Transcript Computer Basics for Seniors An introduction to the personal computer, the Windows operating system and word processing Instructor: Shayna Keces 236-0302, ext.

Computer Basics for Seniors
An introduction to the personal
computer, the Windows operating
system and word processing
Instructor: Shayna Keces
236-0302, ext. 441
May 2004
Agenda
What is a computer?
What is an operating system?
What is a mouse?
Word processing programs
Saving and storing files
Other computer applications
What is a personal computer
Screen
Box, tower, etc.
motherboard
hard drive
floppy drive
Cdrom/DVD
Keyboard and mouse
Peripherals
Operating system
Program used to control computer, link
between user and internal working of
computer and programs
Windows vs. Mac vs. Linux
Windows
Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, NT, XP?
Desktop and icons
Task bar (shows which programs are open)
Start button
Launch programs
Shut down computer
Programs
Keyboard keys
Enter (Used to send message to computer
that you want it to do something or to go to
new line in word processor)
Page up, Page down, Home, End (cursor
movement keys)
F1-F12 (Function keys used as keyboard
alternatives to mouse in various programs)
Esc (Use to exit a program which does not
display typical title and/or menu bar)
Keyboard keys cont.
Shift key (Used in addition to another key to
produce capital letters and punctuation)
CTL, ALT (Used in conjunction with other
keys to perform certain functions, eg. ALT
+CTRL +Delete to restart computer or display
Task Manager)
Arrows (More cursor movement keys)
Backspace (erases behind cursor), Delete
(erases in front of cursor)
Any key
Backspace
Key
Delete
Key
Mouse
Pointing device that moves pointer or cursor
Point and click
Left and right buttons (3rd button or wheel not
required)
Start programs - 1 click from menu vs 2 clicks
from desktop
Highlight text
Practice makes perfect
Mouse tutorial
Title bar
Menu bar
Tool bar
Status bar
Start button
Format bar
Task bar
Word Processing Programs
Word, Word pro, WordPerfect, Wordpad
File (new, open, save, save as, print)
Edit (undo, cut, copy, paste, find, replace,
object)
View (Word, layouts, zoom)
Insert (date and time, object)
Format (Font, paragraph, tabs)
Tools (Word only, spelling and grammar)
FILE
New (no file presently exists)
Open (file exists on hard drive or floppy)
Save (file already saved, see title bar)
Save as (file has never yet been saved or you
want to keep the original as well as the new
file)
Needs to be placed in correct file folder
Print (specify what part and no. of copies)
Print preview (see what page looks like)
Exit (closes program)
Opening files
Put cursor on word “File” in file menu and
click. Move down the drop-down menu to
“Open” and click
Make sure you have the correct folder in the
“Look in” box and file should appear in the big
white box below the “Look in” box
Double click on the correct folder or file in the
“Look in” box or single click and click on the
button labeled “Open”
Saving files
Saving files for first time is “Save as”
“Save” will save previously saved item in
same place as before, wiping out original
When saving a file always remember to check
that “Save in” box is correct, (i.e. my
documents)
Failure to change to correct folder can
make it difficult to find file when needed
EDIT
Undo (in case you made a mistake)
Cut (removes highlighted text and saves it in
memory)
Copy (copies to memory highlighted text and
leaves it in place)
Paste (puts last text stored in memory into
document)
Select all (shortcut to highlight everything)
Find (used in many programs to find particular
word)
Replace (find a word and replace with another,
used for wholesale changes)
Object properties (better to click on object or
picture)
View
Checkmark means item is on
Toolbar (shortcuts for actions in menu bar)
Format bar (way to change look of print)
Ruler (helps you judge layout on page)
Status bar (tells you where you are in the
document)
Word has different layouts and zoom
capability
Insert
Date/Time (allows you to select format of date
and/or time and entered automatically)
Object (can be file or picture)
Break (page or column only in Word)
Format
Font (can choose kind, size and style and
colour)
Sample shows you what it looks like
Add bullets
Paragraph definitions (margins, indent, and
alignment)
Tab positions
Help
Help topics
Table of contents
Index (list of all relevant words)
Find (search by keyword)
About WordPad (gives version no.)
Handling files
Organization
Documents (eg. letter to landlord)
Folders (eg. Letters)
Drawers (eg. My documents)
Save vs save as
Windows Explorer
Deleting
Moving
Windows Explorer
Open from “Programs” menu or right click on
“Start” button or “My Computer” (Left click on
Explore if using Start button or My computer)
Left-hand pane is hierarchical organization of
your computer
+ means subfolders are available under heading
- means all folders at that level have been displayed
Right-hand pane lists all folder or files of the
folder highlighted on the left-hand pane.
Deleting files
Deleting files must be done from a place
where a file can be highlighted (eg. Windows
Explorer or the big white box when you are
opening or saving files)
Highlight the file you want to delete and press
the delete key.
You can also, if your screen is not taking up
the whole screen left click on the file and drag
it to the recycle bin.
Moving Files
Using the left hand pane click on the plus signs
beside the relevant folders to reveal the folder in
which the document resides.
Click on that folder on the left hand side to reveal
the contents on the right hand side.
On the right hand side, click on the file or
document you want to move
Click on Edit in the menu bar and then on Cut
On the left hand side find the folder you want to
move the file to and click on it (The right hand
side should reveal the contents of that folder.)
Click on paste on the drop down menu for Edit in
the menu bar.
Other applications
Internet (Internet Explorer or Netscape
Navigaor)
Other accessories (Paint, calculator, notepad)
Spreadsheets
Database programs
Utility programs (eg. virus checker)
Slide presentations
Drawing pictures, making cards
Games