Tech Talk Lesson Plan: Basic Computer Skills

Objective:

1. Understand the basic components of a desktop computer.

2. Be able to use a mouse and keyboard to interact with a computer.

3. Navigate the internet with a web browser.

Prep:

1. Ask the patron if they have a computer at home or if they primarily use the computers at the library or another public place.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Skills:

 Turn on and shut down the computer.

 Login and logoff off the computer.

 Turn monitor on and off.

 Parts of a computer.

 Use the mouse.

 Use the keyboard.

 The desktop.

 The taskbar.

 Start and exit programs.

 Save and Save As.

 Printing.

 Minimize and maximize a window.

 Scroll within a window.

 Menus and toolbars.

 Open and close files.

 Understand file extensions (.txt, .jpg, .rtf)

Gaston County Public Library Basic Computer Skills – Lesson Plan.docx Revised 13 May 2013  Drag files to a new location.

 Copy and paste files.

 Files vs folders.

 Make and delete a folder.

 Empty the recycle bin and restore files from the recycle bin.

 Types of storage devices.

 Copy files to external storage devices.

 Back up files.

 Use Ctrl+Alt+Del and Task Manager to close a program that is frozen.

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Gaston County Public Library Basic Computer Skills – Lesson Plan.docx Revised 13 May 2013  Outline:

1. Turning a computer on and off.

2. Turning a monitor on and off.

3. Parts of a computer:

a. "tower" (with power button)

b. Monitor (with power button)

c. Keyboard

d. Mouse

e. CD/DVD drive

f. USB ports

4. The desktop

a. start menu

a.i. Log off

a.ii. Shutdown

a.iii. restart.

b. icons

c. taskbar

5. Using the mouse

a. left-click

b. right-click

c. double-click

d. scroll wheel

6. Using the keyboard

a. Shift

b. Ctrl

c. Caps Lock

d. Enter

e. Backspace Gaston County Public Library Basic Computer Skills – Lesson Plan.docx Revised 13 May 2013 f. Delete

g. arrow keys

h. Home/End

i. Page Up/Down

j. number pad

k. Num Lock

l. PrtScn

m. "shortcuts"

7. Using a program

a. Starting

b. minimizing/maximizing

c. scrolling, menu

d. toolbar

e. right-click menu

f. hover tooltip

g. exiting

8. Using a file

a. Opening

b. file extensions

c. saving

d. printing

e. closing

9. Moving a file

a. drag and drop

b. copy and paste

10. Organizing files

a. creating a folder

b. moving a folder Gaston County Public Library Basic Computer Skills – Lesson Plan.docx Revised 13 May 2013 c. deleting a folder

11. Delete a file and restore it from the recycle bin.

12. Empty the recycle bin.

13. Storage Devices

a. USBs

b. CDs

c. DVDs

14. Copy a file to a USB

a. Keeping copies in multiple storage locations = "backing up" a file

15. Use Ctrl + Alt + Del

a. log off

b. change user

c. task manager (for closing frozen programs)

d. shutdown

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Gaston County Public Library Basic Computer Skills – Lesson Plan.docx Revised 13 May 2013