Increase Your Computer Competency - Practical Tips

and Tricks

Cheryl Gould

gouldc@infopeople.org

Summer 2005

Glossary of terms for high school students at Mt. Tam

High in Marin

www.tamdistrict.org/instr/assessment/computers/objective/

Which of the following is NOT a valid ending for a

graphics file?

a) .jpgb) .tifc) .midd) .gife) .psd

With regards to e-mail addresses:

a) they must always contain an @ symbol

b) they can never contain spaces

c) they are case-INsensitive

d) [all of the above]

e) [none of the above]

In order to play and hear sound on a computer, one

needs:

a) a sound card

b) a microphone

c) speakers

d) [a & c only]

e) [b & c only]

True or False Using the ESC key is the same as clicking the

cancel button in a dialog box

You can cut, copy and paste a file or folder just as easily as text

You can have more than one web browser window open at a time

There is a universal keyboard shortcut for repeating your last action

Goals for Today

Gain confidence and have fun learning

Learn 10 new computer skills

Create a customized “cheat sheet”

Address your specific questions

Cheryl’s Helpful Hints

You have to learn the rules of the game

Slow down and look at your visual cues

Make friends with the Help menu

Don’t expect things to be crystal clear, ever

Right-click to find options

Right-click to find options

Right-click to find options

Learning to Learn

Common Language

Visual Cues

Universal Concepts

Explore

• Hardware -can touch it• Cables• Disks and Drives• Sound Cards• Monitor• Flash drive

• Software – required so hardware can function.

• Operating System• Programs

Hardware and Software

Windows Operating System

Requires Windows versions of programs

Consistent look & feel window controls taskbar files and folders dialog boxes

Open File, Save As

Like plumbing, heating, and electricity is to your house.

Visual Cues

Task BarTitle BarStatus BarCursorDesktop

Quick Launch System Tray

Take Charge of Your Computer

Customize desktop with shortcuts and pictures Toolbars and toolbar buttons Many ways to accomplish a task

open programs from: Start button desktop shortcuts click on file in Windows Explorer

close programs: the X in the corner Alt + F4

Universal ConceptControl Size and Placement

You have control over the size of and often the placement of:

Windows

Dialog boxes

Columns

Rows

The Cursor Gives Clues Arrow I-Beam 2-headed arrow 4-headed arrow Hand with pointing finger 2-vertical lines with arrows pointing across

the screen 2 horizontal lines with arrows pointing up

and down Many More

Explore Columns and Rows

1. Open Excela. Resize a column and a row

2. Open Wordb. Insert a Table

c. Resize a column and a row

Critical Pieces and Places Desktop

begin and end your computer sessions add shortcuts to programs you use frequently

Programs each program performs a specific set of tasks

i.e., graphics, text, browsing the web

Files some you create and name some created when installing programs organize files in folders

File Basics File name

includes a name and a 3 character extension File extension

indicate document type Windows associates extensions with programs

Files You Create lib_closing_proc.doc e_books 2005.mdb wildflowers.gif

Program Filesiexplore.exe

winword.exe

excel.exe

File Extensions

3 letters that tell Windows what program to open.

Can change association between extension and program in Windows Explorer:

Tools/Folder Options/File Types tab

Must tell Windows to show extensions in Windows Explorer Tools/Folder Options/View tab

Windows Explorer The Virtual Filing Cabinet

All files found here! Same stuff as in My Computer Create folders to organize your files The path to a file is like a web address

hierarchical specifies location

Web Browser• Can have many open at once

• Right-click to see options for images

• Status bar gives preview of link

• Organize Favorites like you organize files and folders

The URL shows the path to the file you are viewing. Understand It!

More Visual Cues

Underlined letters in menus Visible Toolbars Depressed buttons Grayed buttons Blinking cursor Handles around objects

Keyboard Special Keys

<Esc> Escape to cancel - <Enter> (often can be used instead of a mouse click)

<Ctrl> Control <Alt> Alternate

Move around on the screen Home, End, Page Up, Page Down Arrow Keys

Editing Backspace (to the left of cursor) Delete (to the right of cursor)

Using Word Efficiently

Paragraph Marks

Find and Replace

Navigating a page

Selecting text

Selecting objects

Universal Concept: Things Have Properties Text – font type, size, format, Paragraph – centered, space before or after,

indented, numbered Graphics – handles, resize, color, line, margins Most things can be changed, look for:

Tools menu Customize Properties Options Preferences

Getting Help

“What’s This” in Help menu

Question Mark in Dialog Boxes

Contents, Index, Natural Language

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