This document provides instructions for basic computer use, including starting up a computer, logging in, using a mouse and keyboard, opening programs from the start menu like Calculator and Paint, and shutting down. It explains that hardware are physical computer components while software are programs and applications. It also outlines topics to be covered in future sessions such as laptops vs desktops, internal computer components, and word processing.

2.  Sessions 1 to 5: Computer Basics
◦ Session 1 - Hardware and Software
◦ Session 2 – Inside a Computer and Word Processing
◦ Session 3 – Operating Systems and Multimedia
◦ Session 4 – Networks and Peripherals
◦ Session 5 – Recap and Test

4.  Hardware is anything to do with computers
that you can actually touch

5.  In front of you right now you should find…

6.  Turn on your computer by pressing the power
button on the base unit…
It will probably take a
few minutes to start
up – be patient…

7.  After a few minutes of booting, the monitor
should display something like this:

8.  Let’s look at the keyboard…

9. Command Keys
Function Keys
Navigation Keys
Special Keys

10.  You need to press the Ctrl, Alt and Delete
keys together…

11.  You should then see this screen:

12.  A computer keyboard has all the letters of the
alphabet and the numbers 0 to 9
 It also has special keys including the Shift
key…

13.  The Shift key will change any letters you type
on the keyboard to capital letters (sometimes
called upper case):
 Without Shift: With Shift:
a, b, c ,d…. A, B, C, D…

14.  To use a computer you will have to log in
 This usually involves typing in:
◦ a user name
◦ …and a password
 These need to be carefully typed in using
upper case (capitals) and lower case letters

15.  You should have already have a use name
 Type it on the keyboard, it should appear in
the top box on your screen:

16.  The next special key you are going to use is
the Tab key
 It can be found two keys above the Shift key:
Press the Tab key
once…

17.  The Tab key moves the cursor (the flashing
line where your typing appears) to the next
box…
 Now type your password into the lower box.

18.  Press the Enter key (sometimes called the
Return key)…

21.  The mouse is used to point at things on the
screen

22.  A mouse also lets you select things on the
screen
The LEFT
mouse button

23.  Everything that your particular computer can
do is found in the Start Menu

24.  Using the mouse, click on the Start Menu
button

26.  You are now going to use the Start Menu to
start the Calculator program

27. / means divide by
* means multiply or ‘times’
C clears or resets
 Work out:
◦ 7 * 5
◦ 197 – 28
◦ 12 + 32 + 17
◦ 78 + 33 – 14
◦ 77 / 11

28. /
*
C
 Work out:
◦ 7 * 5 = 35
◦ 197 – 28 = 169
◦ 12 + 32 + 17 = 61
◦ 78 + 33 – 14 = 97
◦ 77 / 11 = 11

29.  You are now going to use the Start Menu to
start a program called Paint

31. For a blank canvas:
File >>>
New >>>
Save >>>
Type in a name >>> Save

32.  Take 15 minutes
 It’s good (and healthy) to get away from the
computer every so often

36.  It’s the stuff you can’t physically touch
 Instructions that make hardware work
 Sometimes called:
◦ Programs
◦ Applications (or Apps for short)
Video on next slide…

37.  Word Processor
 Spreadsheet
 Database – used to store your data
 PowerPoint – what your watching now
…and many, many, many more!

38.  When you’ve finished using a program (such
as Paint) you need to put it away or close it

40. More on this in future sessions…

41.  When you’ve finished working on a computer
you need to turn it off
 Oddly this is done on the Start Menu…

42.  Next Week:
◦ Laptops vs Desktops
◦ What goes on inside the base unit
◦ Using the keyboard
◦ Intro to word processing