Conversational ComputersConversational Computers – As in learning another language, there is Advanced learning where you have to learn all the ins and outs of that language, verbs, nouns, sentence structure, etc or there is Conversational – German, Spanish, French, etc. where you simply learn how to speak the language, make certain statements or ask certain questions.

Conversational Computers is the same way, all we want to do is teach people how to use a computer, to not be afraid of one and to use the standard programs associated with using computers. We don’t teach why, we just teach how.

First – The Computer in General

There are five main parts to the Computer◦1. The Computer itself◦2. The Monitor◦3. The Keyboard◦4. The Mouse◦5. The Printer

The Computer (CPU)The Computer, the Brains of the

operation.

CPU – Central Processing Unit

The MonitorHow you view everything that the

computer does.

The KeyboardYou can do everything from the

keyboardYou can type a letter

The MouseUsing the Mouse with a computer

makes almost everything easier.

And – the PrinterPrint what your doing on paper.

Lets talk about the ComputerThe Computer does all the

thinking.◦Myth – Computers don’t think.

Keeps track of (Records) FilesControls things

◦Displays – on the monitor◦Internet (email)◦Sounds◦Other devices

Hook it upPlug it inHook up the

◦Monitor◦Keyboard◦Mouse◦Printer

Most external devices have their own plug configuration for easy hookup.

Turn it on.

USB Ports

Turn it onIn order for you to use a

computer you must turn it on.And – You might have to turn on

some of the external devices also.On buttons are usually on the

front of the CPU

The MonitorFor your viewing pleasureTells you everything you want to

know about your computer or what you’re doing.

You will have to turn it on also.

The KeyboardAllows you to perform all actions

on your computer (But… the mouse makes it easier).

Type a letterBuild a ProgramDraw a pictureDo calculationsEtc.

Buttons you should know aboutEscape Key

Function Keys Backspace

KeyDelete KeyCaps Lock

KeyShift Key

Enter (Return) Key

Control (Ctrl) key

Alt Key Start menu (Microsoft) Key

Arrow Keys Keypad Keys

(Some keyboards don’t have one).

The Keys – Esc - EscapeEsc – if you’ve opened a menu

you don’t want.Esc – if you highlight something

you don’t want.Esc – to deactivate something.

Esc doesn’t fix everything but it helps.

Function Keys – F Keys

The Function keys perform different tasks, i.e. there are about four different ways to do the same thing.

F1 – Usually Help, F2 – Usually puts your cursor at the end of a phrase.

F5 – Find a page or RUN.The rest depends on the program

you have open.

Backspace and Delete keysBackspace – put the cursor at the

end of a word or phrase and remove data one character at a time.

Delete – put the cursor at the beginning of a word or phrase and remove data one character at a time.

Backspace – endDelete - beginning

Capslk – Capital letters lockBasically a toggle on or off. As

on most typewriters, locks the capital letters on. Or off.

Shift – Ctrl – Alt keysThe Shift key allows you, like the

typewriter, to put capital letters or symbols,

However, in combination with other keys, can make other things happen.

Ctrl – Control key – in combination with other keys makes different things happen◦For Instance – Ctrl and the B key

causes whatever is highlighted or active to be Bold .

The Alt keyBest as I can tell, Alt stands for Alternate.When you press the Alt key, letters or numbers

are assigned to each function of the program so that you can use the keyboard as opposed to the mouse to make something happen.

Also used in conjunction with other keys, makes things happen

The Start button menu Key

Opens the Start Button menu.

Or – Just click the Start button to make the Start menu appear.

The ENTER (Return) KeyYes, as in typing the return key

does what a typewriter does.In the case of computers it is the

most important key you will use. It makes things happen.

The Arrow keysMoves the active object or cursor

around.

Key PadBasically allows you to Ten Key or

just add numbers to your data.

Some keyboards don’t come with a key pad.

The Mouse – Computers made easy

The Mouse has three controls◦1. The – Left – Mouse button◦2. The – Roller◦3. The – Right – Mouse button

This is also the way you hold a mouse

The – Left – Mouse buttonThe – Left – Mouse button

◦Is the button that you’ll use most.◦The Left mouse button

Allows you to move things around Activate things Highlight things Draw Etc.

The - RollerWorks the same way as a right

side scroll bar.Allows you to move up or down in

a documentMight allow you to resize thingsHas other functions(We’ll talk about scroll bars later)

The – Right – Mouse buttonMay have more than one

function.Basically – Brings up Menus(We’ll talk about Menus later).

And finally - Print somethingThe Printer allows you to print

what you’ve typed or drawn.

Some Printers – Allow you to – Scan, Fax or Copy

The MouseThere are several statements that

go with the mouse◦Click◦Click and Hold◦Double-click◦Drag and Drop◦Highlight ◦Scroll◦Right-click◦Move your mouse

Lets start with “Click”Click means

◦Move the mouse pointer over something and click the Left Mouse button one time.

◦Click a button◦Click an Icon

We’ll talk about Icons later.

◦Click etc.Click the Left Mouse Button

Mouse PointerIt’s the little arrow that moves

around on the screen in conjunction with the movements of your mouse.

Click and HoldMeans to hold down the Left

mouse button.

Double-clickMeans to click the Left mouse

button twice – quick.◦Click-click!◦Quickly

Drag and DropMeans – Hold down the Left

mouse button on something and move it, letting go of the Left mouse button when the object you’re moving is in the position you want it.

HighlightMost commonly used when you

want to do something with words or numbers.

Notice the area in the red box, it has a blue background. That whole area is Highlighted.

Highlight cont.

o The area with the blue background means you can do anything you want to that section of words

Change Font

We’ll talk about Fonts later

Shrink / Enlarge

Move words around

Change the Font Color

Etc.

ScrollUse the roller ball on your mouse

to move up and down in a document.

A scroll bar does the same thing but you have to click and hold the scroll bar to move it up and down or side to side.

Right-clickMeans to click the

Right mouse button.

Depending on where you have your mouse pointer, if you Right-click you might open a menu pertaining to that object.

ICON’SIcons are often what is located on

your Computer Desktop◦You’ll recognize your Computer

Desktop, it will be the first thing you see when you turn your computer on.

Icons

Font’sA “Font” is the lettering, the

Characters you use if you type a letter.

In the computer world, Characters start with 0-9 then letters of the Alphabet. A B C D etc. Then grammatical symbols and so on.

And – Each Font has a size and Name.

Font’s Cont.

Notice in this example, Font’s are in a menu. Notice that the type of Font you choose is shown in the menu how it will look on paper or on your monitor.

“Wingdings” are symbols that you probably won’t understand.

Let’s summarizeMove your mouse around, your

mouse pointer moves in conjunction with your mouse.

Click, Click and Hold, Double-click, Scroll, Drag and Drop, Highlight.

Turn the computer on. Turn on any other devices that should also be turned on.

What are ICON’s? What are Menu’s?

The Computer is the brains of the system.

When you PrintWhen you want

to print, go to the File Menu or the Microsoft button depending on the version of the program you are working with.

Printing Cont.The Microsoft Button

Microsoft Button

When you click print…Usually – A dialog box appears

allowing you to choose other printing options. Then click the OK button.

A Few other thingsFiles vs. FoldersFolders contain Files

Folder File

FilesEverything to do with computers

is in Files.When you type a letter it can be

saved as a File.Anything you save has to be

saved as a file.Anything you use, has to be a file

and has to be opened.If you saved a letter in a File you

can open it later to edit it.

Files Cont.You also get a dialog box when you open or save

a File.You also do this from the File menu or the

Microsoft button.

Files vs. Folders Cont.It’s easy to tell the difference

between a File and a Folder.

Give a File a Name You can name a file anything you want. You can’t give a File the same name but give it a slightly

different name and it’s fine.

Click Save

Save

Saved a FileOnce you’ve clicked Save, your

File is saved on the computer Hard drive.

If you want to know about Hard drives, you have to take my advanced class.Now you know what you

need to know to operate a computer.