DELSA - Digital Empowerment for Digitally Upskilling Adults

Basic computer skills

What I need for this unit?Click to read

A Computer, Laptop, Tablet or Smartphone

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Introduction to the DesktopClick to read

•The Desktop is the first screen you will see when you turn on your computer

•Start button is on the bottom left of the screen ( & gets you into everything on your computer ) its is located on the taskbar

•Taskbar is the name of the grey bar at the bottom of your screen. You will see several other icons on the taskbar

•Icons – The small pictures on the desktop are called icons. Icons are shortcuts to Programs. To open an Icon, simply double click the icon ( using the Left Mouse Button) to access (open) a Program.

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Turning your Computer ON/OFFClick to read

Now look at this short video

How to turn your computer ON/OFF

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ICONSClick to read

	•Microsoft Word Icon
	•Email Icon
	•Internet Icon

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KeyboardClick to read

•The Spacebar is used to create a space between letters or words, if you press the space bar once, one space appears. If you press the spacebar twice, two spaces arrear etc.

•The Enter Key If you are typing on a particular and then wish to move down to the next line you can press the Enter Key i.e. the enter key moves you down a line.

•The Backspace Key If you made a mistake while typing, pressing the backspace key deletes what you just typed.

•If you continue pressing Backspace you will continue deleting letters,

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The MouseClick to read

Step 1:	Place your hand lightly on the mouse with your index finger resting lightly on the left button and move the mouse in small movements.
Note:	Observe the arrow shaped mouse moving on the screen, if you move your hand to the left the arrow moves to the left, if you move your hand up, the arrow moves up etc.
Step 2:	Move the mouse in a circular motion and observe the motion of the arrow on the screen.
Step 3:	Continue moving the mouse until you feel comfortable with this skill.
Step 4:	Move the mouse towards the top right corner of the screen, move it to the bottom left corner of the screen – continue this motion until you feel comfortable.
Note:	To make something happen on the computer you will need to ‘click’ somewhere on the screen.
Note:	Clicking means pressing one of the mouse buttons with your finger. The usual button to click on is the left button but this can be changed at any time.

•The mouse help you move around the screen

•Using the mouse takes a little practise

•Move the mouse gently & slowly in a little circle on the desk.

•You will see the arrow on the screen ( called cursor) Also moves around.

•Gently move the mouse in circles, up & down & left to right

•Keep looking at the computer screen – see what happens when you move the mouse

Now look at the 25 minute

THE MOUSE Techniques - Basic Personal Computer Tutorials

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What is HardwareClick to read

The physical parts of a computer are known collectively as hardware. The following are known as hardware.

Monitor Keyboard & Mouse

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What is Software Click to read

•Software is the term given to the programs used by a computer, for instance if you have a game on your computer, the game is considered software.

•If you were to buy a computer with absolutely no software loaded you could not use the computer for much more than a door stop. The usefulness of your computer increases as you add more software.

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Types of SoftwaresClick to read

For now we will consider 2 types of software, Application software and Operating System:

Application Software

Application software is software that allows the user to do specific actual work such as typing letters, creating spreadsheets and databases etc.

Examples of application software are Microsoft Word (used to type letters), and Microsoft Excel (used to create spreadsheets) and Internet Explorer (used to browse the web).

Operating System

Most application software cannot communicate directly with hardware, it needs a middle man to translate and communicate between the two items.

This middle man is known as an operating system, it sits on top of the hardware and facilitates communication with the Applications software.

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Operating SystemClick to read

This middle man is known as an operating system, it sits on top of the hardware and facilitates communication with the Applications software.

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ConclusionClick to read

In this unit we learned:

•How to turn on and off your computer