Ready to Work

1. This training has been adapted from the Community Workshop Series www.lib.unc.edu/cwsREADY TO WORKCOMPUTER BASICSThe Ready to Work program is a four-part series of basic computer classes that include: ComputerFundamentals, Internet and Web Basics, Introduction to Web-based Email and Introduction to theMicrosoft Word Web App. After completing the program you will receive a certificate.

2. TABLE OF CONTENTSSection One - Computer FundamentalsGETTING STARTEDPrerequisites.............................................................................................................PAGE 7What You Will Learn ...............................................................................................PAGE 7BASIC COMPUTER SKILLSIdentifying Major Computer Components .............................................................. PAGE 8How Computers Work ............................................................................................. PAGE 9OPERATING SYSTEMS AND SOFTWAREMicrosoft Windows Operating System .................................................................... PAGE 10Turning on the Computer and Logging On .............................................................. PAGE 11Desktop / Environment ........................................................................................... PAGE 12THE KEYBOARD AND THE MOUSEUsing and Understanding the Keyboard..................................................................PAGE 13Using and Understanding the Mouse ......................................................................PAGE 14Left-Clicking, Double-Clicking and Right-Clicking ....................................................PAGE 14THE DESKTOPManaging Windows ................................................................................................ PAGE 17The Taskbar.............................................................................................................. PAGE 17SHUTTING DOWN THE COMPUTERLogging Off vs. Turning off / Shutting Down ...........................................................PAGE 18ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONFinding More Help....................................................................................................PAGE 18Buying a Computer .................................................................................................. PAGE 19Other Programs and Software................................................................................. PAGE 19MOUSING EXERCISES ........................................................................................................... PAGE 20

3. Section Two – Internet and Web BasicsGETTING STARTEDPrerequisites ..........................................................................................................PAGE 31What You Will Learn ............................................................................................ PAGE 31BASIC WEB SKILLS/USING A WEB BROWSERLocate and Open a Web Browser ..........................................................................PAGE 32Using a Browser’s Menu Bar ............................................................................... PAGE 33Using the Browser’s Toolbar................................................................................ PAGE 33The Address Bar .................................................................................................... PAGE 34Using Tabs ............................................................................................................ PAGE 34Using the Browser’s Help Feature .........................................................................PAGE 34WEBSITE ADDRESSES/URLsGo to a Specific Web Address ............................................................................... PAGE 35Identify and Follow Links on a Web Page ............................................................ PAGE 36Manipulate a Web Page ........................................................................................PAGE 36USING SEARCH ENGINESFinding Information with a Search Engine ............................................................PAGE 37Refining your Search ............................................................................................ PAGE 37Understanding Error Messages ............................................................................ PAGE 38COPYING INFORMATION FROM THE WEBSaving Images, Documents and More .................................................................. PAGE 38NAVIGATING THE WEBIdentifying Advertisements .................................................................................. PAGE 39Viruses and Personal Safety ..................................................................................PAGE 40INTERNET EXERCISE ........................................................................................................... PAGE 42

4. Section Three – Introduction to Web-Based EmailGETTING STARTEDPrerequisites .......................................................................................................... PAGE 44What You Will Learn ............................................................................................. PAGE 44INTRODUCTIONWhat is Email? ....................................................................................................... PAGE 44SETTING UP YOUR WEB-BASED EMAIL - OUTLOOKCreating a Web-based Email Account ................................................................... PAGE 46MANAGING YOUR WEB-BASED EMAIL - OUTLOOKChecking Your Web-based Email ........................................................................... PAGE 49Composing and Sending Messages ....................................................................... PAGE 49Attaching a File to your Message .......................................................................... PAGE 50Receiving and Reading Messages ......................................................................... PAGE 52Other Email Options .............................................................................................. PAGE 52ADDITIONAL FEATURES....................................................................................................... PAGE 55GETTING HELPWhere to Find Help ............................................................................................... PAGE 56EMAIL EXERCISE ................................................................................................................. PAGE 57

5. Section Four – Introduction to Microsoft’s Word Web AppGETTING STARTEDPrerequisites .......................................................................................................... PAGE 59What You Will Learn ............................................................................................. PAGE 59USING MICROSOFT WORD WEB APPMicrosoft Word Web App Components ................................................................ PAGE 60The Keyboard ........................................................................................................ PAGE 64SIMPLE TASKS IN MICROSOFT WORD WEB APPTyping Text ............................................................................................................ PAGE 64Formatting Text ..................................................................................................... PAGE 65Highlighting Text ................................................................................................... PAGE 65Undoing and Redoing ........................................................................................... PAGE 66Deleting Text ........................................................................................................ PAGE 66Copying, Cutting and Pasting Text ....................................................................... PAGE 66Inserting Images ................................................................................................... PAGE 67Changing Views and Overall Look ......................................................................... PAGE 69Spelling and Grammar Check ................................................................................ PAGE 70ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONSaving Documents ................................................................................................. PAGE 70Printing Documents ............................................................................................... PAGE 71Finding More Help ................................................................................................. PAGE 71MICROSOFT WORD WEB APP EXERCISE - CREATING AN INVITATION................................ PAGE 72

6. COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALSIn this class you will learn about the parts of the computer and how to use them, including using themouse, the basics of the Windows operating system and other important computer functions.

7. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 7GETTING STARTEDPrerequisitesIt is not assumed that the user is familiar and/or comfortable with using a computer:• This class is intended for new computer users.• We will be using PC desktop computers running the Microsoft Windows 7 Operating System.You might have heard some of these terms before, but it is definitely okay if you have not.• Remember: Practice makes perfect. Using the keyboard and mouse may seem difficult at first,but it will become easier over time. Note: the mouse is intended for you to use with your righthand, regardless of whether or not you are right-handed. However, now that many mice arewireless, this is less of an issue.• Please let the instructor know if you have questions or concerns prior to starting class.What You Will Learn:Identifying major computercomponentsUnderstanding the basics of howcomputers workThe difference betweensoftware and hardwareTurning a computer on Logging on to a computerIdentifying the computerdesktopChanging the appearance of thedesktopUsing the keyboardUsing and understandingthe different functionsof the mouseIntroducing yourself to theMicrosoft Windows operatingsystemUtilizing the Start Menu Logo inMicrosoft WindowsUtilizing the Taskbar inMicrosoft WindowsBuying a computer Other programs and softwareLogging off vs. shuttingdownTurning off the computer Finding More Help

8. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 8BASIC COMPUTER SKILLSOn any given day, most of what you do will involve computer systems. The television channels youwatch, the radio stations that you listen to, the car that you drive in and even the cash register at thelocal grocery store are all controlled in some way by computer systems! They help us perform tasks,keep track of a great deal of information and even control the airplanes that fly above us. During thecourse of this class, you will learn about how they work, how to perform simple tasks and much, muchmore.Identifying Major Computer ComponentsAs with most products, computers are designed in a variety of ways. There are, however, majorsimilarities regardless of the brand (e.g., Dell, HP, IBM) of the computer. All computers have thefollowing components*:The Monitor:The monitor looks like a television screen and is where you seewhat is happening on your computer. By using shadows andgraphics with over a million different colors, much of what you seewill appear 3-dimensional. Think of this as the ‘face’ of thecomputer.The Tower/CPU (Central Processing Unit):The tower houses the machinery that allows your computer towork. Think of this as the ‘brains’ of the computer.The Keyboard:The keyboard is one of two ways to interact with your computer.The keys should mostly mimic a traditional typewriter.The Mouse:This is another way to interact with your computer. Most mice have two buttons—a right and a leftbutton—and a scrolling wheel.The following benchmarks are import to consider when appraising a computer system:How fast can it perform tasks?How much information (or data) can it store?How many programs (i.e. software) can it run simultaneously?*This applies to "desktop" computers, and not "laptop" computers. A laptop computer is simply a morecompact version of a desktop, designed to be able to be carried around from place to place (e.g., to classor to a coffee shop). If you have questions about these different varieties of computers, please ask yourinstructor.

9. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 9How Computers WorkHardware / SoftwareComputers use both hardware and software to perform their work. Think of hardware as the physicalpieces of a computer – the monitor, the tower, all the pieces and parts inside the tower, the mouse, thekeyboard, etc. Software, on the other hand, consists of programs that we use to interact with thecomputer. You can’t physically touch software like you can the keyboard, but you can still interact withit. A word processing program is an example of software that you might use to type a letter to a friend.Games that you play on your computer are also considered software—it doesn’t have to be work-related!Information / DataComputers are designed to work with a type of information commonly referred to as "data." Datacomes in a lot of forms, whether it is typed data (such as a letter to a friend), audio data (like a song),video data (like a popular movie or DVD) and more. Certain types of software programs work withdifferent types of data. For example, the popular iPod device works primarily with audio data, andMicrosoft Word, a word processing program, works primarily with written data. The keyboard is just oneof the ways in which you can create, interact with and modify data. In addition, there are a number ofways to get data off of the computer, such as printing it out on paper, copying it to a CD-ROM or flashdrive or publishing it to the Internet.My Computer is Possessed!It is a common misconception that computers have "a mind of their own." Although they can performtasks much more easily than humans can (like counting, performing mathematical calculations andmore), they always respond to what you ask them to do! In fact, it is safe to say that the computercannot do anything that you do not tell it to do. It is important to remember that you are in control ofthe computer, in the same way that you are in control of, say, your car. Your car wont move until youpress your foot on the accelerator, and it will not stop until you press the brake. Computers work in thesame wayA Word of CautionHowever, computers are machines just like any other mechanical object. Sometimes, although notoften, they may malfunction, become stuck (or “frozen”) or may have a part that breaks that must bereplaced. It is important to note that, just like your car or other machinery, computers also need to bemaintained. Keeping your virus software up to date, installing updates for your operating system(Windows updates) and refraining from installing unnecessary programs, will allow your computer torun smoothly and efficiently for a longer period of time.Key Facts about Computers• A computer does not need to access the Internet in order to run properly.

10. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 10o The internet is a way of connecting to other computer users. You connect to theinternet using a phone line, a cable connection or by using a wireless connecting device.For most home computer users, this is a paid service.o A computer will be able to perform most common functions (play music, typedocuments and edit pictures) and run programs without an internet connection.However, to view a web page or send an email, you will need an internet connection.• A computer needs an Operating System in order to work; any new computer that you purchasewill come with an operating system already installed. The most common operating systems areMicrosoft Windows and Macintosh OS X.OPERATING SYSTEMS AND SOFTWAREMicrosoft Windows Operating SystemComputers without operating systems are exactly like televisions without a signal. Yes,it will turn on, but you will be looking at a blank screen with no hope of interacting withit (the lights are on, but nobody’s home)! The most popular operating system is“Microsoft Windows,” and is utilized by most personal computer (PC) users. It is aprogram that acts as the brains of the computer, allowing you to run other programs,work on projects and do basically everything that computers are capable of. There aremany different versions of Microsoft Windows, and a new version is released everycouple of years (just like car models).There are other operating systems as well. Apple Computer Company manufactures acomputer called a Macintosh, or Mac. Macs use an operating system called “Mac OS X”which, while it may look very different from Microsoft Windows, runs under the samebasic principles. While fewer people use Macs than PCs, schools often use Macs, aswell as people who work with graphic design and video and image editing. As a generalrule, Macs tend to be more expensive than PCs.You shouldn’t ever need to mess with the operating system. It should run correctly and without error foras long as you have your computer. In fact, if you ever take your computer in for a repair, you can betthat the technician will be looking primarily at your operating system (not your programs) in the sameway that a mechanic will look at your car’s engine.Dell, Lenovo, HP, etcComputer is called: PCOperating System: WindowsTypes: Desktop & Laptop.AppleComputer is called: MACOperating System: OS XTypes: Desktop & Laptop

11. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 11Turning On and Logging On the ComputerTurning the Computer OnLets get started! As you sit down at your desk, you can assume that your computer system is one ofthree states:• Off: This is exactly what it sounds like: The computer is off, and no parts are running or working.The monitor is black (no images), there is no "whirring" sound from the tower and the computeris unresponsive to mouse movements or pressing keys on the keyboard. The power button (if itlights up), should not be lit up.• On: When a computer is on, you should see images on the monitor, you will most likely hear a“whirring” noise coming from the tower (hopefully not too loud!) and the pointer on the screen(the small white arrow) should respond when you move the mouse.• Sleep Mode: Most computers have a mode called "Sleep," in which the computer is on, but ithas assumed an energy-efficient, minimal power mode. To "wake" it up, simply move the mousearound or press the space bar on the keyboard, and it will “wake up” and return to the exactsame place that it was when it went to sleep (in other words, if you were using a wordprocessing program and put it to sleep, it would return to exactly what you were working onupon waking up!).To turn a computer on if it is off, simply press the power button once (no need to hold the button – justpress and release). We will go over how to turn a computer off later in this handout.Logging OnOnce you turn the computer on, the monitor will go through aseries of tasks before it is ready for you to interact with it (thisprocess is called ‘startup’). This will last about one to two minutes.If the computer is not working correctly, you may see an errormessage during startup. If the computer is performing as it should,however, you will probably see a screen similar to the one on theright.This is called a "Log On" window, and it means that the computer ispassword protected. If you do not see this window upon starting the computer, you can assume thatyour computer is NOT password-protected and may be used by anyone. To log on, you would simplyenter your user name and password. If you are using a Durham County Library computer, this will beyour library card number.Since you are sitting in front of a public computer for this class, someone has already "logged on" foryou.

12. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 12Desktop / EnvironmentThe DesktopAfter you log on, the computer will display what is known as your desktop within a few seconds to a fewminutes (if your computer is newer, this will probably go faster). Here you will see a digitalrepresentation similar to a real-life desktop, complete with a workspace, files and file folders and even arecycling bin!One of the neatest featuresabout Microsoft Windows isthat your desktop may notlook anything like this one!While this may soundconfusing, it means that youare able to manipulate, alterand change almost everythingabout your desktopenvironment. If you do not likethe color blue as yourbackground, where the iconsare, or even what language it isin, you can change it!

13. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 13THE KEYBOARD AND THE MOUSEUsing and Understanding the KeyboardThe KeyboardIn order to use your computer effectively, you must interact with it using both the mouse and thekeyboard. The above image of a keyboard may closely resemble (if it is not identical to) the keyboard infront of you; learning the function of just a few keys will help you to interact better with your computerand individual programs. The following is a list of commonly used keys that have special functions (keepin mind that key functions can change depending on which program you are using):1. Backspace: This key deletes letters backward.2. Delete: This key deletes letters forward.3. Shift: This key, when pressed WITH another key, will perform a secondary function.4. Spacebar: This key enters a space between words or letters.5. Tab: This key will indent what you type, or move the text to the right. The default indentdistance is usually ½ inch.6. Caps Lock: Pressing this key will make every letter you type capitalized.7. Control (Ctrl): This key, when pressed WITH another key, performs a shortcut.8. Enter: This key either gives you a new line, or executes a command (pressed in a wordprocessing program, it begins a new line).9. Number Keypad: These are exactly the same as the numbers at the top of the keyboard; somepeople just find them easier to use in this position.10. Arrow keys: Like the mouse, these keys are used to navigate through a document or page.

14. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 14Using and Understanding the MouseThe MouseWhile the keyboard is primarily used to insert/input and manipulate text and numbers on a computer,the mouse is used mostly for navigating around the screen. Mice come in a variety of shapes and sizes.Some of the strangest looking mice often look that way because they are designed to be moreergonomic than traditional mice.Each mouse, however different it may be, has similar functions. As you can see on the "simple" modelabove, a traditional mouse has two buttons with a wheel between them (gray) that spins, called a "scrollwheel." Both buttons can perform separate functions, and are referred to by which side of the mousethey are located on.Pressing the LEFT mouse button is called "left-clicking,” while pressing the RIGHT mouse button is called"right-clicking."Left-clicking is used far more often than right clicking. For now, know that left-clicking is used to selector click on something, while right-clicking presents additional menu options.Left-Clicking, Double-Clicking and Right-ClickingClickingOne of the most difficult things to learn when first beginning to use a computer, is how to use themouse. It takes coordination, precision and patience. Fortunately, the more you practice, the easier itwill become!

15. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 15The mouse symbol, or pointer, that appears on the computer screen will change its look and functiondepending on what it is near or hovering over.Your mouse pointer will most often look like an arrowWhen your mouse pointer is over an internet link, it will look like a pointing handWhen your mouse pointer is over a place where you can type, it will look like an I-beamWhen your computer is busy or ‘working,’ your mouse pointer may look like an hourglassor an arrow with an hourglassThere are actually many different pointers (though these are the most common), and they will changeautomatically depending on what task you are trying to perform.The buttons on the mouse may also have different functions,depending on which program you are using. If you are working inMicrosoft Word, for example, the mouse will offer options relatedto Microsoft Word. Conversely, if you are working in MicrosoftExcel, the mouse will offer options related to Microsoft Excel, andso on.For now, remember these rules:1. The LEFT mouse button SELECTS items.2. The RIGHT mouse button GIVES YOU MORE OPTIONS.3. Double-clicking the LEFT mouse button EXECUTES options (for example, opening a program bydouble-clicking an icon on the desktop).4. Double-clicking the RIGHT mouse button does not do anythingFor More PracticeGo to this website – http://www.pbclibrary.org/mousing/default.htm and click “Mousing AroundTutorial”) in order to learn more about how the mouse works.Go to this website – http://www.pbclibrary.org/mousing/mousercise.htm

16. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 16THE DESKTOPIn previous versions of Windows, the Start button actually said START; it is now a logo as shownon the right. The Start Menu Logo is a good place to, well, start! The Start Menu Logo (whichopens the menu) is located in the lower left corner of your screen. LEFT-CLICK once on thebutton to open the menu.Notice the options that are available in this menu. Popular programs thatyou use regularly are on the left, while Documents, Pictures, Music, Games,the Control Panel and help features are on the right.Also note the "Shut down" button at the bottom of the menu. This buttonis very important and functions kind of like a car. Logging off a computer islike locking a car (the computer is in a stationary mode and you can’t doanything). Clicking the Shut down Computer button is like turning off theengine. When you click Shut down Computer, the computer has anopportunity to properly shut down before the power is turned off. We willcover how to log off and turn the computer off in more depth later in thisclass.By LEFT-CLICKING once on "All Programs," another menu will spring to life.This is a list of all of the programs that you have installed on yourcomputer.Nearly everything that you can do with your computer can be found in theStart menu. This includes finding help, using programs, getting on theInternet, emailing, printing, playing videogames, customizing your desktopand much more!You should feel free to experiment with the Start Menu. Go ahead and left-click on something, and watch what happens!Microsoft Windows has undergone many changes over the past couple ofdecades. New versions of this operating system are released every coupleof years. It is currently being released in a version called “MicrosoftWindows 7.” Past versions include: “Windows 95,” Windows 98,”“Windows ME,” “Windows XP” and “Windows Vista.” Many peoplecontinue to use Windows XP, even though newer versions have beenreleased. It is important to know that there are different versions ofWindows, because different features (such as the Start Menu discussedabove) may look different in different versions.

17. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 17Managing your “Windows”Microsoft Windows is called "Windows"for a reason. Programs appear on yourscreen as "Windows” (rectangularshapes) and are laid 3-dimensionally ontop of one another (see image at right),just like on a real desktop. The desktopis your work surface, and all of youropen windows appear on top of it.If you can see a window, that means it isopen and the program is running. It ispossible to make the window bigger,smaller, or close it using the buttons inthe top right corner of any windowMinimize: Left-click this button to shrink the window down to asmall button that will appear in the task bar (see below).Restore/Maximize: Left-click this button to make the window aslarge as it can be—it should take up your entire screen.Close: Left-click this button to close the window. The program will close and stop running. Make sureyou save your work first if you are typing a document!Restore Down: Left-click this button to make the window smaller without minimizing it.The TaskbarMicrosoft Windows is capable of running more than one program at once. In other words, you can writea letter in Microsoft Word, while surfing the Internet while using Microsoft Excel while checking youremail and so on! This is called "multi-tasking" and is a feature of all computers. However, with all ofthese things going on at once, how do you keep track of them all? The Taskbar, which is the bar thatspans across the bottom of your screen next to the Start Menu Logo, is designed to help you keep trackof all of your programs. It looks like this:

18. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 18In the illustration above, there are several programs running. The far-left button is the Start Logo, next isInternet Explorer, next to that is the File Manager button, next is the Restore Desktop button, next thecalculator, lastly Notepad. To use one of the programs that is "open," simply left-click on it once to bringit up to the top of the screen. The taskbar is modeled after what might happen in real life: you arereading the newspaper, and you set it aside to pick up your favorite book. You didnt throw it out ordestroy it, you simply set it aside. This way, you can pick up right where you left off once you are donereading your book. The taskbar works the same way, but with software programs, not newspapers andbooks.SHUTTING DOWN THE COMPUTERLogging Off vs. Turning Off / Shutting DownTo log off or shut down the computer, click the Start logo button:As mentioned earlier, logging off your computer and shutting downyour computer are two different things. Remember the analogy of thecar: Logging off a computer is like locking the car (the computer is in astationary mode and you can’t do anything). When you first log in to acomputer, it’s like using a key (password) to get in, and when you aredone using the computer, you need to log off (the computer will remainon) to make sure no one else can make changes while you are away.By contrast, when you click the Shut Down option, it is like turning acar’s ignition off. You need to make sure that processes and programsare properly ended and shut down before pushing the computer’s power button, just as with a car youhave to turn off the ignition before trying to pull out the key. Click the Start logo button, then click ShutDown. Do not just press the power button to turn off your computer!After you have clicked “Shut Down,” your computer will begin a shut-down process in which it savesthings you have been working on, and ends all programs that are running. You may see a window thatsays “Windows is shutting down.” When the computer is done shutting down, the screen will go black,and the computer tower will stop making any noise. It is now shut down. Unless you have an oldercomputer that says “It is now safe to turn off your computer” at the end of this process, it is notnecessary to press the power button—your computer will turn off automatically.ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONFinding More HelpIf you ever find that you need help while using your computer, you can simply left-clickthe Start logo button, and then click “Help and Support” in the Start Menu. In addition,most programs on your computer will also have an individual help feature. The Helpfunction may be available from a Help menu at the top of the window, or by clicking abutton. Help buttons are usually located in the top-right corner of the window, and

19. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 19may look like a question mark. Help menus are often very user-friendly, and often havea search function or pre-prepared FAQs. In addition to this, most programs come readywith a 1-800 numbers to connect with a technician who is available to help you.Buying a ComputerBuying a computer is a big decision, and can be quite expensive! It is a good idea to do some researchbefore buying a computer to find out what would work best for your needs, what computers haveperformed well for others, and what models are within your price range. Asking for help finding thisinformation at the Information Desk of the library is a good place to start. In addition, here are somewebsites you might want to check out:• http://www.consumerreports.org/ (under electronics, select “Computers”)• http://www.ehow.com/how_3038_buy-computer.html• http://www.pcworld.com/article/125649/how_to_buy_a_desktop_pc.html• Personal computer companies:o http://www.dell.com/o http://www.lenovo.com/o http://www.hp.com/Other Programs and SoftwareAlthough there may be lots of software that comes pre-installed on your computer when you buy it,there are many more programs available for you to download or buy, from educational games forchildren, to photo editing software, to professional programming software. If you are interested in aparticular type of software, here are some suggested websites to check out:• http://www.pcmag.com/• http://www.compusa.com/• http://www.amazon.com/• http://www.microsoft.com/Keep in mind that software is often designed for either a PC or a Mac, so make surewhatever program or game you purchase is compatible with your particularcomputer. If software is compatible with types of computers, it will often have asymbol like this:

20. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 20MOUSING EXERCISESUsing a mouse is one of the most fundamental skills you will need when working on a computer. Beingcomfortable using a mouse takes a little practice. Practice is time well spent because using a computerwill become much easier once you can easily manipulate the mouse. Look at the following table tofamiliarize yourself with the terminology we use when referring to different types of mouse clicks.Mouse Action How to Perform Action When to Use ActionClick One click of the left mouse button To select an image or iconTo move items around yourcomputer’s desktopTo move the cursor through a wordprocessing programDouble-click Two clicks of the left mouse button To execute an action such asopening a programRight-click One click of the right mousebuttonTo display shortcuts in a variety ofprogramsClick and drag Click and hold down the leftmouse button and move themouse on the pad. Release the leftbuttonTo select a section of text in adocument or frame. Text appearhighlighted after it has beenselected.Drag and Drop Click an item that has beenselected, hold down the leftmouse button and drag the item toa new location.When moving sections of text orgraphic images or tables.The drawing exercise that follows was designed to help you practice mouse basics while creating simpledrawings. You will be using the Microsoft Paint graphics program to create your drawings. This programis available on all computers that have Microsoft Windows.On the next page, you will see a brief explanation of the Microsoft Paint screen toolbars. Refer to this ifyou have any questions during your exercise.Following the Paint explanation are the instructions for creating several drawings: a rectangle, an oval, ahappy face, and a text box. Remember that the objective of this exercise is to become more comfortableusing the mouse in a variety of ways. You do not need to do all of the drawings in one sitting. Yourdrawings do not have to be perfect!

21. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 21The Microsoft Paint Window

22. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 22Start PaintAction: Click1. Move the mouse so that the mouse pointer is over theStart button logo in the lower left corner of the screen.2. Click the Start button logo.3. Move the mouse pointer up to All Programs.4. Move the mouse pointer over the word Accessories.5. Move the mouse pointer over the word Paint and click.6. This starts the Paint program. You should see a screenlike the illustration on the previous page.7. Click the Resize button in the upper right hand corner ofthe window so that the Paint program fills the wholescreen.

23. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 23Exercise One - Draw a RectangleActions: Click, click and drag1. Move the mouse pointer over the rectangle tool in the shapes menu.2. Click the rectangle tool. (It will appear “pressed in.”) The mouse pointer should appear as a plus signwith a small circle in the middle.3. Click in the area where you want the rectangle to be, hold down the left mouse button, and drag themouse diagonally down and to the right.4. Release the mouse button. A rectangle should appear on the white space.5. Repeat the process, but try to make a square instead of a rectangle, and drag the mouse diagonallyup and to the left.

24. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 24Exercise Two - Draw a Green OvalActions: Click, click and drag1. Move the mouse pointer over the oval (ellipse) tool on the shapes menu.2. Click the oval tool so that it appears “pressed in.”3. Move the mouse pointer over to the color palette, and click the green square.4. Move the mouse pointer into the white space.5. Click and hold down the left mouse button where you want the lower right section of the oval to be.Drag the mouse diagonally up and to the left.6. Release the mouse button. A green oval should appear on the white space.7. Repeat the process, but click a different color, and try to make a circle instead of an oval.8. Repeat the process, but click a different color, and drag down and to the left.9. Repeat the process, but drag up and to the right.

25. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 25Clear the ScreenAction: Click1. Move the mouse pointer to the menu drop-down arrow and click once.2. Move the mouse over the word New.3. Click. A message asks you if you want to save the changes.4. Click No. A fresh “sheet of paper” appears on the screen.

26. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 26Exercise Three - Draw a FaceActions: Click, click and drag1. Click on the brushes menu and select the airbrush tool on the toolbar so that it now appears in thebrushes menu.2. Click a color square on the color palette for the color of face you want to make.3. Move the mouse pointer over the white area. Click and drag the mouse in a circle to create a head.4. Move the mouse pointer inside your circle and click where you want an eye.5. Move the mouse pointer again and click to make another eye.6. Do the same for a nose.7. Click and drag below the nose to create a mouth.

27. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 27Move the FaceActions: Click, click and drag, drag and drop1. Click the select tool from the menu and click "Rectangular Selection."2. Click a point on the white space surrounding your face above and to the left of the picture.3. Hold down the left mouse button and drag down and to the right so that a dotted rectangle iscreated around the face.4. Release the mouse button. (If you make a mistake, press the CTRL and the Z buttons on yourkeyboard at the same time - this will undo the last action you did.)5. Once you have selected the face to your satisfaction, move the mouse pointer into the middle of therectangle. The pointer will appear as two crossed arrows.6. Click and hold down the left mouse button and drag the image to the right.7. Release the mouse button. Your image has moved! This is called “drag and drop.”8. Click and hold down the mouse button and drag the image to a different location on the page.

28. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 28Erase the FaceActions: Click, click and drag1. Click the eraser tool on the toolbar so that it appears “pressed in.”2. Move the mouse pointer, which will appear as a small square, over one of the eyes of your face.3. Click and drag, “erasing” the eye.4. Release the mouse button.5. Move the mouse pointer over the other eye, and click and drag to erase it.6. Move the mouse pointer over the nose, and click and drag to erase it.7. Move the mouse pointer over the mouth, and click and drag to erase it.8. Move the mouse pointer over the circle that was the head, and click and drag to erase it.

29. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 29Exercise Four - Make a Text FrameActions: Click, click and drag, double-click, right-click1. Click the text frame tool on the toolbar (the letter A) so that it appears “pressed in.”2. Move the mouse pointer over the white area of the screen.3. Click and drag down and to the right to create the text frame. It will have a dotted line border andyour toolbar will change.4. Type the words, “cat, dog, horse” in the text frame, hit the enter key twice after each word.5. Move the mouse cursor over the word cat and double-click. The word will appear “highlighted,”selected in blue.6. Type the word “frog.” Notice that the selected text is replaced by the newly typed text.7. Repeat this process with the other words so that you can practice double-clicking.END OF EXERCISE

30. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 30INTERNET AND WEB BASICSLearn the basics of navigating the web, including some basic search and safety information.

31. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 31GETTING STARTEDPrerequisitesIt is assumed that the user is familiar and/or comfortable with computer hardware, software and theoperating system Microsoft Windows.We will be using PC desktop computers running the Microsoft Windows 7 Operating System. Our webbrowsers will be Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.It is important to note that the "Internet," the "Net" and the "Web" are all, for our intents and purposes,the exact same thing. These terms are used interchangeably in popular culture.Please let the instructor know if you have questions or concerns prior to starting class.What You Will LearnLocate and open aweb browserUse the browser’s menuand toolbarUse the browsershelp featureRecognize and navigate to a webaddress (URL)Identify and follow links on a webpageChange the size of text on aweb pageUse a search engine and refineyour searchUnderstand error messages Copy text from a web pageNavigate a variety ofweb pagesPreview and print aweb pageManipulate and altermultiple windows and tabsIdentify advertisements on a webpageUnderstand virus safety and protectpersonal info

32. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 32BASIC WEB SKILLS/USING A WEB BROWSERThe Web, also known as the World Wide Web (WWW), is essentially a collection of an uncountablenumber of pages of information displayed on the Internet. It is an information-sharing tool that isgrowing at an unbelievable rate. You can view this information with the help of a “web browser”—awindow that allows you to view web content (an example is Internet Explorer). Because there is so muchinformation on the Internet, and so many individual sites and pages, it would be nearly impossible tofind what you were looking for by just “browsing” or flipping through sites, not only because of thesheer size of the collection, but also because you wouldn’t know what address to go to! To deal withthis, we use a web browser to access a search engine, such as Google, which allows us to search for aparticular topic, word or phrase.Think of the Internet like a very large library. It would be nearly impossible to find what you’re lookingfor by just walking through the book shelves (though you might find some interesting things by chance!).And so, you use the library catalog (search engine) to search for a given topic, which gives you a callnumber (web address) for the book so that you can find it. You can find information on the web aboutvirtually anything, and from almost anyone – including companies, organizations, branches ofgovernment, schools and colleges as well as individual people just like you!Locate and Open a Web BrowserA web browser is a program that lets you see information and images on web sites. A browser reads theinformation on a web page and displays it on your computer screen. There are several popular webbrowsers such as “Microsoft Internet Explorer,” “Google Chrome” and “Mozilla Firefox” You can use anyof these browsers at the Durham County Library.To open one of these browsersPoint to the browsers icon on the desktop (see imagesbelow) with your mouse and double-click on it with the leftmouse button (alternatively, left-click once, and then pressthe “Enter” key). A window like the one pictured to the rightshould come up on the screen.Using the Browsers Menu BarThe Menu bar is directly below the Title bar and it displays the menu. For the purpose of this workshop,we will use the Internet Explorer browser, but once you know how to use one browser, it is easy to learnhow to use another—they all function in a similar way.

33. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 33The Menu BarYou can click on each of the words to see a menu of the tasks you can perform.To see a menu:1. Point with your mouse to a menu option (e.g., File).2. Click the left mouse button once to open a drop-down menu.3. Point with your mouse to a particular item.4. Click once with the left mouse button to select the item.Using the Browsers ToolbarThe toolbar buttons provide shortcuts to frequently used navigation and menuoptions, such as forward, back, stop, refresh, and home (we will cover what eachof these terms mean later). The toolbar is located just below the menu bar. Beloware some examples of what the different icons mean. If you hover your mouseover the icons (tiny images), you will see a description (in a tiny pop-up window)of the tasks that they perform.The Toolbar1 2 3 4The Internet Explorer Toolbar1 2 3 4The Mozilla Firefox ToolbarThe following is a description of the most frequently used toolbar buttons:1. The Back button takes you back to the previous web page that you viewed.2. The Forward button takes you forward to the web page that you viewed before you clicked “Back.”(The Back and Forward buttons are like miniature time machine controls! Think of them as goingbackward and forward in time.)

34. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 343. The Refresh button will reload the web page that you are currently viewing. Web pages (especiallynews sites) will change throughout the day, so it is important to refresh them periodically to see themost recent changes.4. The Home button will take you to the webpage that opened when you first opened your browserwindow. If you are at a library, this is the library’s home page. It is possible to change your webbrowser’s settings to open a different Home site.The Address BarThe address bar will appear either below or above the toolbar. This is a long, white box where you willtype the address of the site you wish to go to. We will learn more about web addresses and the addressbar in a little bit. In the images above it is where it says "http://www.durhamcountylibrary.org" or"www.durhamcountylibrary.org."Using TabsTabs work just like tabbed dividers in a filingcabinet or a binder—they allow you toorganize different pages while keeping themall accessible. You can open a new tab bygoing to File, New Tab, or by clicking the small button with the plus sign (+) to the right of the last tab, orby holding down the control key and typing the letter ‘T.’The benefit of using tabs, instead of new windows, is that you can view multiple tabs within onewindow, and can switch between tabs very quickly by simply clicking on the tabs. In the example above,if I wanted to view the Google page, You would simply click the tab that says “Google.” To switch back tothe Durham County Library page, you would click the tab that says “Durham County Library.” It ispossible to have multiple windows open, and for each window to have more than one tab open.Using the Browsers Help FeatureAs with many other programs, web browsers have Help features that youcan use if you ever need a hand. The help feature can be found in thebrowsers Menu bar.1. Point with your mouse to the "Help" option on the browsers menu bar2. Click once with the left mouse button3. Slide the mouse down to "Firefox Help" or "Internet Explorer Help"4. The words will become highlighted5. Click once with the left mouse button*It is important to note that all web browsers are not the same. Like television sets, they all browse thesame Internet, but can be designed differently. The "Help" feature on many web browsers may not befound the way it is shown here, but there is very often a “Help” menu option, or a “Help” button at thetop of the browser window.

35. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 35WEB ADDRESSES/URLSGo to a Specific Web AddressWeb site addresses are everywhere! Just about every company and organization now has a website. Youcan recognize website addresses because they will start with “www” or “http,” and/or will end with“.com” or “.org” (this ending part is called an “extension”—we will learn about other extensions later). Awebsite address is also sometimes (though less frequently) referred to as a URL (Uniform ResourceLocator).An example of a typical web site address: www.google.com. This is what you would type into theaddress bar in your web browser in order to navigate to Google’s site.This is how a web site address is formed:A web address generally starts with "www" or “http://www,” which means World Wide Web. This isusually followed by the name of the web site, which in this example, is Google. Notice that a period or“dot” separates these two parts.At the end of this address, you will notice ".com." This is called an extension. It tells us where the website has been registered (“com” stands for commercial). Other common extensions include: .net, .org,.edu, .gov, and .mil.If you see a forward slash or bar like this one / after the domain name, it means that it is taking you to aspecific area and web page on that web site. In the case of http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/, it is takingyou to the web sites "WORLD" news page.Now that you know what a web site address looks like, you can go to a specific site by typing it in thebrowsers address bar, which is located just below the toolbar. Other popular websites includewww.amazon.com, www.wikipedia.org and www.youtube.com.In Firefox, the address bar looks like this:If you want to go to a specific web site, perform thefollowing tasks:1. In a web browser, click once with the left mouse button in the white area of the address bar – thiswill highlight any text in the address bar (if you accidentally click more than once, you will need to eitherclick three times quickly to re-highlight the address, or manually highlight the very right side).2. Press the delete key on your keyboard once to delete the current address (you can also simply starttyping the address to delete the current address if it is highlighted).3. Type the address www.wikipedia.org in the address bar (or anywhere else you want to go).4. Press Enter on the keyboard. (With some browsers there may bea “Go” button, you can click on instead of pressing the Enter key.)This will bring you to Wikipedia’s website:Note: This is not part of the web address.This is a small icon, called a favicon.

36. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 36Identify and Follow Links on a Web PageA link (also called a hyperlink) is an underlined word or phrase or an image on a web page that links toeither another place on the same page, or to an entirely different web page.You can tell that you are on a link when you slide the mouse over some text or an image and yourmouse pointer becomes a hand with a pointing finger.Go ahead and type a topic into the search box on the Wikipedia site (for example, search for “NorthCarolina”), and then press Enter on your keyboard.Run your mouse over the Wikipedia page that comes up. Youll notice that as you hover your mouseover any of the blue words, the words become underlined, your mouse arrow changes to a pointinghand, and (if you allow it to hover for a few seconds) a small description will appear below the link. Thisshould also happen if you hover over any of the images on the page.Lets follow a link! Try clicking one of the blue words that appears on the Wikipedia page that you arelooking at—your instructor can assist you if you need help.Here is how to do it:1. Slide the mouse down to a word that is blue, or an image that causes your mouse pointer to turninto a hand.2. When the pointer turns into a hand, click once with the left mouse button.You should now see a new page with text and other links. You can go back to the previous page byclicking on the "Back" button on the browsers toolbar.Practice going to different links! Remember that you can use the "Back" button to go back to theprevious page or use the "Forward" button to return to the page you were looking at before you clicked“Back.”Manipulate a Web PageIf you are not comfortable with the text size on a web page, you can choose to change the size that thetext is displayed in.To change text size:1. Move your mouse pointer over the word "View" in the browsers menu bar.2. Click once with the left mouse button.3. Slide your mouse down to "Zoom.”4. You will see another little menu pop up on the right hand side of "Zoom."5. Slide the mouse to the right and left-click once on “Zoom In” or “Zoom Out.”6. You can repeat these steps to continue to make the text incrementally larger or smaller.

37. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 377. The text on the web page you are currently looking at should change according to what you havechosen. To change the text size back, just repeat the previous steps, but this time select “Reset.”This tool can be very useful, considering that web pages come in all shapes and sizes—it essentiallymagnifies or “zooms in” on the text so that it becomes easier to read!USING SEARCH ENGINESFinding Information with a Search EngineTo find information on the web, you will need to use a search engine. A search engine goes out and findsinformation for you on the World Wide Web. There are many search engines out there. Google iscurrently the most popular search engine, but there are many others, such as Yahoo.com, Bing.com, andAsk.com. Lets go to Google.To open the Google search engine:1. Go to your web browser’s address bar and type theaddress: www.google.com2. Click the "Go" button or press the Enter key on yourkeyboard. (Google is now open and should look likethe picture to the right.)3. Click once with the left mouse button in the searchbox.4. Type a word or a phrase that describes theinformation that you are looking for (the fewerwords, the better—no need to use complete sentences!).5. For example, type the word "Spain" to see what Google will find on this topic. (NOTE: Google willnow suggest words or phrases to you to aid you in coming up with search terms).6. Click once with the left mouse button on the Google Search button, or press Enter on yourkeyboard.7. Google immediately provides you with many websites that have to do with "Spain."Refining Your SearchTry the following steps in order to refine your search:• If you get too many "hits" (listed websites), try adding extra words that describe what you want– if that gives more instead of fewer results, put "and" between each word. For example, "spainAND vacation" will find only pages where both of those words are included.• Put phrases in quotation marks, e.g. "historical sites in spain," "John Smith" or "americanassociation of social workers." This will find only those pages that contain these exact phrases.• If youre looking for a company like Microsoft or Lexus or Coke, try typing the name in theaddress box at the top of your browser - it might take you directly there!

38. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 38Understanding Error MessagesSometimes you will type a web site address but an error page comes up instead of the website. Thishappens from time to time. The most common cause for this is that you have typed the web addressincorrectly. You can also sometimes get an error message when you click on a link on a web page. Thisoften means that either the link is “broken,” or the page no longer exists. An error page can mean avariety of things, including any of the following:• The web site is temporarily down• The web site does not exist anymore• The link you clicked is broken (the link was created incorrectly)• Your program cant open the web site because of some restrictions• There may be too many people trying to access the site at the same timeThere may be nothing you can do to rectify the situation. In this case, you might just have to move onand go to another website or choose another link. In this day and age, major websites are usually neverdown for a very long period of time. It is the equivalent of a major television network going down – youcan rest assured that many, many people are working very hard in order to bring it back up as soon aspossible!The following are screenshots of "down" websites:COPYING INFORMATION FROM THE WEBSaving Images, Documents and MoreYou may want to keep information you find on a web site but you dont necessarily need to print awhole page. You can accomplish this by copying and pasting information from the web site to a wordprocessing program. There are four steps: Highlight, Copy, Open theword processing program, Paste.Here is how you highlight the text:1. Lets go to the web browser’s “Home” site. Click the house icon tonavigate to the page you first saw when you opened the browser.

39. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 392. Place the cursor before some text you wish to highlight. Try to highlight a whole paragraph ifpossible (your instructor may need to help you navigate to a page with more text if there isn’t muchtext on this site).3. Hold down the left mouse button.4. Move the mouse down and to the right until all of the text you wish to copy is highlighted, then letgo of the mouse button.To copy the text:1. Click on the word Edit in the browsers menu bar.2. Slide the mouse down to Copy.3. Left-click once. This has copied the text you have highlighted onto the“Clipboard,” which stores it for you to paste somewhere else.Now open Microsoft Word:1. Double-click on the Microsoft Word icon on the desktop.You can now paste:1. Click on the Edit option of Words menu bar.2. Slide the mouse down to Paste.3. Left-click once. The text should now be pasted into the blank Word document!*Note: You can also use "Ctrl-C" to COPY and "Ctrl-V" to PASTE instead of accessing these options fromthe menu bars in your browser and Microsoft Word. Ask your instructor if you have questions aboutthis.

40. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 40NAVIGATING THE WEBIdentifying AdvertisementsIt is common to find advertisements on web sites. A lot of these advertisements are traps. They get youto enter your personal information and tell you that this is for a chance to win money or prizes, but mostof the time it’s just to get your email address so they can send you junk mail. In extreme cases, maliciouswebsites may try to steal personal information such as your social security number or your credit cardnumber in order to steal money from you or even your identity.Some other advertisements will pop up and tell you that you need to “Click Here” because you have avirus and you need to clean up your computer or something similar. Again, these are just ways thecompany tries to access your personal information or sell you something. Please consult your instructorif you have specific questions.REMEMBER: You can always ignore advertisements, just like you can change the television channel athome. You are not forced to do anything on the Internet!Viruses and Personal SafetyFor your own safety, NEVER give out your personal information over the web to unsolicitedadvertisements or unknown websites. These are most likely not secure. If you are applying for or buyingsomething from a legitimate organization or company, it will be done on a secure site. You can tell if it isa secure site because the web address should begin with https://. The addition of the s means that thissite is secure. It is a good idea to only make purchases on widely-known, well-regarded sites (e.g.,Target.com or Amazon.com). Regardless of the site on which you are making a purchase, you shouldalways check out their privacy policy. [If you are interested in learning more about making purchasesonline, you can sign up to take our online shopping class.]Internet Explorer has a gold padlock in the locked position when a site has been verified as safeWhen using Firefox, mouse over the icon on the left of the address barViruses are malicious programs that are loaded onto your computer without your knowledge. They candestroy or delete everything on your hard drive, such as your file and folders, or extract personal

41. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 41information. Your computer can become infected when you download pictures and files from the webor email messages, so avoid downloading files from the Internet unless you are sure it is safe. If youreceive an email from a friend with an attachment, always verify that they intended to send you theattachment before you open it, since viruses can cause their accounts to send emails without theirknowledge.If you have a home computer it should be protected against viruses. You can equip it with virusprotection software that stops viruses from attacking the computer’s hard drive and your files. Whenyou try to download something from the web, the virus protection software will scan the downloadedfile or image to make sure that it does not contain any viruses.

42. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 42INTERNET EXERCISESOpen the Firefox Browser:Go to www.google.com and try to find the answers to the following questions:• Who played in the 1979 World Series?• What is the address of the Empire State Building?• What is Floridas state bird?• Who invented the paper clip?• What was First Lady Michelle Obamas maiden name?Open a New Tab:Search for travel information:• Go to www.google.com and look for information on a place you’d like to travel• Go to www.about.com. Select the Browse Categories Tab. Select the Travel button. Pick alocation from the top menu bar and make a selection from the drop down menus.o Can you recognize what is an ad vs. what is the content of the web site?Open a New Tab:Search for health information• Go to www.google.com and look for information on a medical condition (e.g. Diabetes, Cancer)• Research the same condition using the Durham County Librarys website:o Go to www.durhamcountylibrary.orgo Click on the ONLINE RESOURCES button on the home pageo Scroll through the list of resources to find one that looks like it will give medicalinformation. Double click on the name of the resourceo Search for a medical conditionMove back to the tab where you were searching for travel. Delete the tab.Delete the tab where you were searching for a medical condition.Close the browser.END OF EXERCISE

43. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 43INTRODUCTION TO WEB-BASED EMAILIn this class you will create an email account, compose, receive and send email messages and learn touse other important email functions.

44. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 44GETTING STARTEDPrerequisitesIt is assumed for this class that the user is comfortable with basic computer operations. In addition,very basic Internet experience is recommended.This workshop is intended for new email users.We will be using PC desktop computers running the Microsoft Windows 7 Operating System inaddition to Gmail and Yahoo! Mail email services.Please let the instructor know if you have any questions or concerns prior to starting class.What You Will LearnUnderstand the pros and cons ofemail useCreate and access an email account Open and read receivedemailCompose and send email Attach a document or picture to anemailOpen an attachmentOrganize your emails Retrieve a document or picture froma received emailUtilize the People/AddressBook featureINTRODUCTIONWhat is Email?Email, short for Electronic Mail, consists of messages which are sent and received using the Internet.While there are many different email services available that allow you to create an email account andsend and receive email and attachments, we have chosen to focus this class on the services availablethrough Gmail and Yahoo! Mail because they are free and are two of the more popular email servicesavailable.The Pros• Its fast. Most messages are delivered within minutes – sometimes seconds – around the worldwithout the inconvenience and cost of using a postal service. In fact, postal service is often referredto as "snail mail" by email users.• Its personal. While the nature of email is informal, its efficiency is an excellent substitute fortelephone conversations.• You can think through your response. Like a letter, you can type your reply and make changesbefore sending.

45. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 45• The sender and the receiver dont have to be working at the same time. Email avoids problems suchas telephone tag or tying to contact someone in a different time zone.• Email makes it easy to keep a record of your communication. You can save copies of the emails yousend as well as those you receive and refer to them later.• You can reach a lot of people at once. It is possible to send one message to hundreds of recipients atonce, or you can send a private message to one individual.The Cons• Junk Mail (also referred to as spam). This is as annoying in email as it is with traditional mail. Mostemail services now filter incoming mail and sort email messages that are most likely advertisementsor scams into a folder called “spam.”• Friendly spam. Try not to forward unnecessary messages to friends who may not appreciate hearingthe latest list of “Top Ten Things…”• Ads. The reason you can get free email services like Gmail and Yahoo! Mail is because ofadvertisements. You pay the price of having to click around them to read your mail.• Misinterpretation. Email arrives without tone or facial expressions, which can lead tomisunderstanding.• Email messages can be passed on to others. You should always count on the possibility of yourmessage ending up in the inbox of someone it wasnt intended for.• You can hide behind email. Its tempting to use email instead of facing a person when you have todeal with an unpleasant situation. Its best to talk to a person face-to-face under thesecircumstances.Don’t use email for:• Long or complicated messages: Sometimes its more effective to speak to someone in person oron the phone. It can be difficult to effectively write down a complicated message in emailformat.• Questions that require a lot of clarification: If a message is going to require several exchangesback and forth to make sure it is understood, more direct communication is best.• Delivering indiscreet, sensitive, or private information: While your email account is personal,keep in mind that, while rare, passwords have been stolen and there are ways for interestedparties to intercept information. Do not send your social security number, credit card number,or bank account information in an email if it can be avoided.• Angry exchanges: Things you should say in person.

46. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 46SETTING UP YOUR EMAIL – OUTLOOK.COMCreating an Email Account1. Connect to the Internet by double-clicking the Internet Explorer or Firefox desktop icon.2. Go to the Outlook site by typing outlook.com into the address bar at the top of the screen, and pressthe Enter key on your keyboard.3. You should see a screen that looks like the image below:4. Make sure “Stay Signed In” is UNchecked whenever you log in on a public computer or one thatyou share5. Click on SIGN UP NOW where it asks if you “Don’t have a Microsoft account?”6. Complete all the information in the form starting with Who are you?

47. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 477. How would you like to sign in?: Keep in mind that yourMicrosoft account name will become your MicrosoftPROFILE and EMAIL ADDRESS so choose carefully! Theusername you choose may already be in use. Becausethere are so many people who use email, sometimesyou might have to try a few before finding one that isavailable. Common email addresses are:firstname.lastname OR firstinitial.lastname. Peopleoften choose to use their name if they will be using thisemail address for professional purposes. Tip: Your LoginName/email address doesnt have to be your givenname. With email, you can, for example, choosesomething that is related to your occupation orinterests. For example, you might want to bebluebird@outlook.com. If you find that name is alreadytaken, you could always add some numbers after it tomake it more unique. If you were born in 1960, youcould be bluebird1960@outlook.com. Don’t use thesame words/numbers you plan to use in yourpassword though!8. Create a Password: You will also need to select your password. Make sure your password issomething that you can remember, but no one else can easily figure out! Don’t ever share yourpassword with anyone else. To protect your password, its a good idea to change it periodically.Below are some tips for creating a strong password, courtesy of Google(https://www.google.com/accounts/PasswordHelp):Tips for creating a secure password:o Include punctuation marks and/or numbers.o Mix capital and lowercase letters.o Include similar looking substitutions, such as the number zero for the letter O or $ forthe letter S.o Create a unique acronym.o Include phonetic replacements, such as Luv2Laf for Love to Laugh.Things to avoid:o Dont use a password that is listed as an example of how to pick a good password.

48. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 48o Dont use a password that contains personal information (name, birth date, etc.)o Dont use words or acronyms that can be found in a dictionary.o Dont use keyboard patterns (asdf) or sequential numbers (1234).o Dont make your password all numbers, uppercase letters or lowercase letters.o Dont use repeating characters (aa11).Tips for keeping your password secure:o Never tell your password to anyone (this includes significant others, roommates,parrots).o Avoid writing your password down (unless you have problems remembering, then keepit in a safe place!).o Never send your password by email.o Periodically change your password (e.g., every six months).o Do not save your password in your internet browser (your browser will likely ask if youwish to save the password) – other people who use your computer will be able to log in!9. For now, write down your Microsoft Login Name and password. This is crucial because you willNOT be able to access your email without them, but keep this piece of paper in a safe place!Microsoft Login Name: ______________________________Password: ______________________________________10. Help us make sure you’re not a robot: The nextportion of the form is simply a security measure. Typethe code into the box as you see it on your screen.11. After completing the information click on > I Accept.12. Congratulations - You now have an email account! Remember that your email address is yourMicrosoft Login Name directly followed by “@outlook.com”

49. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 49MANAGING YOUR EMAIL - OUTLOOKChecking Your EmailOnce you have set up your email account, you can check your mail anywhere that you can access theInternet. This is how it is done:1. Connect to the Internet by double-clicking the Internet Explorer or Firefox desktop icon.2. Go to the Outlook site by typing outlook.com into the address bar at the top of the screen.3. Type your Microsoft Login Name and Password into the box on the right.4. The next page will show you the number of new messages in your Inbox.5. The inbox is where all of your incoming messages are stored. Click anywhere in the row of the emailyou want to read. We will go into more detail regarding Receiving and Reading messages in a latersection.Composing and Sending Messages1. To create a new message, click the New button inthe blue bar at the top left of your screen.2. The compose screen is a blank message form featuring the following at the top:To: is where you type the email address of the person(s) to whom you wish to send the email.Cc & Bcc: To add secondary addresses to your email, click on these links and additional boxes willappear.CC: “CC” stands for "carbon copy." This box allows you to "copy" a person on an email that you aresending to someone else. The person who’s email address is in the “To:” box will be able to see theemail address of anyone who is CC’d.BCC: This is for "blind carbon copies." If you send a copy of an email to someone by putting theiraddress here, the recipients in the To: and CC: boxes will not be able to see that persons address.Add a Subject: is a brief summary of the subject of your message. It is important to include a subjectline because it will benefit the recipient by allowing them to see what your email is about beforethey open it. It is especially helpful if you are sending email to someone who might not recognizeyour email address. This will help indicate to them that the email is not spam or junk email.

50. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 503. You can enter multiple recipients in all three address boxes. Separate the addresses with a commaand a space. Example: bluecat461@outlook.com, ggsmith18@gmail.com4. The box where you actually type your message is easy to spot because its the largest one in thewindow and it says TYPE YOUR MESSAGE HERE. Click inside to start typing. If you want to change theappearance of your text, you can use the formatting toolbar at the top of the box. The formattingoptions are similar to those used in Microsoft Word.5. Once you have completed your message, send it by clicking on the Send button at the top of thewindow.6. IMPORTANT: You cannot cancel a message once you have sent it, so make sure you want to sendthe message before you click Send.7. By default, Outlook saves the messages you send in your Sent folder so you have a record of whatyou sent and when. You can find your Sent folder in the sidebar on the left side of the page.Attaching a file to your messageYou can attach files to your email messages. This feature allows you to send pictures, documents andeven sounds.To attach a file, first you need to do the same things you do to compose a message.

51. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 511. Click on New2. Type the address3. Type the subject4. Type the message5. When you finish typing your message, click on the Attach files link directly below the Formattingtoolbar.6. This opens the File Upload window:7. Scroll through your computer to find the file. Click on the file you wish to attach and click Open. Ifyou have more files to attach, repeat these stepsbefore moving on.8. Outlook will automatically attach the files to yourmessage. This may take a little time, depending on thesize of your file. Once the file is attached, youll see athumbnail of your attachment and the namedisplayed underneath the Formatting toolbar.9. Click Send to send the message.

52. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 52Receiving and Reading MessagesAs we went over earlier, when you log into Outlook, the number of new or unreadmessages is indicated by a number next to the word “Inbox” in the left-handnavigation column.Reading Messages1. By default, email messages are viewed in the Inbox. New messages are in boldfont.2. To view your message, click anywhere in the row of the email you wish to read.3. Once you have read your message, you have several options.Replying to the messageSelecting this option will include the original message at the bottom of the email and automaticallyaddress the message to the person who sent it to you. You can then add text to the existing messageand delete portions of the original text if you wish before sending your reply to the original sender (kindof like replying to a letter and including the original letter in your new envelope). Click on the Replybutton to reply only to the sender. Or click on the arrow next to the Reply button and select Reply all ifyou prefer to send the message to all recipients of the original message.Forwarding the MessageThis feature copies the message you are viewing for delivery to another email address.You can add text and edit the message before sending it. To forward the message, clickon the arrow next to the Reply button and select Forward.Other Email OptionsWhen viewing your inbox there is a checkbox to the left of each message. Selecting a message bychecking a message reveals a toolbar offering other options. We have already covered New and Reply,We will now look at the other options.DeleteThe Delete option allows you delete email messages. Select a message by clicking on the checkbox nextto the sender’s name. Click on the Delete option in the toolbar. Your message will be moved to theDeleted folder.

53. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 53JunkIf you receive unwanted messages in your inbox you can use the Junk option. Select a message byclicking on the sender’s name. Click on the Junk option in the toolbar. This will send the message to theDeleted folder and it will mark the sender as unsafe. Another option under the Junk selection on thetoolbar is the Phishing scam option. By selecting a message and clicking on Phishing scam the messagewill be sent to the Deleted folder and you will see the message shown below:SweepThis feature allows you to delete or move emails in bulk from a specific sender when you need to. Selectthe check box next to the message from the sender you want to sweep. Click the down arrow next tothe Sweep option on the toolbar. From here you can select to move all the messages from this sender toa specific folder, or delete all the messages from this sender. Another option under Sweep is theSchedule cleanup option. This will allow you to set up a rule to Sweep your inbox on a regular basis. Thefinal option under Sweep is Manage rules. Do use this option you must first verify your account with acell phone number with text capabilities. Once you have verified your account you can set rules for allkinds of organizational tasks in Outlook. Please see the Help option for more information.Move ToThe Move to options on the Outlook toolbar allows you to move selected messages to the differentfolders in the left side navigation. You can also use the New folder option to create your own folders.

54. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 54Organizing your Email Using CategoriesOutlook gives you the ability to organize your email into Categories. Several of thesehave already been created for you as you can see from the selecting the drop downarrow next to Categories on the toolbar. To move a message to a category, first selectthe message by clicking in the checkbox. Next click on the Categories option and click inthe checkbox next to the category. If you select Manage categories you have the optionof showing your categories in the left navigation bar under Quick Views.… OptionThe last option on the toolbar is the “…” option. This option allows you to mark messageas “read” or “unread.” It also allows you to “flag” or “unflag” messages. This is alsowhere you go to Print a message.Receiving an attachmentWhen you receive a message with an attachment, a paper clip appears next to the date of the messagein your inbox.Click on the message to open the email.At the top of the message, you will see anyattachments.This email has a Word document attached called citing_classes_resume.docThere are three ways to view this document. You can 1) clickon the attachment and it will download to your computer;2) you can click on View online at the bottom of theattachment and the Word Web App will open with yourdocument; or 3) you can download the attachment as a .zipfile. If you click on the attachment, Outlook will downloadthe attachment to your computer. (How this happensdepends on the internet browser you are using.) Firefoxopens a window as shown to the right:To open the file, select Open With, and then click the OKbutton, and the program that runs this type of file (such asMicrosoft Word or Adobe Acrobat) will open the attachedfile.

55. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 55To save the file to your computer, select Save File. If you choose this option, you wont get to see thecontents of the file first.IMPORTANT: Never open an attachment if you dont know the person who sent it. This is the mostcommon way computer viruses are sent. Do not open a file that ends in .exe unless you already knowwhat it is and why youre receiving it. If you think any attachment – even from someone you know –looks suspicious, do not open it. If you would like to learn more about computer viruses, how they aretransmitted, and what damage they can do to your computer, go to this web address:http://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus.htmADDITIONAL FEATURESOUTLOOKAdditional features in Outlook mail can be found by clicking on the down arrow next to the wordOutlook on the toolbar.PeopleThe People feature allows you to keep track of email addresses, which can sometimes be hard toremember. To access your People List click on the People icon.Adding a ContactTo add a contact and their email address, click on the New button. You can add as little or as muchadditional information about each email address as you prefer. Keep in mind, however, that if you addthe name of the person associated with the email address, it will be easier to look up later since emailaddresses don’t always contain the person’s name.Looking up addressesOnce an email address is saved in your address book, you can look it up when sending an email. If youcant remember the email address off hand, just click on the To button on the left side of the page toaccess your contacts. Otherwise, just start typing the first letter or two of the person’s email address orname, and Outlook will suggest email addresses for you.

56. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 56CalendarOutlook also has a calendar that you can use to keep track of your schedule. To access it, click Calendarand then simply click anywhere in the calendar to create and edit an event. You can create multiplecalendars, and can even color code them. For more information, click the Help link in the top rightcorner of the screen.GETTING HELPWhere to find helpAt the LibraryYou can access your Outlook account from anywhere there is an internet connection or wirelessinternet, including the Durham County Library. However, the library has no control over your free emailaccount. While library staff might be able to help you with the features of your account, remember thatthey cannot look up your username and password for you.What if I forget my password?If you cant remember your ID or Password, Outlook can help you remember it.Remember when you were signing up Outlook asked for a Phone Number, Alternate email address and/ or a Security Question Click on the "Can’t access your account?" link located beneath the Sign in boxon Outlook’s home page. This will take you to a page where you can retrieve your password byanswering questions.Note: This feature only works if you can remember either your ID orpassword. If you have forgotten both, you may need to create a newaccount.Outlook HelpIf you have questions while working in your email you can always go to the helpoption. Go to the Gear icon on the right side of the toolbar and select Help.

57. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 57EMAIL EXERCISENow that you have a working email address let’s send some emails.1. Compose an emaila. Compose an email message to a friend telling them about your new email address. BCCyourself. (If you do not know anyone’s email address you can send one todclcomputertraining@outlook.com ).b. Go to your SENT folder and look for the message you just sent.2. Create a categorya. In Outlook open an email message in your inbox.b. Click on the Categories drop down arrow.c. Click on New category. Call the category Job Hunting.d. Move one of your email messages to the new location.3. Create a foldera. In Outlook open an email message in your inbox.b. Click on the Move to drop down arrow.c. Click on New Folder. Call the folder Resumes.d. Move one of your email messages to the new location.4. Sending an Attachmenta. Compose an email message to yourself at your new email address.b. Subject: Email Attachmentc. Click on Attach filesd. Go to the folder: Libraries / Pictures / Sample Pictures.e. Select a picture to attach.f. In the body of the message type: Here is an email attachment I am sending myself.g. Send the message.h. Open the email you just sent to yourself and select View slide show.5. Add a new contacta. Name: Durham County Libraryb. Email: dclcomputertraining@outlook.comc. Address: 300 N. Roxboro Streetd. URL: durhamcountylibrary.org

58. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 58INTRODUCTION TOMICROSOFT’S WORD WEB APPIn this class you will learn the basics of a word processing software program, Microsoft Word usingSkyDrive’s Word Web App.

59. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 59GETTING STARTEDPrerequisitesIt is assumed that user is both familiar and comfortable with the following prior to working with theMicrosoft Word Web App:Using the mouse and the left-click featureBasic navigation through Microsoft WindowsBasic typing and keyboard commandsAccessing the World Wide WebHave an outlook.com email addressPlease let the instructor know if you do not meet these prerequisites.What You Will LearnStarting and opening the onlinesoftware applicationMicrosoft Word Web Appcomponents and featuresKeyboard functionsSimple tasks in Microsoft Word Typing text Formatting textUndoing and Redoing Copying, pasting, cutting anddeleting textInserting images and clipartChanging views and setup Automatic completions andfunctionsSpelling and Grammar checkMicrosoft Word Help Ending and closing the onlinesoftware applicationPrinting documentsSaving documents Miscellaneous features

60. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 60USING MICROSOFT WORD WEB APPA word processor is a computer program used to create and print text documents that might otherwisebe prepared on a typewriter. The key advantage of a word processor is its ability to make changes easily,such as correcting spelling, adding, deleting, formatting and relocating text. Once created, the documentcan be printed quickly and accurately saved for later modifications. In fact, the document that you arereading now was created using only a small amount of the many features available in Microsoft Word!All of the computers at the library have Microsoft Word loaded as a full software program. For thepurposes of this class we will be using the Word Web App. By using the Word Web App in Microsoft’sSkyDrive you will be able to access your documents anywhere you have access to a computer with anInternet connection. The Word Web App has some limits, but for the basics you will be learning in thisclass, it will be sufficient for everything we do.Microsoft Word ComponentsBefore you get started with the Word Web App you will need to go to Microsoft SkyDrive and log in withyour Outlook/Hotmail email address and password. [https://skydrive.live.com] Your screen should looklike the image below.

61. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 61To open a blank document, click on CREATE and WORD DOCUMENT.Name your document and click on CREATE.The Word Web App will automatically save your document with the suffix ".docx" – this is simply a tagthat lets Word know that your work is specific to this program and version of the software. By using the.docx suffix, you will be able to download your SkyDrive documents to a local computer and open themin the full version of Microsoft Word.You are now in the Word Web App.The Title BarThis is a close-up view of the Title Bar, where file information is located.

62. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 62The Ribbon Menu SystemThe tabbed Ribbon menu system is how you navigate through Word and access the various Wordcommands. If you have used previous versions of Word, the ribbon system replaces the traditionalmenus. The Word Web App has a limited numbers of features. For all of the features available in Word,you will need to use the Microsoft Word program.File TabThe File Tab is the first option on the ribbon menu. When you click on File a menu appears. From thismenu you can Save, Save As, Print and most importantly access Help. If you are on a computer with afull version of Microsoft Word, you can switch from the Word Web App to Word. For the purposes ofour class we will stay in the Word Web App.

63. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 63Home TabThe Home Tab provides "shortcuts" to the most used commands in Word. Some of these commandsare:Paste | Cut | Copy | Font | Font Style | Font Size | Font Color | Text AlignmentThe Home Tab offers options that can change the font, size, color, alignment, organization andstyle of the text in the document. For example, (starting from the left side of the Toolbar) the"Calibri" indicates the FONT of your text, the "11" indicates the SIZE of your text; and so on.This is a sentence that features many different FONTS.This is a sentencethatfeaturesmanydifferentSIZESThe "B" will make your text BOLD, the "I" will put it in italics, and the "U" will add an underline to yourtext.Finally, the alignment of the text can be altered using the buttons with the horizontal lines on them. Youcan align text to the left, the center, the right or justified on both sidesTo the LEFT,In the CENTER,And to the RIGHT.

64. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 64The KeyboardIn order to use a word processor effectively, you must input commands using both the mouse and thekeyboard. The above image of a keyboard may closely resemble (if it is not identical to) the keyboard infront of you; learning just a few certain keys will help to improve your efficiency in typing as well aspresent you with more options within the program. The following is a list of commonly used keys thathave special functions (key functions can change depending on which program you are using):1. Backspace: This key deletes backwards as you type.2. Delete: This key deletes forwards as you type.3. Shift: This key, when pressed WITH another key, will perform a secondary function.4. Spacebar: This key enters a space between words as you type.5. Tab: This key will force the cursor to indent, or jump forward 10 spaces.6. Caps Lock: This key will present the capitalized version of each letter key.7. Control (Ctrl): This key, when pressed WITH another key, performs as shortcut.8. Enter: This key executes a command (pressed in MS Word, it begins a new line).9. Number keypad: This is a redundant keypad existing only for user preference.10. Arrow keys: Like the mouse, these keys are used to navigate through the documentSIMPLE TASKS IN MICROSOFT WORDTyping TextTo enter text, type just as you would if you were using a typewriter.To capitalize a letter, hold down the SHIFT key while typing the letter.Or, press the CAPS LOCK key on the left hand side of your keyboard. You will have to press the CAPSLOCK key again – once you are done capitalizing – to remove the lock.You do not need to press ENTER to start a new line – Microsoft Word will automatically wrap yoursentence at the end of the line.

65. R E A D Y T O W O R K : C O M P U T E R B A S I C S P A G E 65To move the cursor from its position at the end of the your sentence to anywhere else on the page, usethe mouse or the arrow keys to move the cursor where you want the letters or spaces to be (left-clickthe mouse to place the cursor) and then type what you want to add – the text will adjust to include it.Press ENTER to start a new paragraph (this is sometimes called a "carriage return").Formatting TextChanging the look of what youve written is called "formatting." This can include changing the text style,size, color and more.You can also make text bold, underlined, or italicized when using a word processor. These features donot have to be used independently of each other either – in other words, you make bold, underline, anditalicize a single piece of text.To make text really stand out, you can also combine this with alignment and size to produce a heading inbold, italics, underlined, sized and centered:Sale at Bobs Paint Supplies!Highlighting TextIn order to apply certain stylistic or other changes to text, you must first HIGHLIGHT the text. This is acommon procedure in Microsoft Windows applications, and like being able to successfully navigate themouse around your screen, the ability to highlight well is one that you want to master.Just as the image above suggests, you can highlight text by placing your cursor (by moving the mouse)directly to one side of the selection that you are working with.In the case to the right, the user wants to highlight the phrase "This is a test" but NOT"to show." In this example, the user should place the cursor directly to the left of theword "This" and hold down the left-click button on the mouse.Then, drag the mouse across the sentence, and a black or blue highlight will follow. The computer nowunderstands that any and all formatting that you command will ONLY apply to the part of the sentencethat you highlighted (and not "to show," since it is not highlighted).Suppose we wanted to make the words "This is a test" bold, and leave the rest of the sentenceunformatted. The end result (once you click elsewhere on the screen to remove the highlight would bethis: This is a testExperimenting with formatting can be fun, and it is an essential tool to master in all computer work. Youcan also change the font color by clicking on the appropriate buttons in the Formatting Toolbar.Experiment and remember – you can always start over with a fresh, new document, so dont worryabout making mistakes! If you do, however, there is always the incredible "UNDO" tool that is covered inthe next section.

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