Basic Computer Skills
• Using the mouse and keyboard, getting
to know your desktop,
• and using the internet.
Why Learn to Use a
Computer?
Why Learn to Use a
Computer?
• To open up a world of information
• To easily access government &
other organizations
• To connect with family &
friends
• To have fun!
Parts of a Desktop Computer
• Monitor
• Keyboar
d
• Mouse
• Tower
Parts of the Mouse
• Left button (think of this as the
“action” button)
• Right button (displays menu
options)
• Center wheel (scrolls pages up
and down)
• USB Cable (Connects mouse to
the Tower)
Using the Mouse
Moving the cursor
• There are three different types
of cursors: the arrow, the hand,
and the hourglass.
• When the mouse is moved
along the top of a solid surface
such as a table or mouse pad,
the cursor on the screen will
move in the same direction.
Using the Mouse
Single Click (selects things)
• Quickly click the left mouse
button once and let go.
Double Click (opens things)
• Quickly click the left mouse
button two times successively and
let go. Think of a quick “knock,
knock”.
Using the Mouse
Drag and Drop (moves objects)
• Select the item using the left
button & keep the button
pressed down.
• Move the mouse and the item
will move with the cursor.
• When you have the item where
you want it, release the left
button.
• The item will now remain
where you dropped it.
Using the Mouse
Right Button (options display)
• Click and release the right
mouse button. A menu of
options appears. You are then
able to move the mouse and
select an option from the
menu.
• To exit the menu, simply move
the mouse away from the menu
and Left Click. The menu will
disappear.
The
Keyboard
• Letters • Num Lock • Shift
• Numbers • Return • Tab
• Symbols • Backspace • Windows
• Space bar • Caps Lock • Arrows
Using the
Keyboard
Letter Keys
• Press a letter key to type letters in lower case.
• Press the shift key and the letter key at the same
time to type the letter in upper case.
• To type in all uppercase, press the caps lock key and
then the letter keys. Press the caps lock key again to
turn caps lock off.
Using the
Keyboard
Numbers, Symbols & Num Lock
• Press a number key to type numbers.
• Press the shift key and a number key at the same
time to get the symbol above the number.
• The Num Lock button turns the 10 key pad (the
numbers at the right of the keyboard) on and off.
Using the
Keyboard
Arrow keys, Windows key & Ctrl+Alt+Del
• Press the arrow keys to move the cursor around the page.
• The windows key is a feature on most computers. Press
the windows key to bring up the windows menu. Press
the windows key again to leave the windows menu.
• Press the ctrl key, the alt key & the delete key all at the
same time to bring up the computer’s user options
window. To close the window, press the escape key.
Desktop and Icons
Using
Windows
• When you double click on a
folder, file or program icon, a
window will open.
• Windows allow you to use
multiple programs, websites,
files, etc. at the same time.
• The term windows can also
be used to refer to a
computer’s operating
system, such as Windows7,
WindowsVista, and
WindowsXP.
Using
Windows
The Internet
Ways to Navigate the Internet
Navigating with the Address
Bar
• Takes you on a direct path to the webpage of
your choice
• Eliminates steps required in using a Search
Engine
• Must know the exact web address – it’s like
getting in your car and driving to a destination.
Navigating with Search
Engines
• Good to use when you do not know a specific
website address
• Uses keywords to scour the internet
• Provides a list of relevant sites
• Places PAID AD results FIRST on the list. These
are highlighted and are usually the first three
or so links.
• Similar to travel agents – they’ll help you
get to where you want to go.
Navigating with Search
Engines
• Google
• Bing
• Ask
• Yahoo
Navigating with
Hyperlinks
• Following links
= surfing the web
• A good way to
discover new sites
• Fast and easy
• It is possible to end up someplace you
don’t want to be.
• Similar to streets, airplanes and boats – they
are gateways between different places.
Navigating with
Tabs
• Move within a trusted website
• Explore without “leaving the building”
• They are similar to elevators, halls, and
doorways, all contained within the same
structure.
Useful Internet Features
Using
Email
• Allows you to send/receive massages.
• You can attach and send/receive documents
and pictures.
• Create a contact list and address book
• Information is stored in the “cloud” and
is unlikely to be lost.
• It’s like sending a letter in the mail –
except you don’t have to wait for a mail
carrier!
Using
Email
Many FREE services
are available
online
• Hotmail
• Gmail
• Yahoo
Using
Email
• Inbox – shows messages that have been
received
• Sent – shows messages that have been sent to
others
• New – creates new message
• Reply – replies to sender of a message
that was received
• Forward – sends message received to a new
address
Safety on the Internet
• If it’s sounds too good to be true,
it is (you will never win $1,000,000
or a car on the internet.)
• A website is only secure if the web
address begins with https://
• Do not give your debit or credit card
information to unsecure websites or
businesses you don’t trust.
• If you don’t feel comfortable with
what you are seeing or doing,
don’t proceed.
• Be careful with who you give your
personal information to.
• Overall, just remember to use your
best judgment and common sense.
Thank you and
happy computing!
