This document provides an overview of a basic computer skills seminar presented by Meridian Career Institute. The seminar covers identifying basic computer hardware parts, operating systems, software, input devices, mouse skills including clicking, dragging and right clicking. It also covers what the internet and world wide web are, how to surf the web using search engines like Google, and introduces some common Microsoft office programs like Word, Excel, Publisher and PowerPoint.

1. Meridian Career Institute presents

2. Basic Computer Skills Seminar

3. Objectives: Learn basic parts of a computer Practice Mouse skills Learn about and practice “Internet surfing” Learn about different Microsoft products

4. Basic parts of a computer Monitors Central Processing Unit (CPU) Mouse All of these parts are known as hardware.

5. Basic parts of a computer, continued. Keyboard Hard Drive (storage device) Power Cord

6. Operating System An operating system is a program that actually “runs” the computer; it manages the drives, takes input from the keyboard and mouse, keeps track of where data is stored, and makes sure all applications work together. It OPERATES THE SYSTEM!

7. At Meridian, we use Windows XP.

8. What is software? Software is a set of instructions that makes a computer perform a certain task. You can’t see it or feel it – it’s a computer program!

9. Input Devices The mouse is one way to control the cursor. The keyboard is another. Can you see why this is called a “qwerty” keyboard?

10. Here are a couple of ways to hold the mouse.

11. Now it’s time to Learn Mouse Skills

12. Keep your finger on the left button, but don’t press down on it. Move the mouse around on the desk. To move the cursor:

13. To click on something, move the mouse until it is over the area you wish to select. Click ONCE. Clicking or Selecting

14. To open, move the mouse until it is over the area you wish to open. Click TWICE. Opening Documents

15. How to Drag using the mouse Put the cursor over the object you wish to move. Hold the left button down, then move the mouse where you want to move it. Release the button. The object should be moved to the new location.

16. Right-clicking the mouse will give you a menu. The menu will differ depending on the program you are using. This is the menu that appears in Microsoft Word.

17. This is the menu that appears in PowerPoint.

18. Play Solitaire to improve your mouse skills. 2. Click on All Programs 1. Click on Start

19. 1. Click on Games 2. Click on Solitaire

20. Click on the square to enlarge

21. Play the game by moving the cards to their proper places.

22. Take a few minutes to practice your Mouse skills

23. When you are finished, click on the red x to close the window.

24. What is the Internet?

25. To understand what the Internet is, you need to know what a computer network is. A computer network consists of at least 2 computers that can “talk” to each other.

26. The Internet is a global network consisting of MILLIONS of business, government, academic, and private networks.

27. The Internet does NOT exist in one place, and belongs to NO single nation, business, or entity.

28. What is the World Wide Web?

29. The World Wide Web is part of the Internet that allows users to access Websites. It also includes email, IM, and chat rooms.

30. It’s time to surf the Web!

31. 2. Double click on the “E” 1. Go to the Desktop.

32. Another way to get on the Internet is to click on start and look for the Internet browser.

33. In the LRC, Internet Explorer should open to the LRC’s homepage.

34. How can I find Websites? This is the URL or address bar. If you know where you want to go, you can type the Website’s address here.

35. If you need to search for a Website, try a search engine, like Google.

36. Let’s search for a museum using the Google search engine.

37. Type the word museum in the search box.

38. There are far too many results. Besides, you want to go to a nearby museum. Type Tampa in the search box.

39. Several different museums appear, but you want a science museum. Type science in the search box and click search.

40. There are still many results, but almost all of them are referring to the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa.

41. Yahoo.com is another commonly used search engine.

42. Ask.com is a popular search engine.

43. msn.com is favored by many.

44. Take a few minutes now to surf the Internet!

45. Microsoft Products Let’s take a look at some Microsoft products and what you can do with them.

46. Use Microsoft Word to create documents, such as a letter, resume, or an essay.

47. Microsoft Excel is an electronic spreadsheet (for accounting purposes) that can also create charts.

48. Use Microsoft Publisher to create newsletters, signs, calendars, cards, etc.

49. Use Microsoft PowerPoint to create presentations, such as this one!

50. To learn how to use Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, and PowerPoint, please sign up for the LRC’s seminars!