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Summary

Here is the curriculum I wrote for kids in developing nations to learn how to use computers effectively. The goal is to learn the basics of computer literacy and Windows XP.

Objectives

Please note that this curriculum is based on the Level 1 (Operate a Personal Computer System) Unit Standard Title of the South African Qualifications Authority. All students who complete this course can say that they have completed Level 1 as long as appropriate testing has been put in place.

Main Content

Table of Contents

1. Start up and Shut Down a Personal Computer
2. Keyboard and Mouse
3. Understanding Programs: What Makes Your Computer Useful
4. Understanding Files and Folders: The Building Blocks of Organization 11
5. Desktop Features: Changing Backgrounds, Themes, Screen Saver, Time Zone
6. Install/Uninstall Software (Add/Remove Programs) 20
7. Save That File!  A Lesson in Saving Your Work
8. Useful Computer Functions: Volume Control, Recycle Bin, and Calculator More Useful Computer Functions: Print Screen, Notepad and Games
9. Exercises

 Introduction

Please note that this curriculum is based on the Level 1 (Operate a Personal Computer System) Unit Standard Title of the South African Qualifications Authority.  All students who complete this course can say that they have completed Level 1 as long as appropriate testing has been put in place.

Certain lessons may take more or less time than others.  Use your own judgment when deciding how many lessons to do in the time frame that you have available.

This curriculum was taught in a classroom using IBM ThinkPad Laptop Computers.  The operating system was Windows XP and we used Microsoft Office 2007.
 

Lesson 1

Start up and Shut Down a Personal Computer

Objective:  Start up and shut down a personal computer system using standard and non standard methods.

This is the most basic function, but if you do not know how to properly start up and shut down the computer, you can ruin your pc and/or lose important files.

START UP YOUR COMPUTER:

1. Check all cables to be sure they are not loose.
2. Check that the power strip is turned on and plugs are tight in it.
3. Press the computer’s power button and wait for the system to boot.
   a. The monitor should turn on and the computer should begin to run.
4. If necessary, enter any log-in information such as username and/or password.
   
   Click Enter. 

Startup Procedures Tips:

1. If the computer has a green power light on, but monitor won’t go on:

a. Press and hold the computer’s power button for about 10 seconds until the computer’s green light goes out.

b. Press the computer’s power button to turn the computer back on.

SHUT DOWN YOUR COMPUTER:

1. Ensure that all programs are closed.
2. Click the Start button in the lower left-hand corner of the screen.
3. Find and press the “Turn Off Computer” button.
4. You will be given a choice to “Standy By” “Turn Off” or “Restart”
5. Click “Turn Off” and wait for pc to shut down before closing the lap top.

Shutdown Procedures Tips:

If the computer will not shutdown or restart:

1. Press and hold the computer’s power button for about 10 seconds until the computer’s green light goes out.
2. If you need to restart the computer, press the computer’s power button again.

 
Lesson 2

Keyboard and Mouse

Objective: To gain a basic understanding of the keyboard, finger placement and functionality.  To gain a basic understanding of the mouse and its functionality.

Teacher’s Note:  Please provide students with a copy of the worksheet entitled, “Explanation of the Keys on a Window’s QWERTY Keyboard” for this lesson.

KEYBOARD OVERVIEW:

The keyboard is the primary way of entering text in a computer.

A keyboard does not require adjustments or software settings after you plug it in. It should just work.

However, you can use Keyboard in Control Panel to change some settings. You can adjust the rate at which a character is repeated when you hold down a key, and the time delay before it starts repeating. You can also adjust the blink rate of the insertion point.

Most actions you can perform with your mouse can also be performed with your keyboard. For information about keyboard shortcuts in Windows, click Related Topics. See the online Help in individual programs for information about using shortcuts in those programs.

You can switch to a different keyboard layout or enter text in other languages without changing keyboards. However, the key labels may no longer match the characters you are entering. Use Regional and Language Options in Control Panel for changing languages and keyboard layouts.

Block = = Home Keys

Home Keys are the keys where your pinkie finger to index finger rest to maximize your use of the keyboard.  Each finger reaches to different keys from these home keys.

Ie- Your left index finger rests on the F key.  From there, it will reach to the R T G V and B keys.  The left middle finger rests on the D key.  It reaches to the E and C keys.

MOUSE OVERVIEW:

Use the mouse to interact with items on your screen as you would use your hands to interact with objects in the physical world. You can move objects, open them, change them, or throw them away, among other things.

While your mouse should just work when you start up your computer, you can make some changes to its functionality and to the look and behavior of your mouse pointer. For example, you can switch the role of the buttons on your mouse, or adjust the speed of double-clicking. For the mouse pointer, you can change its appearance, improve its visibility, or set it to be hidden when you are typing.

Make changes to the mouse and mouse pointers in the Mouse Control Panel. To open Mouse, click Start, click Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Mouse.

THE MOUSE BUTTONS:

A mouse has a primary and secondary mouse button. Use the primary mouse button to select and click items, position the cursor in a document, and drag items.

Use the secondary mouse button to display a menu of tasks or options that change depending on where you click. This menu is useful for completing tasks quickly. Clicking the secondary mouse button is called right-clicking.

The primary mouse button is normally the left button on the mouse. On a trackball, the primary mouse button is normally the lower button.

Most mice now include a wheel that helps you to scroll through documents more easily. The wheel may also act as a third button.

Tips for Using the Mouse Buttons and Wheel

• To click, point to an object on the screen and quickly press and release the primary button.
• To double-click, point to an object on the screen and quickly press and release the primary button twice. If you have trouble double-clicking, you can often perform the same task by right-clicking the object and then clicking the first option on the menu that appears.
• To drag an object, move your pointer over an object on the screen, click and hold the primary button, move the object to a new location, and then release the primary button.
• To display shortcut menus, point to an object on the screen, and then click the secondary button.
• If your button has a wheel, roll the wheel with your forefinger to move up or down in a document or on a Web page.
• See your mouse or trackball documentation for more information about using the buttons and wheel.

TOUCH PAD

The touch pad detects the pressure and movement of your finger to allow you to move the cursor on the display. Use the touch pad and touch pad buttons as you would use a mouse.

1 touch pad
2 track stick/touch pad buttons

• To move the cursor, lightly slide your finger over the touch pad.
• To select an object, lightly tap once on the surface of the touch pad or use your thumb to press the left touch pad button.
• To select and move (or drag) an object, position the cursor on the object and tap down-up-down on the touch pad. On the second down motion, leave your finger on the touch pad and move the selected object by sliding your finger across the surface.
• To double-click an object, position the cursor on the object and then tap twice on the touch pad, or use your thumb to press the left touch pad button twice.

 
Lesson 3

Understanding Programs: What Makes Your Computer Useful

Objective: Understand what a program is and how to open and close.

INTRO:

What is a program?
A program is a sequence of instructions written to perform a specified task for a computer.  A computer requires programs to function, typically executing the program’s instructions in a central processor.  

TO START A PROGRAM:

1. Click on the Start button.
2. Click the program you want to open.  To open a program, you do not see on the Start menu, point to All Programs and then navigate through the menus to the program you want and click it.
3. When you open the program, Windows automatically displays it on the Start menu.

Notes:

1. After you start a program, a button representing the program appears on the taskbar.  To switch from one running program to another, click its taskbar button.
2. If a program does not appear on the Start menu or one of its submenus, you can perform a search for it by clicking Search on the start menu.

 
Lesson 4

Understanding Files and Folders: The Building Blocks of Organization

Objective: Understand and navigate the basic files and folders of a computer.

INTRO:

Most Windows tasks involve working with files and folders. Windows uses folders to provide a storage system for the files on your computer, just as you use manila folders to organize information in a filing cabinet.

Folders can contain many different types of files, such as documents, music, pictures, videos, and programs. You can copy and move files from other locations, such as another folder, computer, or the Internet, to folders you create. You can even create folders within folders.

For example, if you are creating and storing files in the My Documents folder, you can make a new folder within My Documents to contain the files. If you decide that you want to move the new folder to a different location, you can easily move it and its contents by selecting the folder and dragging it to the new location.

PERSONAL FILES OVERVIEW:

My Documents is your personal folder. It contains two specialized personal folders, My Pictures and My Music. You can make your personal folders available to each person with a user account on this computer, or you can make them private so that only you can access the files within them.

Windows creates personal folders for every user on the computer. When there is more than one person using the computer, each personal folder is identified by the user's name. For example, if Sibu and Aphiwe use the same computer, there will be two sets of personal folders: Sibu's Documents, Music, and Pictures, and Aphiwe's Documents, Music, and Pictures. When Sibu is logged on to the computer, his personal folders appear as My Documents, My Pictures, and My Music, and Aphiwe's appear as Aphiwe's Documents, Aphiwe's Pictures, and Aphiwe's Music.

SHARED DOCUMENTS

Windows also provides a Shared Documents folder for files you want to share with other users. Like My Documents, the Shared Documents folder contains a Shared Pictures and Shared Music folder. These folders are for pictures and music you want to share with other people who use your computer.

You can use Windows Explorer to access your personal folders or the Shared Documents, Music, and Pictures folders. To open Windows Explorer, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.

Note:  If you are connected to a network domain, the Shared Documents, Shared Pictures, and Shared Music folders are not available.

VIEWING FILES AND FOLDERS:

Windows provides several new ways for you to arrange and identify your files when viewing them in folders, such as My Documents. When a folder is open, you can access each of the following view options on the View menu.

Show in Groups

Show in Groups allows you to group your files by any detail of the file, such as name, size, type, or date modified. For example, if you group by file type, image files appear in one group, Microsoft Word files appear in another group, and Excel files in another. Show in Groups is available in the Thumbnails, Tiles, Icons, and Details views.

To show your files in groups, on the View menu, point to Arrange Icons by, and then click Show in Groups.

Thumbnails

Thumbnails view displays the images a folder contains on a folder icon so you can quickly identify the contents of the folder. For example, if you store pictures in several different folders, in Thumbnails view, you can tell at a glance which folder contains the pictures you want.

Windows displays up to four images on a folder background, by default. Or, you can choose one picture to identify a folder in Thumbnails view. The complete folder name is displayed under the thumbnail.
 
Tiles

Tiles view displays your files and folders as icons. The icons are larger than those in Icon view, and the sort information you select is displayed under the file or folder name. For example, if you sort your files by type, "Microsoft Word document" appears under the file name for a Microsoft Word document.
 
Filmstrip

Filmstrip view is available in picture folders. Your pictures appear in a single row of thumbnail images. You can scroll through your pictures using the left and right arrow buttons. If you click a picture, it is displayed as a larger image above the other pictures. To edit, print, or save the image to another folder, double-click the picture.
 
Icons

Icons view displays your files and folders as icons. The file name is displayed under the icon; however, sort information is not displayed. In this view you can display your files and folders in groups.
 
List

List view displays the contents of a folder as a list of file or folder names preceded by small icons. This view is useful if your folder contains many files and you want to scan the list for a file name. You can sort your files and folders in this view; however, you cannot display your files in groups.
 
Details

In Details view, Windows lists the contents of the open folder and provides detailed information about your files, including name, type, size, and date modified. In Details view you can also show your files in groups.

To choose the details you want to display, on the View menu, click Choose Details.
 

TO OPEN A FILE OR FOLDER

1. Click Start and then click My Documents open My Documents.
a. If the file or folder you want to open is not located in My Documents or its subfolders, use Search to find it. To open Search, click Start, and then click Search.
2. Double-click the file or folder you want to open.

Notes

• If the file you want to open is not associated with a particular program, you can select one. To do so, right-click the file, click Open With, and then select the name of the program.
• You can use the View menu to change the way files are displayed. You can also use the View tab in the Folder Options dialog box to change file and folder settings. To open the Folder Options dialog box, on the Tools menu, click Folder Options.

TO START A PROGRAM

1. Click Start, and then click the program you want to open.
a. To open a program you do not see on the Start menu, point to All Programs, and then navigate through the menus to the program you want and click it. When you open the program, Windows automatically displays it on the Start menu.

Notes

• After you start a program, a button representing the program appears on the taskbar. To switch from one running program to another, click its taskbar button.
• If a program does not appear on the Start menu or one of its submenus, you can perform a search for it.

TO QUIT A PROGRAM

1. 1. On the File menu of the program you are using, click Exit.
2. 2. You can also quit a program by clicking   in the right corner of the title bar.

 
Lesson 5

Desktop Features: Changing Backgrounds, Themes, Screen Saver, Time Zone

Objective: Change the configuration of a personal computer.

CHANGE DESKTOP BACKGROUND:

1. Open  Display  in Control Panel
a. Click Start Control Panel Appearance and Themes Display

 
2. On the Desktop tab, you can do one or more of the following:
a. Change Themes
b. Change Desktop settings
c. Set up a Screen Saver
d. Change Appearance settings
e. Change Display settings

CHANGING BACKGROUND:

On the Desktop tab…
1. Click a picture in the Background list
OR
2. Click Browse to search for a background picture in other folders or on other drives.
a. You can use a personal picture as a background.  All of your personal pictures are located in My Pictures are listed by name in the Background list.

3. After choosing your photo, you must set your picture to fit your screen.
a. In Position, click ONE of the following
i. Center- Centers the picture in the middle of the screen (use this if you want your picture to appear with a background color)
ii. Tile- Takes the picture at it’s original size and repeats it over and over to fill the screen
iii. Stretch- Stretches the picture to the size of your desktop to fill the entire background (may stretch or shrink the picture)
4. In some cases, you may just want a plain color background.  In this case, select Desktop Color and choose from the list.  Alternatively, this color fills the space not used by the picture if the picture is smaller than your desktop.
To use a picture as a desktop background…
1. Open My Pictures
2. Right- click the picture you want to use and select Set as Desktop Background.

Did You Know?

You can save a picture from a Web site as a background.  Right-click the picture and then click Set as Background.  The picture is listed in the Background box as “Internet Explorer Background.”

 
Lesson 6
Install/Uninstall Software (Add/Remove Programs)

Objective:  To successfully install and uninstall software in the appropriate manner.  To manually add and remove programs from the computer.

TO ADD A PROGRAM FROM A CD

1. Insert CD into CD drive.
2. Open  Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel.
   a. To open Add or Remove Programs, click Start, click, Control Panel, and then click Add or Remove Programs.
3. Click Add New Programs, and then click CD.
4. Follow the instructions on your screen.

Notes

• When using Add or Remove Programs, you can only install programs that were written for Windows operating systems.

TO CHANGE OR REMOVE A PROGRAM

1. Open Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel.
   a. To open Add or Remove Programs, click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Add or Remove Programs.
2.  Click Change or Remove Programs, and then click the program you want to change or remove. Click the appropriate button:
   a. To change a program, click Change/Remove or Change.
   b. To remove a program, click Change/Remove or Remove.

Notes

• When you click Change or Remove, some programs may be removed without prompting you further.
• You can sort programs by selecting different options in Sort by.
• Add or Remove Programs will only remove programs that were written for Windows operating systems.

 
Lesson 7
Save That File!  A Lesson in Saving Your Work

Objective:  Learn how to save your work to use at a later time.
Saving your files is quite easily the most important lesson in computer operations that you could know.  When you save your work, you can quickly go back to the point where you last ended and continue creating your project.

TO SAVE A FILE

1. On the File menu of the program you are working in, click Save.
2. If you haven't saved your file before, type a name for the file in File name.
3. To save a copy of a file under a different name or in a different location, on the File menu, click Save As.
4. Click the Save in arrow to find the drive or folder where you want to save the file, and then type the new name in the File name box.

Notes

It is important to remember where you save your work so that you can easily find it later.  The default Save location is My Documents.

Lesson 8

Useful Computer Functions: Volume Control, Recycle Bin, and Calculator

VOLUME CONTROL

You can use Volume Control to adjust the volume, balance, bass, and treble settings for sounds played on your computer or by multimedia applications. You can also use Volume Control to adjust the level of system sounds, microphones, CD audio, line-in, synthesizer, and wave output.

1. Open Volume Control
a. To open Volume Control, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to Entertainment, and then click Volume Control.
2. Change Volume according to preference.
 

Notes

• If you have a sound card, you can use Volume Control to control the volume and speaker balance when you play audio files.
• For information about using Volume Control, click the Help menu in Volume Control.

RECYCLE BIN

The Recycle Bin provides a safety net when deleting files or folders. When you delete any of these items from your hard disk, Windows places it in the Recycle Bin and the Recycle Bin icon changes from empty to full. Items deleted from a floppy disk or a network drive are permanently deleted and are not sent to the Recycle Bin.
Items in the Recycle Bin remain there until you decide to permanently delete them from your computer. These items still take up hard disk space and can be undeleted or restored back to their original location. When it fills up, Windows automatically cleans out enough space in the Recycle Bin to accommodate the most recently deleted files and folders.

To Empty the Recycle Bin:

1. On the desktop, double-click Recycle Bin.
2. On the File menu, click Empty Recycle Bin.
a. IMPORTANT: EMPTYING THE RECYCLE BIN PERMANENTLY DELETES ALL ITEMS!
 
Notes

• If you're running low on hard disk space, always remember to empty the Recycle Bin. You can also restrict the size of the Recycle Bin to limit the amount of hard disk space it takes up.
• If you only want to remove some of the items in the Recycle Bin, hold down CTRL, and then click each item that you want to remove. When you have finished selecting the items that you want to remove, on the File menu, click Delete.

CALCULATOR

Windows XP comes with a calculator tool that can satisfy most peoples' needs. To access the Calculator tool:

1. Open the Calculator from the Start Menu.
a. Click the Start button, choose All Programs, click Accessories, then click Calculator.
2. From here you can perform basic math functions just by typing them into the calculator window. You can click on buttons to perform actions, or just press the '+' key on your keyboard to add, the '=' key to get the results, etc. 

Lesson 9

More Useful Computer Functions: Print Screen, Notepad and Games

Objective: Know how to find and operate the Print Screen, Notepad and Games functions.

PRINT SCREEN:

This function is useful when you want to copy the window or screen and print off what you see.

1. To make a copy of the active window press ALT and PrtSc at the same time. (Note: PrtSc stands for Print Screen and is in the upper row of your keyboard).
2. To copy the entire screen as it appears on your computer monitor, simply press PrtSc.

 
Note

To paste the image into a document, click the EDIT menu in the document window, then click Paste.

NOTEPAD:

Notepad is a basic text editor you can use for simple documents or for creating web pages. 

To create of edit files which require formatting, use WordPad.

1.  To open, click Start and point your cursor to All Programs.
2. Point to Accessories and then click Notepad.

GAMES

Windows comes with a variety of games to play.  By default, Windows XP includes FreeCell, Hearts, Minesweeper, Pinball, Solitaire and Spider Solitare.

To play any of these games:

1. Find the Games folder on the Start menu.
2. Select the game you would like to play.
3. Happy gaming!

Exercises

Most computer functions were practiced using the Paint program (ie- opening and closing a program, saving a program, double click, single click, left click, save as, changing desktop background, etc).

See attached exercises for help with Paint and other excercises.