Your Step-by-Step

Guide to Basic Computer

Skills Plus
Win 7, 8, 8.1 and Office 2013
 Your Step-by-Step Guide to Basic Computer Skills Plus


YOUR STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS +

Still too scared to step onto that dreaded Technology Highway?

YOUR STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS is designed to get you going with the essential basic
skills of using a computer either at home or in the office. This versatile manual can be used in the classroom or
for self-study.

WIN 7, 8, 8.1 & Office 2013

The instructions are clearly set out; the explanations are easy to follow; the graphics are great and there are
plenty of practical exercises with solutions provided (CD with data disk provided). The manual includes a
step-by-step introductory guide to typing. The fold-out keyboard is a handy feature of this manual.

YOUR STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS includes:

 Basics of a Computer  The Keyboard  MS Word

 Introduction to Typing  Basic Windows Skills  MS Excel
 The Mouse  Internet & E-mail    MS PowerPoint
FREE Typing Tutor Included.

1
 Your Step-by-Step Guide to Basic Computer Skills Plus


About this book

This training material has been developed to address the needs of the new computer user. Every effort has been
made to make the language jargon free. This book is a learning tool. It is important for the facilitator/trainer to
make the first experience of the new computer user both interesting and memorable.

The book has been developed and aligned to the following Unit Standard:

SAQA US ID Unit Standard Title Notional Hours

113836 Apply basic computer technology 110

Notional Hours Table

Module Credits Total Hours Contact Hours Assignment/ Test Hours

1 3 30 15 15

2 1 10 6 4

3 2 20 10 10

4 1 20 15 5

5 2 40 30 10

6 1 30 20 10

7 1 30 20 10

8 3 30 15 15

9 3 30 15 15

10 2 20 15 5

The Unit Standards with their allotted credits are listed below.

Modules SAQA ID Unit Standard Title NQF Level Credits

1, 4, 6 and 7 113836 Apply basic computer technology 3 11

Course Content

2
 Your Step-by-Step Guide to Basic Computer Skills Plus


MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS

SPECIFIC OUTCOMES

At the end of this module the learner should be able to: COMPLETED
Understand What A Computer Is 
Understand Computer Terms 
Understand What Makes A Computer Powerful 
Understand The Different Types Of Computers 
Identify The Different Parts Of A Computer 
Switch A Computer On And Off 
Understand What Memory Is 
Understand How Computers Work 
Understand The Different Input & Output Devices 
Understand What Ergonomics Is 
Understand What A Virus Is 

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS - MODULE OUTLINE

 What Is A Computer?  How Computers Work
 Introductory Computer Terms  Input
 What Makes A Computer Powerful?  Processing (Inside The Computer’s Case)
 Types Of Computers  Storage
 Output
 Parts Of A Computer
 Switching A Computer On And Off  Input And Output Devices
 Switching On A Computer  Ergonomics
 Switching Off A Computer  Virus
 Memory

MODULE 2: MOUSE SKILLS

SPECIFIC OUTCOMES

At the end of this module the learner should be able to: COMPLETED

 Definition of a Mouse 
Understanding the Mouse Buttons 
Perform Various Mouse Actions Like:

O Point 
O Left-Click 
O Right-Click 
O Double-Click 
O Drag And Drop

3
 Your Step-by-Step Guide to Basic Computer Skills Plus


The Correct Way to Hold the Mouse 

Describe What A Mouse Pad Is Used For 
Understand Mouse Settings Can be Changed (Speed of Mouse / Left-Handed) 
Understand The Different Types Of Mouse That Are Available 
Difference Between Ball, Optical And Laser Mouse 
Understand How To Clean The Mouse 

MOUSE SKILLS MODULE OUTLINE

 The Correct Way To Hold The Mouse  Mouse Pad
 Mouse Actions  Different Types Of Mouse
 Left-Handed Users

MODULE 3: KEYBOARD SKILLS

SPECIFIC OUTCOMES

At the end of this module the learner should be able to: COMPLETED

 Identify Keys On The Keyboard 

 Use The Functionality Of The Following Keys Correctly:
O Cursor

O Escape Key

O Functions Key 
O Alphabetical Keys 
O Space Bar 
O Middle Keypad 
O Numeric Keypad 
O Keys Containing 2 Symbols / Characters 
O Backspace


O Shift Keys / Alt Keys / Control Keys

O Tab Key 
O Caps Lock Key Bar
 Identify and Understand the Punctuation Marks and Keys 
 Identify and Understand the Symbols and Keys 

BOARD SKILLS MODULE OUTLINEKEYBOARD SKILLS MODULE OUTLINE

4
 Your Step-by-Step Guide to Basic Computer Skills Plus


 Cursor  Backspace
 Escape Key And Function Keys (Top Row)  Shift Keys
 Alphabetical Keypad  Alt And Control Keys
 Space Bar  Tab Key Caps Lock Key
 Middle Keypad  Punctuation Marks
 Numeric Keypad  Symbols
 Keys That Contain 2 Symbols/Characters

MODULE 4: BASIC WINDOWS SKILLS

SPECIFIC OUTCOMES

At the end of this module the learner should be able to: COMPLETED

Understand What Windows Is 

Understand The Importance Of An Operating System 
Understand The Components Of A Desktop 
Understand the Different Parts of a Window  
Understand What A Graphical User Interface Is  
 Working With Windows 
 Understand The Importance of Managing Files/Folders 
 Working With Windows Explorer 
 Create a New Folder  
 Manage Files / Folders (Move, Copy, Delete, Rename) 
 Working With The Recycle Bin 

BASIC WINDOWS SKILLS - MODULE OUTLINE

5
 Your Step-by-Step Guide to Basic Computer Skills Plus


 What Is Windows?  Managing Files

 Why Use Windows  File Storage Structure
 Desktop  File Storage Media
 Computer  Create A New Folder
 Recycle Bin  Selecting Files Or Folder
 Taskbar  Moving Or Copying Folders
 Start Button  Deleting Files Or Folders
 Parts Of A Window  Renaming Files And Folders
 Working With Windows
 Recycle Bin
 Opening A Window
 Recovering Deleted Files And Folders
 Closing A Window
 Emptying The Recycle Bin
 Minimizing A Window

 Maximizing A Window
 Restoring A Window
 Resizing A Window
 Moving A Window Scroll Bars
 Scroll Arrows

MODULE 5: MS WORD

SPECIFIC OUTCOMES

At the end of this module the learner should be able to: COMPLETED
Open MICROSOFT WORD 2013 
Understand The Different Parts Of The Word Window  
Understand The File Tab 
Save / Update A Document  
Create A New Document  
Open / Close A Document  
Change The Zoom Percentage Of A Document 
Select Text 
Apply Formats (Font, Size, Effects)  
Align Text  
Line Spacing  
Move (Cut) Text / Copy Text / Paste Text  
Apply Page Borders  
6
 Your Step-by-Step Guide to Basic Computer Skills Plus


Insert Tables / Working With Tables  

Contextual Ribbon Tabs 
Using Spell Check  
Understand Page Setup / Print a Document  
Insert Clipart / Wordart / Working With Pictures (Moving/Copying/Resizing) 

MS WORD 2013 MODULE OUTLINE

 Launching Microsoft Office Word 2013  Activity: Formatting

 The Word Window  Font Colour Aligning Text
 Parts Of The Word Window  Moving Text (Cutting)
 The File Tab  Copying Text
 Saving A Document  Adding A Page Border
 Close A Document  Wordart
 Create A New Document  Working With A Table
 Open A Document That Already Has A Name  Inserting A Table
 Updating (Saving) A Document That Already  The Table Ribbon
Has A Name  Entering Text In A Table
 Zoom  Moving Around In A Table
 Page Setup  Changing Borders And Shading
 Page Orientation (Portrait/Landscape)  Moving A Table
 Margins  Resizing A Table
 Font Face  Delete A Table And Contents
 Changing The Font, Size And Effects  Use Table Styles To Format An Entire Table
 Using The Ribbon To Change The Font  Printing
 Using The Ribbon To Change The Font Size  Spell Check
 Using The Ribbon To Change The Font  Clip Art
Colour
 Resizing The Picture
 Font Size  Wrapping Text
 Font Style

7
 Your Step-by-Step Guide to Basic Computer Skills Plus


MODULE 6: MS EXCEL

SPECIFIC OUTCOMES

At the end of this module the learner should be able to: COMPLETED
Open / Exit MICROSOFT EXCEL 2013 
EXCEL 2013 Window 
Understand The Different Parts Of The Excel Window 
Understand The File Button  
Create A New Workbook  
Entering Text And Numbers 
Open / Close / Save A Workbook 
Update And Save A Workbook  
Identify Cells, Columns, Rows And Ranges 
Selecting/Deleting Ranges  
Zoom 
Autofill  
FORMULAS / Order Of Calculation / FUNCTIONS (Autosum Button)  
Adjust Column Widths / Adjust Row Heights  
Insert / Delete Rows And Columns  
Move / Copy / Paste Data  
Perform A Spell Check 
Understand and Apply Formatting to Data  
Apply Borders And Shading  
Working With Page Settings For Printing / Printing a Workbook  

8
 Your Step-by-Step Guide to Basic Computer Skills Plus


MS EXCEL MODULE OUTLINE

 Launching Microsoft Excel 2013  Dragging Column Borders

 The Excel Window  Using Autofit
 Changing Widths Of Multiple Columns
 Parts Of The Excel Window
 Row Height
 The File Button
 Worksheet  Inserting Columns And Rows

 Cells  Deleting Rows And Columns

 Active Cell  Moving And Pasting Data

 Moving Around A Worksheet  Copying And Pasting Data

 Saving A New Workbook  Using Autosum

 Closing A Workbook  Check Spelling

 Create A New Workbook  Changing The Appearance Of Data

 Changing Fonts, Style, Size, Colour And
 Opening An Existing Workbook
Effects
 Updating (Saving) A Document That
 Changing Text Attributes With Toolbar
Already Has A Name
 Buttons
 Closing Microsoft Excel 2013
 Formatting Values
 Columns
 Using The Number Style Buttons To Format
 Rows
Numbers
 What Is A Range?
 Changing The Currency Symbol And
 Selecting A Range?
Thousand Separator
 Deleting Data/Range
 Aligning Data In Cells
 What Is A Cell Reference?  Using The Alignment Buttons To Align
 Zoom Text
 Entering Data With Autofill  Adding Borders To Cells
 Entering Numerical Data With Autofill  Adding Shading To Cells
 Activity - Using Autofill  Setting Margins
 Formulas  Change The Paper Size
 Entering Formulas  Change The Page Orientation
 Activity - Entering Formulas  Printing The Worksheet
 Adjust Column Widths

9
 Your Step-by-Step Guide to Basic Computer Skills Plus


MODULE 7: MS POWERPOINT

SPECIFIC OUTCOMES

At the end of this module the learner should be able to: COMPLETED

Understand What a Presentation Is 

Open MICROSOFT POWERPOINT 2013 
Identify The Parts of a PowerPoint Screen 
Create A New Blank Presentation  
Create A New Presentation Using a Theme/Presentation Template  
Adding Text to Slides Using Placeholders 
Inserting New Slides 
Changing The Slide Layout 
Saving A Presentation  
Opening / Closing a Presentation  
Exit PowerPoint  
Zoom  
Inserting / Resizing / Copying / Moving Clip Art  
Inserting Pictures  
Finishing Touches – Design Theme  
Slide Transition  
Running A Slideshow 

 10
 Your Step-by-Step Guide to Basic Computer Skills Plus


MS POWERPOINT MODULE OUTLINE

 What Is A Presentation?  Resizing Images
 Launching Microsoft Office PowerPoint  Moving Images
2013  Inserting Pictures From The Local Computer
 The PowerPoint Window  Saving Slide Shows
 Closing Microsoft PowerPoint  Saving And Naming Your Slide Show
 Zoom  Updating Slide Shows
 Fit To Window  Closing Slide Shows
 Creating Slide Shows  Opening Slide Shows
 Creating A New Presentation  Finishing Touches
 Inserting Slides  Transitions
 Changing The Slide Layout
 Apply Transitions To All Slides
 Adding Text To Slides Using Placeholders
 Inserting Pictures From The Online Gallery  Running A Standard Slide Show

 11
 Your Step-by-Step Guide to Basic Computer Skills Plus


MODULE 8: INTERNET EXPLORER

SPECIFIC OUTCOMES

At the end of this module the learner should be able to: COMPLETED
Understand What Internet Explorer Is 
Differentiate Between The World Wide Web And The Internet  
Explain What The Internet Offers 
Connecting To The Internet  
Identify A Web Browser And Give Examples Of Web Browsers  
Differentiate Between A Web Page And A Web Site 
Understand What A Search Engine Is 
Understand What an Internet Service Provider is 
Things to Consider When Choosing an ISP  
Know What a URL is  
Define The Structure Of A Web Address  
Understand Domains  
Launch Internet Explorer / Exit Internet Explorer  
Understand What the Home Page is / Change the Home Page  
Know the Parts of the Internet Explorer Window  
Changing Text Size  
Opening a Web Site  
Know What a Search Engine Is  
Working With The Search Box Using Keywords 
Search For Information  
Understand What A Hyperlink Is  
Returning to your Home Page 
Searching for Images on the Web  
Saving/Copying Images Off the Web  
Printing a Web Page  

 12
 Your Step-by-Step Guide to Basic Computer Skills Plus


INTERNET EXPLORER MODULE OUTLINE

 Internet Explorer (Theory)  Internet (Practical)

 What Is The World Wide Web?  Opening Internet Explorer
 What Is The Internet?  Closing Internet Explorer
 What The Internet Offers?  Text Size
 Getting Connected To The Internet  Opening A Web Site
 What Is A Web Browser?  Changing The Home Page
 Examples Of Web Browsers  Returning To Your Home Page
 What Is A Web Page?  Hyperlinks
 What Is A Web Site?  Search Engines
 What Is A Search Engine?  Keyword
 What Is An Internet Service Provider (ISP)?  South African Search Engines
 Things To Consider When Choosing An ISP  International Search Engines
 What Is A Uniform Resource Locator (URL)?  Search Box
 Examples Of URL’s  Searching For Information
 Attributes Of A URL’s  Searching For Images
 Structure Of A Web Address/URL  Saving An Image
 What Is A Domain?  Printing A Web Page
 Home Page

 13
 Your Step-by-Step Guide to Basic Computer Skills Plus


MODULE 9: EMAIL SKILLS

SPECIFIC OUTCOMES

At the end of this module the learner should be able to: COMPLETED
Parts of an E-Mail Address 
Creating an E-Mail Account 
Sending E-Mail 
Sending E-Mail Attachments 
Receiving E-Mails  
Opening an E-Mail  
Replying to an E-Mail  
Saving/Viewing Attachments  
Returning to the Inbox  
Adding an E-Mail Address to the Contact List  
Viewing a Contact List  
Signing out of your E-Mail Account  
Logging In to Your E-Mail Account  

INTERNET EXPLORER MODULE OUTLINE

 Creating An E-Mail Account  Signing Out

 Sending E-Mail  Logging In After You Have Created Your E -
 Creating A Contact Mail Account

Midlands Computer
Training Centre
Northway Mall, Upper level
083 216 4255
033 387 3052
stanton@midlandstraining.
co.za
www.midlandstraining.co.z
a

 14