
or extensions is that they are always written as abbreviations, usually with

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3 letters. For example, a text file is shown as .txt and an executable
program file is shown as .exe. You may not always see the extension on a
file name, because many PCs offer the option of turning off the extension.
Even though you don't see it, the computer still does. On the Macintosh
system, however, the practice of naming files with extensions is not always
followed; but you can see what kind of file it is by the icon or 'kind'
identifier in the directory listings. Common Mac extensions you'll see are
.sit (a compressed stuffit file), .hqx (a binhexed encoded file), .pdf (Adobe
Acrobat file). Web pages (no matter what system) always use extensions to
identify the kind of file - .htm or .html for the web pages, .gif for gif
graphics, .jpg for jpg graphics and so on.

Files are stored in certain places within your computer, much like TV
programs are shown on certain channels. So, to find a file you must know
where it is located, just like you must know on what channel to find your
favorite TV show. If you forget what channel a TV show is on, you can
either flip through channels until you find the program or you can look in a
TV guide to find the information you need quickly. The quickest way to find
files on most computers is to use Find. This is a type of search program
where you can type in the name of a file and the computer will search and
tell you where the file is located. If you use a Windows Operating System,
Find is located on your Start Menu. On a Macintosh System, Find! is located
under File on the menu bar. (More on Start Menu and menu bar in Lesson 8).

TV Programs, like files, have specific lengths. TV shows may be 30 minutes

long, 1 hour long, or several hours long. Files are not measured in time, but
in bytes. If you'll remember from Lesson 3: Bits & Bytes, a byte is a
measurement of stored data. Larger files may be measured in kilobytes or
megabytes. The length of a file tells how much storage space that file is
using within the computer.

Folders or Directories

With so many thousands of files stored inside a computer, it is very

important to keep them organized. Folders, also known as Directories, keep
files organized by grouping them together.

Imagine for a moment that you had a giant toy room filled with toys and you
were given the job of organizing all of those toys. You decide to start the
job by sorting all of the toys and grouping similar toys together. For
example, you put all of your red marbles in a box and all of your blue
marbles in another box and all of your clear marbles in another box. Then,

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you put all of those boxes into a bigger box and label it "marbles". Then,
you might even put the "marbles" box into a bigger box that contains boxes
of "super balls" and "tennis balls" and "baseballs". You would name that big
box "balls". If you continued to organize toys that way, you would end up
with an entire room of boxes with labels that contain similar kinds of toys.
Then if you needed to find your plastic brontosaurus, you would know to
open the box labeled "toy animals" and go past the "bug box" and the
"reptile box" until you find the "dinosaur box" - open it and there is the
brontosaurus! In this example, the toys are like files and the boxes are like
folders. Your computer is set up to store similar files in specific folders.
Then similar folders can be put inside other folders, and so on.

Many times, the computer will automatically store files in certain folders in
order to keep itself organized. However, when you create new files, you
must decide which folders to put them in to keep them organized. You can
even create new folders to store your files. For example, let's say that a
boy named Adam wants to make a folder of all the fun things he creates on
the computer. With an adult's help, Adam creates a folder titled "Adam".
Within that folder, he creates 3 new folders titled "stories", "drawings"
and "jokes". Then, when Adam writes a story called "Alien Tap Dancing", he
stores or saves that file that contains the story in the "stories" folder. On
a PC, the file name would be "Alien Tap Dancing.txt" because it is a text
file.

The best way to keep up with a file is to know

its address. The address basically tells you
what drive and folders to look in for a file. For
example, the address for Adam's story might
look like this on a Macintosh system:
"Macintosh HD\Users\Adam\stories\Alien
Tap Dancing" (Macintosh HD indicates the hard
drive). On a PC, the address might look like this: "C:\\My
Documents\Adam\stories\Alien Tap Dancing.txt". In this case, the letter
"C" indicates the hard drive, as most PCs assign a letter to each drive in the
system. Note, that the file address always includes the drive, folder(s), and
file name in exactly that order.

Be A Responsible Computer User

Understanding the relationship between files and folders, and how they are
addressed and located within your computer system is a very important
part of using a computer. Beginners should make it a priority to learn about

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this early in their computer education. Never delete, move or rename a file
unless you are absolutely sure of what you are doing! A computer relies on
many files to keep itself running correctly, so changing or deleting those
files can cause major computer malfunctions! When in doubt, ask a parent,
teacher or other expert for assistance. The safest way to learn about using
files and folders is to ask for help in setting up your own personal folder,
then creating new folders and files within it.

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Lesson 8a - The Mac
Desktop
When your computer is booted up and
ready to use, the screen you see is
called the desktop. It is the
background for all programs and
contains the commands needed for
accessing those programs. Desktops
vary from one operating system (OS)
to another, and even vary somewhat
from version to version of a particular OS. Whatever type of OS you use, it
is very important to learn how to use the desktop correctly, since it is the
base for all computer operations. The best place to learn about your
particular OS is with the user manual or tutorial included with your
computer.

In this lesson, we will look at Macintosh desktops only, since Macintosh is

one of the most common operating systems used today - particularly by
students and educators. It would be impossible for me to fully cover each
version of this OS; instead, I will try to give a basic overview of how the
desktop looks and what it does. This lesson is based on the desktop of a
Mac OS 9.0.4, so please understand that your own desktop may be slightly
different if it is another OS version.

Desktop Graphics

Macintosh systems are based on Graphical User Interface or GUI, which

simply means that the interface uses graphics or pictures to help the user
navigate and access programs. When you first turn on a new computer, most
of the screen will be plain blue or blue with a logo or design. This
background graphic is called a Desktop Pattern. It is essentially a backdrop
for your work area. The graphic can be changed to a different pattern or
even a photo or picture (Desktop Picture).

Another important graphic feature that you find on a desktop is an icon.

Icons are small pictures that are linked to programs. Double-clicking on the
icon runs the program or accesses the file. Certain icons are a permanent

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fixture on the desktop. The user can put other icons on the desktop that
will quickly access programs or files - like a shortcut. Icons can be moved
around on the desktop by clicking and dragging them.

One icon that you should know about is the Trash Can. It has the same
purpose that a real trash can does - you put things in it that you no longer
need or want. Anytime you delete a file or folder, it goes into the Trash Can
where it stays until the Trash Can is emptied. Double-clicking on the icon
will open a window that will show you what is stored there. Just like in real
life, things sometimes get thrown away by accident and have to be rescued.
The computer Trash Can lets you do the same thing. If you delete
something you shouldn't have, you can find it in the Trash Can and restore
it to its proper place. When the Trash Can is emptied, everything in it is
permanently deleted. Never put anything in the Trash Can or empty the
Trash Can without permission!

Many newer versions of the Mac OS offer sticky notes that can be placed
on the desktop as quick reminders - similar to sticking a paper note on the
computer screen!

On the left side of the screen, you may see a small, triangular-shaped icon.
This icon accesses the Control Panel. Clicking on the icon will open a menu
bar that includes various icons for accessing important system features.
The Control Panel usually includes monitor controls, volume controls,
printers, energy savers and more, providing quick access to these important
system controls.

The Menu Bar

At the top of the screen, you will see a long,

thin bar with words and a clock on it. This is
the menu bar - another graphic tool that helps
you to access programs and files. On the left
side of the menu bar, you will see an apple icon.
If you click on this icon, a box called a drop-
down menu will appear under it. The drop-down
menu contains several words or items that
allow you to do different things within the
computer. Clicking on an item will let you access
files or run programs. Look back at the menu
bar again. To the right of the apple icon, you will see several menus: "File",

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"Edit", "View", and "Help" are the most common menus, but you may see
others depending on what program you are running. Each of these menus
accesses its own drop-down menu with its own set of items.

• Apple icon menu contains system info and special programs that deal
with running the computer.
• File menu contains file items like open, print, save, quit, move to
trash and close.
• Edit menu contains editing items like undo, cut, copy, paste and clear.
• View menu contains items for changing how things appear on the
screen.
• Help menu contains items to access tutorials or helpful information.

On a Mac system, the menu bar always remains at the top of the screen,
except when running certain programs, like games, that do not require a
menu bar.

Windows (not the operating system)

Many programs and applications run within windows or boxes that can be
opened, minimized, resized and closed. When a program window opens, you
may notice that the menus on the menu bar change. That is because the
menus vary to suit the needs of the program that is running. At the top of
each window, you will see a title bar that contains the title of the program
or folder. To the left of the title bar is a small square icon that closes the
window. On the right, are two square icons: the left one resizes the window
and the right one minimizes/maximizes it. Resizing allows the user to make
the window smaller or larger. Minimizing the window shrinks it so that only
the title bar is seen. This is helpful if the user is temporarily not using the
program, but plans to return to it soon. When several windows are
minimized, you will see the title bars lined up on the desktop. The bars can
be moved around the desktop by clicking and dragging them. Bars that are
pale are inactive or not being used. Clicking on the bar makes that window
active or ready to use again. Clicking the icon on the far right of the title
bar again maximizes the window, so that the entire window can be seen.
When the window is maximized, look just below the title bar. You may see
folder information there that tells how many items are in the folder and
the amount of space that is available within the folder. On the right side of
the window, you may see a scroll bar. The scroll bar appears when the
window contains more information than can fit on the screen. Moving the
scroll bar up or down allows the user to see all of the information in the
window.

40
Learning the Basics

Learning how to use the desktop is the first step in learning to use a
Macintosh system. Hopefully, you can use this brief lesson as a starting
point. Remember, though, that experience is the best teacher, so do some
exploring on your own Mac. Go to the "Help" menu on the menu bar, and
check the drop-down menu for "Mac Tutorials" to help you learn to use your
system.

41
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43
 Lesson 8b - The Windows Desktop
When your computer is booted up and ready to use, the screen you see is
called the desktop. It is the background for all programs and contains the
commands needed for accessing those programs. Desktops vary from one
operating system (OS) to another, and even vary somewhat from version to
version of a particular OS. Whatever type of OS you use, it is very
important to learn how to use the desktop correctly, since it is the base for
all computer operations. The best place to learn about your particular OS is
with the user manual or tutorial included with your computer.

In this lesson, we will look at the Windows desktop only, since Windows is
one of the most common operating systems used today - particularly by
students and educators. It would be impossible for me to fully cover each
version of this OS; instead, I will try to give a basic overview of how the
desktop looks and what it does. This lesson is based on the Windows 98
desktop, so please understand that your own desktop may be slightly
different if it is a different OS version.

Desktop Graphics

Both Windows and Macintosh systems are based on Graphical User

Interface or GUI, which simply means that the interface uses graphics or
pictures to help the user navigate and access programs. When you first
turn on a new computer, most of the screen will be plain blue or blue with a
logo or design. This background graphic is called Wallpaper. It is essentially
a backdrop for your work area. The graphic can be changed to a different
pattern or even a photo or picture by accessing "Display" in the Control
Panel.

Another important graphic feature that you will find on a desktop is an icon.
Icons are small pictures that are linked to programs. Double-clicking on the
icon runs the program or accesses the file and right-clicking accesses a
menu offering options, actions and properties. Certain icons are a
permanent fixture on the desktop. The user can put other icons on the
desktop that will quickly access programs or files - like a shortcut. Icons
can be moved around on the desktop by clicking and dragging them.

One of the most important icons on the desktop is My Computer, which

accesses drives, printers, the Control Panel and other system applications.
The Control Panel gives the user access to the computer system and many
support applications, such as "Add New Hardware", "Add/Remove Programs"

44
and "Accessibility Options". From the Control Panel, you can access
hardware settings for the keyboard, mouse, printers and modem; as well as
settings for the monitor display and sound.

Another important icon that you should know about is the Recycle Bin. It
has the same purpose that a real trash can does - you put things in it that
you no longer need or want. Anytime you delete a file or folder, it goes into
the Recycle Bin where it stays until the bin is emptied. Double-clicking on
the icon will open a window that will show you what is stored in the Recycle
Bin. Just like in real life, things sometimes get thrown away by accident and
have to be rescued. The Recycle Bin lets you do the same thing. If you
delete something you shouldn't have, you can find it in the Recycle Bin and
restore it to its proper place. When the Recycle Bin is emptied, everything
in it is permanently deleted. Never put anything in the Recycle Bin or empty
the Recycle Bin without permission!

The Start Menu and Taskbar

At the edge of the screen (usually the bottom edge), you will see a long,
thin bar with a box labeled "Start" on one end
and a clock on the other end. This is the taskbar -
another graphic tool that helps you to access
programs and files. You may see icons on the
taskbar, too. These are called "Quick Launch"
icons that allow one-click access to frequently
used programs.

If you click on the "Start" button, a box called a

menu will appear. The menu will contain several
words. Some words will have arrows next to
them that access other menus. Listed below are the basic Start-menu
options:

Programs - accesses installed programs.

Favorites - accesses book-marked web

pages.

Documents - accesses the most

recently opened documents.

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Settings - accesses system applications such as Control Panel, printers,
taskbar and Start Menu options.

Find - searches for specific files or folders.

Help - offers helpful topics for computer use.

Run - user can input commands to run specific programs.

Log Off - allows a password-protected user to log off and another to log
on.

Shut Down - shuts down or restarts the computer.

The Start Menu can be personalized by adding and removing programs, files
and folders.

Windows (not the operating system)

Many programs and applications run within windows or boxes that can be
opened, minimized, resized and closed. At the top of each window, you will
see a title bar that contains the title of the program or folder. To the right
of the title bar are three square icons or buttons. The button on the far
right has an "X" on it and closes the window (which also closes the
program). The middle button will have one or two small boxes on it - this is
the resize button. Resizing allows the user to make the window full-screen
or smaller. The button on the left has a small line on it - this is the minimize
button. When a window is open, you will see a rectangular button on the
taskbar that displays the windows title and maybe an icon. Minimizing the
window clears it from the screen, but keeps the program running - all you
will see of a minimized window is the button on the taskbar. A raised button
indicates a minimized or inactive window, and a depressed button indicates
an open or active window. Minimizing a window is helpful if the user is
temporarily not using the program, but plans to return to it soon. To
restore a minimized window, simply click on the button on the taskbar. Also,
it is sometimes possible to have several windows open at once and lined up in
a cascade, one in front of another. In this case, the active window will
always be in the front.

In the Windows operating system, each window contains its own menu.
Found just under the title bar, the menu contains several words that will

46
access drop-down menus of options and actions. The menus vary from one
program to another, but here are some basic examples:

File menu contains file items like new, open, close, and print.

Edit menu contains editing items like undo, cut, copy, paste and clear.

View menu contains items for changing how things appear on the screen.

Help menu contains items to access tutorials or helpful information.

Under the menu, you will often find a toolbar - a bar of icons or options
that allow you to perform specific operations within the program.

In the main body of the window, you may find lists of folders or files or you
may be given a workspace for typing, drawing or other activities. On the
right side of the window, you may see a scroll bar. The scroll bar appears
when the window contains more information than can fit on the screen.
Moving the scroll bar up or down allows the user to see all of the
information in the window.

Learning the Basics

Learning how to use the desktop is the first step in learning to use a
Windows system. Hopefully, you can use this brief lesson as a starting
point. Remember, though, that experience is the best teacher, so do some
exploring on your own PC. Many systems include Tutorials that will teach you
how to use your system step-by-step. You'll also find some very helpful
information about the Windows desktop under the "Help" option of the
Start Menu.

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 Lesson 9 - Knowing Your System
Now that you have a basic understanding of
computer components and how they work, let's
apply this knowledge to your own system. It is
important to know your computer system's
specifications so that you can purchase or
download appropriate software programs.

Read the Label

When you are shopping for computer software - in a virtual store or a real
one - it is important to check out the program's Minimum System
Requirements before making a purchase. They will help you to determine
whether or not the software is compatible with your computer system.
System Requirements will be listed somewhere on the packaging of a
software product or should be available on the product's web page if you
are shopping online. Check out the graphic to the right for a sample from a
software package.

Requirement information will vary from product to product, but most

requirements will tell you the following:

• Operating System compatibility

• Processor speed
• RAM requirements
• available Hard Disk Space needed for installation
• CD-ROM or DVD speed

Additional requirements may be listed for:

• Monitor Display
• Video Card
• Sound Card
• Peripherals - joystick, gamepad, etc.
• Modem (for internet applications)
• Support software

Remember that the information listed covers the minimum requirements. In

other words, your system needs to have at least that much speed, memory,
space, etc. in order to run the software properly. If your system specs are
higher than the minimum requirement, then the software should run on your

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system. The only caution you should have here is that some programs
written for older operating systems (particularly Windows 95) may not run
on newer operating systems.

Requirement or Recommendation?

On many software products, the manufacturer will list System

Recommendations along with Minimum System Requirements. This
information lets the consumer know that higher specs may be needed to get
optimum software performance. The program will run on a system with the
minimum requirements, but it will run better at the recommended
requirements.

System Specifications

If you don't know your system specifications already, you should be able to
find them in your user guide or other paperwork from the manufacturer.
System information can also be accessed through your computer. Although
the location of this information may vary from system to system, the most
common place to find it will be in the "System" menu of the Control Panel.
Knowing this information about your system will help you make compatible
software purchases.

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Lesson 10 - Computer Care & Safety
Computers, like any other piece of electronic equipment, need special care
and attention in order to perform properly and safely. There are several
specialized tasks such as defragmenting, scanning and reformatting that
computer experts can do to keep the internal system of a computer working
well. However, we'll leave these tasks to the experts for now and
concentrate on some daily do's and don'ts that any computer user should
know.

A Clean Machine

This may seem like a simple topic, but computers require special cleaning
even on the outside. Keeping your system free of dust, dirt and liquids is
the first step to computer care. Your system's user guide is the best place
to find information on how to clean your outer components; but here are
some general tips that you should always remember:

• Never spray your monitor screen (or any other computer component)
with glass cleaner. Instead, spray a lint-free cloth lightly with glass
cleaner, then clean the screen. Be sure to hold the cloth away from the
computer when spraying.
• Computer components should be kept as dust-free as possible.
• Canned air or small computer-specific vacuum cleaners are an
excellent way to clean keyboards, computer case vents, or around disk
drive openings.
• The rubber ball inside the bottom of a mouse may need occasional
cleaning. If the mouse does not perform correctly, check your user guide
for cleaning directions.

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 • Never try to remove the cover on your computer to clean inside.
Instead, take it to an authorized service technician for cleaning.
• Keep all liquids and food items away from your computer. Liquids and
food crumbs can damage delicate electronic circuits. Also, mixing liquids
and electronic components can cause serious electrical shock!
• Wash your hands before using the computer to avoid "sticky keys."
• When in doubt about how to clean your computer system, consult
your user manual or technical support.

A Shocking Possibility

It is important to remember that your computer is connected to

electricity. If you have an Internet connection, which also means that your
computer is connected to a telephone line or cable connection. These are
also conductive connections. That means that lightning could be conducted
to your computer through any of these connections. For safety reasons, you
should never use your computer during a storm.

Many computer users purchase surge protectors to safeguard their

system. The user plugs computer components into the surge protector, then
plugs the surge protector into the wall. Just like the name implies, surge
protectors are designed to protect computers against electrical surges or
lightning. However, these devices can fail, so it's best to stay clear of the
computer during storms.

Also, as mentioned earlier, electricity and liquids don't mix. Keep water and
other liquids away from the computer system. This includes drinks, water
guns, fish bowls and cleaning fluids.

Beware of Viruses

Viruses and worms are names for pesky computer-unfriendly programs that
can accidentally be downloaded into your system. Some are just a nuisance,
but others can crash your system and cause irreparable damage. To avoid
these nasty creatures, follow these safety tips:

• Install, use and regularly update virus software

• Never open an e-mail attachment unless you know and trust the
person who sent it.
• Do not accept downloads from Internet sites that you don't know
and trust.

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If you would like to learn more about viruses and antivirus utilities, Check
out The Virus Zoo at CNet for some great information!

Avoid Installation Marathons

Let's say that you were given several new computer games for your
birthday. Or maybe your parents just bought you a new system and you
want to load all your favorite games. Do you sit down and install all of these
programs one right after another? No! It may be tempting, but it's not a
good idea. Sometimes, installing a new program can cause conflicts within
your system. These conflicts will need to be worked out or else the program
will have to be uninstalled so that your system will work correctly. If you
install 2 or more programs before you realize there is a problem, it will be
very difficult to determine what the problem is and which program caused
it. Instead, try installing one program, then use your computer long enough
to see how your system responds to the installation before loading the next
program.

Safe Computing!

Following these guidelines should help you to take good care of your
computer system, so that you can get lots of enjoyment from it. Remember,
that if you have any questions about your particular system, you should
check your user guide or contact technical support.

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