Computer Foundations

Types of PCs, What a Computer Can Do

Computer Hardware

Basic Components:  Monitor, Console or System Unit, Mouse, Keyboard, Disk Drives, CD-ROM/DVD Drives, Input and Output Devices, Additional Hardware:  Printer, Scanner, Speakers, Joystick, Modem, The Motherboard and Central Processing Unit (CPU), Memory

Media

Hard Disk Drives, Floppy Disk Drives, CD-ROM and DVD Drives, Zip Drives, Disk Drive Letters

Keyboard

Layout of the Keyboard, Types of Keys:  Typewriter, Function, Cursor-Control, Numeric Keypad, Functions of Some Important Keys: Enter, Tab, Escape, Shift, Ctrl, Alt, Caps Lock, Windows Key

Mouse

Components of the Mouse, Cursor, Pointing and Clicking, Double-Clicking, Dragging and Dropping, Selecting Single and Multiple Objects

Turning the Computer On and Off

Turning On the Computer (Monitor and System Unit), Logging On and Off, Setting Up Multiple User Accounts, Restarting, Stand By Mode, Hibernating, Shutting Down

Computer Software

The Difference Between Operating Systems and Applications/Programs, Different Types of Applications/Programs, Word-Processing, Spreadsheets, Databases and Presentations, E-mail and Internet Programs, Installing and Uninstalling Software

Microsoft Windows

What is Windows and What Does It Do?, Windows vs. Mac OS, Different Versions of Windows, Working with Windows, Components of a Window, Moving, Resizing, Minimizing, Maximizing, Restoring, and Closing Windows, Active and Inactive Windows, Scrolling Through a Window, Menus, Selecting a Command, Common Menus and Commands in Microsoft Programs, Toolbars, Dialog Boxes, Common Buttons:  OK, Close, Components:  Tabs, Text Boxes, Lists, Check Boxes, Starting and Exiting Programs from Different Locations on the Computer

Windows Desktop

What is the Desktop?, Icons, Shortcuts, Start Button, Launching Programs, Accessories, Taskbar, Quick Launch Bar, Window Buttons, System Tray, Switching Between Windows

What is a File?, Storing Files and Folders, Managing and Sorting Files and Folders, My Documents, Creating New Folders and Subfolders, Moving, Copying, Renaming and Deleting Files, Opening and Closing Files, Filename Extensions

My Computer

Viewing Different Drives and Their Contents, Task Pane

Windows Explorer

Files and Folders Structure, Navigating Through Files and Folders, Searching for Files and Folders, Data Paths

Recycle Bin

Getting Help

Word-Processing Basics

Using Notepad, Using Word, the Basic Word Screen: Title Bar, Menu Bar, Toolbars, Ruler, Document Area, Scroll Bars, Status Bar, Creating a New Document, Opening an Existing Document, Entering and Editing Text, Insertion Point, Selecting Text, Deleting, Copying, Cutting, and Pasting Text, Basic Formatting, Saving and Closing Documents, Printing Documents

Using the Internet

Internet Basics:  What is the Internet?, How to Connect to the Internet, Different Types of Connections, Internet Software, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Understanding the World Wide Web, Web Sites, Web Pages, Links, Internet Explorer, Surfing the Web:  Google and Other Good Sites, How to Search, Using the Toolbar:  Back, Forward, Refresh, Stop, etc.

E-Mail

Setting Up an E-mail Account, E-mail Programs and How They Work, Composing and Sending E-mail, Reading E-mail Messages, Replying to Messages, Deleting Messages, Sending Attachments, Address Book, Adding New Contacts, Sending E-mail to Contacts, Instant Messaging and Chat

Protecting Your Computer from Viruses

How Your Computer Can Get a Virus, Signs That Your Computer Has Been Infected, Antivirus Programs

Overview of UM Office Professional

Word:  Creating Documents with Various Types of Formatting
Excel:  Designing Spreadsheets, Organizing Data, Performing Calculations, Creating Charts
PowerPoint:  Creating a Presentation with Sounds, Animation, and Pictures
Access:  Storing Information in Databases, Performing Queries, Printing Reports