Increase Your Computer Competency - Practical Tips and Tricks Cheryl Gould Summer 2005

Glossary of terms for high school students at Mt. Tam High in Marin ssment/computers/objective/

Which of the following is NOT a valid ending for a graphics file? a).jpg b).tif c).mid d).gif e).psd

With regards to addresses: a) they must always contain 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

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 Bar  Title Bar  Status Bar  Cursor  Desktop 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 Concept Control 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 Excel a.Resize a column and a row 2.Open Word b.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 Files iexplore.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 Escape to cancel - (often can be used instead of a mouse click) Control 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 Search Office Assistant