Computer Basics Handout To register for computer training at Kitsap Regional Library please call your local branch: Bainbridge: 206-842-4162 Downtown Bremerton: 360-377-3955 Kingston Library: 360-297-3330 Little Boston: 360-297-2670 Manchester: 360-871-3921 Port Orchard: 360-876-2224 Poulsbo: 360-779-2915 Silverdale Library: 360-692-2779 Sylvan Way: 360-405-9100 or Toll-Free 1-877-883-9900 Visit the KRL website www.krl.org for class dates and times. Welcome to Computer Basics at Kitsap Regional Library. This ninety-minute lesson offers an introduction to computers, their associated hardware and software, and provides hands-on training to help you acquire the basic computer skills necessary to begin using a computer comfortably. Students enrolled in this Computer Basics class will learn: • to identify the various components of a computer • how to use the Mouse and scroll bar • how to log-on and off the library computers • the basics of the Internet browser and KRL home page • how to use the library’s online catalog (KitCat) Computers can be used for many different purposes: locate information, communicate, manage finances, purchase goods and services, or simply be entertained by music and movies. The full capabilities of a computer are dependent upon the technology included or added to its core structure. There are many tasks you can accomplish using the computers here at the Kitsap Regional library, for example a library user can: Locate Information: Access the Internet Search the library’s print and media collection using the KitCat Catalog Explore the World Wide Web Search the library’s Electronic Resources (subscription databases) Communicate: Send and receive letters using Electronic mail (e-mail) View digital photos from family & friends sent through e-mail Entertainment: Play online computer games Make vacation travel arrangements such as Airline, Car, and Hotel reservations Manage Finances: Access online bank accounts Purchase products and services off the web Work related tasks: Create reports, spreadsheets, databases, & Powerpoint presentations using the library’s suite of Microsoft Office products Submit online job applications Access the library’s Wireless Internet access and telecommute with a laptop Click! Kitsap Regional Library January 2007 Basic Computer Hardware Computer Case contains the major components of the computer: The Central Processing Unit is the main chip in the computer. It processes instructions, performs calculations, and manages the flow of information through a computer The Hard Drive is the primary device that the computer uses to store information. The Power Supply changes normal household electricity into electricity the computer can use. The System Board is the main circuit board of a computer. Random Access Memory (RAM) temporarily stores information inside a computer. This information is lost when a user turns the computer off. The Modem is used to connect the computer to the Internet. It is often stored internally in the computer, but sometimes externally. The Floppy Drive stores and retrieves information from the computer onto floppy disks. CD-ROM and/or DVD-ROM Drives read information stored on Compact Discs (CDs) or Digital Versatile Discs (DVDs) Printer a device that produces a hard copy (paper copy) of the data displayed on the screen. The Monitor displays the text and graphics generated by the computer onto a screen. Monitors come in many sizes and shapes. Notice the different kind of monitors in use in the library: laptops vs. flat screen vs. traditional PC monitors. Keyboard is used to input information into the computer. The keyboard also comes in various sizes and shapes. Note the basic differences between a typewriter keyboard, a computer keyboard, and a laptop keyboard. Mouse is a handheld device that allows the user to select and move items displayed on the monitor screen by clicking the buttons on the top of the mouse. Software is a set of electronic instructions that tell a computer what to do. For example: The Operating System software controls the overall activity of a computer, while the Application software allows the user to accomplish specific tasks such as searching the online library catalog. *Definitions taken from Computers Simplified by Ruth Maran and Paul Whitehead Click! Kitsap Regional Library January 2007 Using the Mouse Right Click Left Click Scroll Wheel Hold it like this The Mouse pointer has three different images that it portrays on the computer screen. Each image corresponds to the activity the user is undertaking. • The Mouse can look like an Arrow on the screen. • The Mouse can look like an I Beam on the screen. You will see the I Beam when the mouse pointer hovers over an area that allows the user to enter letters, symbols, and numbers into text boxes, such as the log-in box for the KRL website, or entering a URL in the address box of the browser. When you see the I Beam, click once to insert the blinking cursor into the text box. • The Mouse can also look like a Hand with a finger pointing . This lets the user know that if they “click on” the picture or text under the hand, more information will be found. For practice using the Mouse visit Chris Ripple’s Mouserobics! http://www.ckls.org/~crippel/computerlab/tutorials/mouse/page1.html Click! Kitsap Regional Library January 2007 Scrolling the Page The Scroll Bar contains a scroll box or elevator that can be manipulated in several different ways: 1. Click the mouse pointer onto the arrows located at the top and bottom of the scroll bar to move the scroll box up or down. (See image below). 2. Place the mouse pointer directly on to the scroll box, click and hold the left button down, then drag the scroll box up and down to move the page. 3. Use the following keys on the keyboard to move the scroll box: navigation Arrows, Home, End, Page Up and Page Down 4. If the mouse is equipped with a scroll wheel, roll the scroll wheel to move the scroll box up or down. Clicking on this arrow moves the scroll box up, but scrolls the page DOWN When the scroll bar and box are present it means there is more content on the page than can be viewed on one screen. You must move the scroll box up or down to view the entire contents of the page. Clicking on this arrow moves the scroll box down, but scrolls the page UP Click! Kitsap Regional Library January 2007 Keyboard Basics Navigation Keys Escape Function Keys Backspace Tab Number Lock Caps Lock Shift Space Bar Enter Arrow Keys Navigation Keys: Allow the user to move the blinking cursor or scroll box on the page without using the mouse. • Page Up & Page Down: moves the scroll box up or down on the screen • Home: takes the user to the beginning or top of a web page • End: takes the user to the end or bottom of the page • Arrow Keys: moves the cursor or scroll box (depending on the application) in the direction the arrows are pointing • Backspace: moves the cursor backwards to erase what the user has entered • Delete: moves the cursor forward to erase anything in front of the cursor • Tab: key that moves the cursor from one field to the next when entering text into a dialog box. Tab also moves the cursor a specified distance when typing a document using a word processing application. • Enter: is used like a carriage return on a typewriter when typing text. It will take the cursor to the next line. Enter is also used as a command key as well, for example: pressing Enter replaces the need to click on Go when attempting to access a website address on the Web. • Space Bar: is used to place empty spaces between letters when typing a document. It also deletes highlighted text, for example: pressing the space bar will delete highlighted text or a URL in the browser’s address bar. Modifier Keys: Alters the meanings of the other key(s) pressed at the same time as these keys. • Shift: Allows user to type uppercase letters or symbols • Number Lock: Enables the numeric pad located on the far right • Caps Lock: Allows user to type uppercase letters only • Esc (Escape): Cancels certain commands, interrupts long processes, cancels dialog boxes, closes menus, and dismisses message boxes. Its function is dependent on the context of the active program. Click! Kitsap Regional Library January 2007 Logging-on & off the Library Computer 1. To log-on enter all fourteen digits of your Kitsap Regional Library library card number into the log-in box on the library’s start page (do not include Welcome spaces) Enter your identification below, then Click OK to log onto this computer 2. Press the TAB key to move the cursor to the Pin box Library Card Number: Pin: OK Library 3. Enter your 4 digit pin number into the Policy Pin box. Your pin number is typically the last 4 digits of your phone number unless you’ve asked the library to set it to something different. 4. Click on OK to connect to the Internet and log-on to the library's website. 5. Once logged-on to the Internet you will see the SAM Personal Session Timer. This timer identifies you and displays the amount of Internet time you have available. Every library card holder gets one hour of Internet use per day. SAM also provides a drop-down menu that Filtered allows patrons, over the age of 17, to change their Internet access from Filtered to Unfiltered. 6. To move the SAM window out of the way while working on the web, click on the Minimize button.