Introduction to Computers

Overview

This introductory computer class meets six times. The class meets a Mondays, from 6:30 until 8 p.m. for 6 consecutive weeks. The class is generally taught on PCs running Windows '95. This class is intended for beginners: students who have no prior computer knowledge.

This class will give students a better understanding of how computers work, what they can do, what the Internet is. In addition, students will learn basic word processing skills, which should allow them to use Plugged In's drop in center to write a letter or other basic document.

• Summary of Sessions
• Session 1: Introduction to the computer
• Sessions 2 and 3: Wordprocessing
• Session 4: Internet
• Sessions 5 and 6: Assignment

Summary of Sessions

The format for the first session is mostly lecture. The instructor(s) will explain basic computer concepts: the different parts of the computer, the operating system, different types of applications etc. There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions. Towards the end of the class, students will learn to turn on the computer and launch a word processing application.

During the second class session, the instructor will review concepts learned in the first session. After that, students will launch a word processing program and type a simple document. Students will then learn how to edit the document.

During the third session, students will review work done in the first two sessions. After that, students will open the document they worked on in session 2 and learn how to format text. By the end of this session, students will be able to write, edit, format and print a basic letter on the computer.

During the fourth session, after a quick review, the instructor will spend approximately half of this session explaining the Internet: how it works, what you can do with it, how to connect etc. During the second half of the session, students will use Netscape Navigator to get exposed to the Web.

After a quick review in the fifth session, students will work on a word processing assignment that will demonstrate the student's familiarity with the basic word processing concepts described above. Upon completing this assignment, the student will receive a certificate of completion.

In the final session, after a quick review, students will have the opportunity to continue to work on their word processing assignment. Students who have completed this assignment can work on a very basic Internet exercise. All students who complete the word processing assignment receive a certificate of completion.

Session 1: Introduction to the computer

[this section was written by Laura Breeden, a volunteer. E-mail Laura at llbreeden@aol.com]

The format for the first session is mostly lecture. The instructor(s) will explain basic computer concepts: the different parts of the computer, the operating system, different types of applications etc. There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions. Towards the end of the class, students will learn to turn on the computer and launch a word processing application.

Computers are basically a way to store information. Of course, just storing it would be like having a lot of food in the refrigerator and not eating it. What's the point? So computers also let you create information (like pictures and stories), compare information (like numbers in a bank account), sort information (like "the A's go first"), and move information around (so you can send your aunt a letter that you wrote).

What's hardware? Computer hardware is all the stuff you can see and touch. It's usually pretty heavy when you pick it up. If you dropped it, it would probably break. Keyboards, monitors (the things that look like TVs), and CPUs (central processing units, or the brains of the computer, usually found in a large plastic box) are all kinds of hardware.

What's software? Computer software is information that tells the computer how to do things. The information is usually stored on a flat magnetic disk or a CD-ROM, using the same general idea as cassette tapes and music CDs. Inside the computer there is a disk drive that can read the magnetic information on the disk and flash it into your computer's memory, or storage area.

All this is kind of like cooking. Your kitchen is the computer. The stove is the central processing unit -- that's where big changes happen to the raw information The refrigerator and the cabinets are the storage areas -- they hold all the stuff you can use to make breakfast or dinner or a midnight snack. The software is the information that's stored in a cookbook, or in your head, about which ingredients to use and how long you have to cook something before it's ready to eat.

Because there are a lot of things going on in the computer at the same time, the kitchen needs an executive chef to direct things. The chef is called the operating system. The operating system is supposed to know the rules and make sure everyone follows them -- rules like how to display information on the screen, which tasks to do first, and how to manage the "cabinet space" (the computer's memory, remember?). All software has to conform to the rules of the operating system, or it won't run on the computer.

In this class, our operating system is called Windows '95, the software we'll use to create documents is called Microsoft Word, and the computers are made by Hewlett-Packard.

Session 2 and 3: Word processing

[this section was written by Bart Decrem, who works at Plugged In. E-mail Bart at bartd@pluggedin.org]

During the second class session, the instructor will review concepts learned in the first session. After that, students will launch a word processing program and type a simple document. Students will then learn how to edit a document (i.e. fixing typos, changing text).

During the third session, students will review work done in the first two sessions. After that, students will open the document they worked on in session 2 and learn to format text (changing the font size and text style). By the end of this session, students will be able to write, edit, format and print a basic letter on the computer.

The purpose of Sessions 2 and 3 is to give students basic word processing skills. At the end of Session 3, students should be able to:

• Launch a word-processing program
• Type a letter (or document)
• Edit the letter
• Format the letter
• Save the letter (but you'll need assistance to save it in the right place)
• Print the letter

1. Launching a word-processing program

Before you can type a letter or document, you have to start a program on the computer that lets you do so. This type of computer program is called a word processing program. The most popular word processing program these days is a program by a company called Microsoft (the makers of Windows 95), and is called Microsoft Word.

Microsoft Word exists for both PCs and Macintosh computers.

You can launch a program in a number of different ways:

On Macintosh computers:

• Open the hard drive by clicking on its icon and look for a folder called "applications" or "word processing" or "Microsoft Word" or something similar. Then locate the Microsoft Word Icon (usually a large W) and double-click on the icon; -or-
• If your computer is running At Ease, the main computer screen will have icons of popular applications, including Microsoft Word. Just click on its icon once; -or-
• Your computer may be running a little application called Malph, which has a list of popular applications, including Microsoft Word. Just click on its icon once.

On PCs running Windows 95:

• Click on the Start button to pull up a listing of popular computer operations. At the top of the listing, you will see a listing for Applications. Click here and you will get a further listing of applications that are installed on your computer. Click on the item called Microsoft Word; -or-
• Open the hard drive by clicking on its icon and look for a folder called "applications" or "word processing" or "Microsoft Word" or something similar. Then locate the Microsoft Word Icon (usually a large W) and double-click on the icon.

2. Typing a letter or document

When you launch Microsoft Word, it will automatically open a blank document, or ask you what type of document you wish to create (just follow these instructions). If not, you can go to the File menu and select New to create a new document.

Type in a document by typing in a brief letter. Remember this:

• The cursor is very important: it's the blinking vertical line. Anything you do (such as typing, or changing the font size) happens where the cursor is. Use the arrows on your keyboard (easy) or the mouse (and click - a bit more complicated) to move the cursor;
• There's another straight line or an arrow on your screen that moves when you move the mouse - that's called the pointer. The pointer is important if you want to select a command on the computer, or select text;
• When you get to the end of a line, the computer will automatically skip to the next line. Only hit the Return or Enter key when you want to start a new paragraph;
• The computer will automatically create margins for you. You do NOT need to create empty lines at the top, or empty spaces at the left of your document. In most cases, you don't have to worry about margins. Go right ahead and type your document. If, after you print it, you don't like the margins, you can always change them;
• If you want to create empty space at the beginning of a line (for example, when you start a new paragraph), hit the TAB key (on the left side of the keyboard). Do not use the space bar to create empty spaces (things will look crooked);
• If you want to make a simple table, use the TAB key. Do not use the space bar to create a table (things will look crooked);
• In general, it's a good idea to worry first about typing in all your information, then fixing typos ("editing"), and afterwards make everything look good ("formatting").

3. Editing a letter or document

Editing is when you change the text of your document. Mostly, you will edit to:

• Fix a typo; or
• Change your document (delete or add parts to your document).

When editing your document, remember this:

• Use the arrows on your keyboard or the mouse to move the cursor. In most cases, it's easiest to use the arrows on your keyboard.
• Using the mouse to move the cursor. If you want to change text that's far away from where the cursor is (on the next page or so), you may want to use the mouse - move it to where you want to put the cursor, then click;
• The delete and backspace keys. On most keyboards, there's a big key labeled "backspace". When you hit this key, you will erase the character just left of the cursor. On most keys, hitting the small key labeled "delete" will erase the character just right of the cursor. You can use the delete or backspace key to erase blank lines also.

4. Formatting a letter or document

Formatting is when you change the way your document looks. For example, formatting includes: changing the margins of your document, changing fonts and font sizes, inserting a picture into your document etc.

In this class, you will learn the following basic formatting:

• Changing fonts and font sizes. A font is the way words look on your screen and on paper. Here's some different fonts: Times, Helvetica, Scribble.
• Changing text styles. Text styles include bold, italic, and underline.

Remember:

• Before you pick a font, size or style, the computer needs to know what part of your document you want so format. Microsoft Word for Windows 95 will assume that:
• If you're starting a document and you change the font, size or style, you want to keep that style for everything you type after that;
• If you put the cursor in the middle of a word, you want to change that entire word's font, size or style;
• If you highlight several words, you want to change the font, size or style of the entire selection;
• Selecting a series of words is what you do when you want to change the format for all of them. To Select a series of words, do this:
  • Move the mouse pointer to the beginning of the text you want to select
  • Drag the mouse to the right
  • When you're done, the text you selected will be highlighted;
• The easiest way to change a font, font size or style is to use the command bars: the three or four rows of "icons" (little pictures) on the top of your screen.
• Look at the B, I and U. If you click on those icons, you will change the text style for the word or section that you have selected;
• At bit more complicated are the "pop-up" boxes. A pop-up box will have a box with some text, and right next to it is a down-ward arrow. There's four or five of them on your screen: one for the font: one for the Font, one for the Font Size and a couple more. To use a pop-up box, click on the arrow, then scroll through the option you get.
• Another way to change a font, font size or style is to use the menu bars, way at the top of the screen. Move your mouse pointer to the menu bar, click once and look at the options.

5. Saving a letter or document

Saving your document in the right place is very important. You can save your work in three different places:

• On a floppy disk. This is often very convenient: you'll always know where you stuff is and you can carry it with you (home, to Plugged In or to Kinkos for example). But a floppy doesn't hold as much stuff as a hard drive, floppies tend to get lost, and sometimes they will die (mostly, when you're in a hurry);
• On a hard drive. Hard drives are big, you'll never lose them, and they don't die as frequently as floppies. Of course, hard drives are hard to carry with you, so you can't take them to Kinkos very easily;
• On a computer network. At Plugged In, all the computers are on a Network. That way, if you save your work on the network, you can get to it from any computer, and it will get backed up. The network is so big that sometimes people lose their work on the network.

If your document is important, you may wish to save it twice (on a floppy and on the network for example). When you have two copies of a document, make sure you don't get confused when you start making changes to your document ("which one is the final version?").

To save your document:

• Go to the menu bar and choose, File - Save; or
• Click on the Save icon (floppy disk).

You will see a menu bar that lets you select folders, type in a name for your document, then save it.

At Plugged In, we have thousands and thousands of files, that are organized in folders, into a "file structure". The File-Path is the way you get to your document. For example, the folder for this class is on our network, and the file path is:

Mix-Data; Projects WIP; Adult Basic Spring 97.

File Paths are very important when you save your work on a hard drive or on a network. In this class, we will help you put your work in the right place. If you use one of our computers, ask for help to make sure you're putting your work in the right place.

6. Printing a letter or document

To print your document:

• Go to the menu bar and choose File - Print; or
• Click on the Print icon (printer).

Session 4: Internet

[this section was written by Kenny Rafanan, a volunteer. E-mail Kenny at klrafanan@menlopark.org]

After a quick review, the instructor will spend approximately half of this session explaining the Internet: how it works, what you can do with it, how to connect etc. During the second half of the session, students will use Netscape Navigator to get exposed to the Web.

Session Goal:

The Internet may be a useful tool in helping us to find information. A primary way to access information on the Internet is via the World Wide Web. In this session, we introduce students to the Internet as a tool to access on-line information. Students will use Netscape Navigator to find information on the World Wide Web.

Students learn:

• Concept of the Internet
• Use of a Web browser
• Use of a Web search engine
• Typical interface features of a Web page

1. Introduce students to concept of the Internet

Architecture of Internet (use diagram)

• Local users
• Internet Service Providers
• Internet nodes
• Introduce students to uses of the Internet
• Internet as person-to-person communications tool (e-mail)
• Internet as information retrieval tool

Concept of the World Wide Web

The World Wide Web (WWW) is a part of the Internet where there is a ton of information accessible. We can think of the WWW as a big city. Just like in a city, there are lots of places we can go. We can go to a place where you can get information on Plugged-In, another place has information on HP computers, and another place has information on East Palo Alto. All of this information is in a special language (HTML). To read this special language and get to the places we want to go, we need a special application; we need a Web browser. A Web browser allows us to see the stuff that is on the WWW.

2. Use of a Web browser

We are going to use the most popular Web browser called Netscape Navigator. Let's use this to find a specific piece of information (e.g. how to get to a specific address or the population of East Palo Alto) As we search for this information, we are going to learn how to use Navigator and how to navigate / move around web sites:

• Navigator on the machines at Plugged-In are customized to have a screen come up about Plugged-In. Navigator has gone out and found this information for us on the WWW. In other words, Navigator has brought us to the part of the WWW that has information on Plugged-In. This part of the WWW was created by Plugged-In, this is Plugged-In's Web site. A web site is a specific part of the WWW that has its own address;
• The first screen that we come to is called the Home Page. The Home Page is where a site will lay out all of the things that are possible to find - kind of like a map of a house. The home page should tell you that the site has a kitchen, a den, a living room and a bathroom.
• The way we move around a page is to use the scroll bar on the right. This is important because many pages are longer than a single screen long
• Not only does a home page tell you what things are available on the site, the home page gives you a way to get to the other parts of the site just by using the mouse. These special transporters are called links. Links can take you to other parts of the site or even different sites. Links will usually have different colors, different shapes, different borders, pointer changes shapes, etc.
• But we can't rely on links to get us to where we want to go. Just because the first site that we came to was Plugged-In's doesn't mean we have to stay there. The way we get to another site (other than using a link) is to type the address of our destination into the address box. Hit enter. It is often important that the address be completely correct. It makes a big difference whether you go to 555 Bell Street or 555 Tell Street. Pay attention to periods (.); they make a big difference (for example, PluggedIn.org is not at all like PluggedInorg). If you tell it to, browser will look for an address that doesn't exist or even the wrong address altogether;
• When we arrive at the new address, we are at a different Web site. Each Web site has its own address;
• After using the Web for a while, you will notice that most Web pages use similar interface features. For example, the links will usually have different colors, different shapes, or different borders from the rest of the information.

3. Web search engines

Not all information is easily accessible because we don't know where to find it. We use special applications (which are web sites) to help find sites where information may be found; these are called Web search engines.

• Click on the toolbar button for Web searches
• Screen on search engines is called up
• Teacher specifies use of a specific search engine
• Enter subject for a search

Students learn about dead ends - fruitless searches. Students learn about false information on the Web. Students who are interested in learning more about the Internet can sign up for Plugged In's free Internet class.

Sessions 5 and 6: a Word processing assignment

After a quick review, students will work on a word processing assignment that will demonstrate the student's familiarity with the basic word processing concepts described above. Upon completing this assignment, the student will receive a certificate of completion.

In the last two sessions of this class, students will use Microsoft Word to type their own Certificate of Completion (sample attached). If there's extra time, we may do some additional Internet exercises.

In the last session, students will participate in a game that tests their understanding of basic computer terms (CPU, Operating System, Hard Drive etc.).

In the last session, students who have completed the Word processing assignment will graduate from the class.