UNDERSTANDING YOUR COMPUTER

TWO BASIC TYPES OF COMPUTERS Personal Computers Called PC’s. This type of computer is made by several different companies. The computers we will use in class. Macintosh Often called Macs and Apples. These computers look different on the inside and outside but they can do basically the same things.

OPERATING SYSTEMS (OS) The operating system tells everything in your computer how to act. It can change the way things appear on your screen or desktop. Windows is the most common operating system for PCs.

HARDWARE Hardware is the name for the physical parts of your computer. CPU Monitor Keyboard Mouse Speakers Printer

CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT This is what makes a computer work. It is like the brain of the computer. Contains the disk drives and hard drive. This is where you will find the power switch to turn the computer on and off. Also called CPU, Computer, and Processor. Have students turn PCU and Monitor On. Do any other log in necessary to get to desktop.

MOUSE Cursor Click Double-Click Click and Drag Right-Click Move the mouse around and see the cursor move. Now click once with the left button on an icon on the screen. See it become highlighted Now double click on “my Computer”. See the window open. Now to close the window click on the X in the right hand corner. Now hold down the left button over an icon and drag it across the screen. Notice that you’ve put it in a new place. Now right click in the middle of the screen. See how a menu appears. Left click on arrange icons. Another menu appears next to it. Lift click on “Auto arrange”. The icons should go back into rows. No

KEYBOARD 10-Key pad Arrow Keys Caps Lock Shift Back Space/ Delete Enter or Return Explain what each does and have students find them on their keyboard.

DISKS 3.5 Floppy Disk CD ROM Disk We will use these in class. Like a folder in your pocket CD ROM Disk Just like a music CD. Software is purchased on CD. Today, some CD’s can be used to save information, but the computer has to have a CD burners. Have students insert their disks.

Desktop The first screen you see when the computer starts up The desktop has several icons that can be used as short-cuts to a program or file.

DRIVES Drives are different places on your computer to save information. 3 ½ Floppy A: is the disk drive C: is the hard drive Click on My computer to see the drives in your computer. Now click on 3 ½ Floppy A to access the A drive where your disk is.

Folders and Documents Folders help organize the things you save on the computer. Each thing you save is called a document or a file. Now click on the folder “From your Teacher” Then click on the Document “Welcome to Class” Explain the software program that was used to create this document.

SOFTWARE Software is information or instructions for your computer. Software needs to be installed on a computer, usually from a CD. Some examples of software programs that we will use in class: Word Excel PowerPoint Publisher Internet Explorer Mavis Beacon

MICROSOFT WORD Word Processor Like a typewriter except you can edit, copy, move and delete text. You can check your spelling and grammar, too. Use for letters and documents which are mainly words.

MICROSOFT EXCEL Spreadsheet Use with documents which are mainly numbers or graphs. Adds and multiplies numbers.

MICROSOFT POWERPOINT Presentation software. Use for posters and presentations. This presentation was created on PowerPoint!

MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER This software allows you to use the internet. When you use the internet you can send and receive e-mail.

MAVIS BEACON Mavis Beacon is a learning software. Mavis Beacon teaches typing and 10-Key. You can use this software to learn to type.