Online Computer Skills Training – Resources

Computer technology has become ingrained in every aspect of society. Computers have virtually changed the way businesses advertise services, people interact with each other, and media reaches the masses. Each modern gadget disseminates more information than the traditional means of reading paperback novels. The younger generations continue to evolve into a technological-reliant world. 

All members of society may completely rely on digital convergence to survive in the coming decades. Therefore, children must learn how to operate a computer in the same way that the baby boomers used a typewriter. Computers function in many different ways, including to compose and send electronic mail, save files, copy and paste text, download media, transfer money, and pay bills. More advanced computer users may learn how to design computer programs, fix computer hardware, and network computers together. Young adults who realize the imperative nature of learning the basics of computers will succeed in the their future endeavors.

Computer Vocabulary

• Computer Vocabulary: A comprehensive dictionary of common terms related to computers ranging from artificial intelligence to wizard.
• Computer Vocabulary: Matching Game: An interactive matching game where a student chooses the definition and matches it with the appropriate term.
• Free Online Dictionary of Computing: A searchable database of computer-related terms, including definitions of acronyms, jargon, programming languages, tools, operating systems, networking, architecture, standards, mathematical formulas, conventions, theory, and more.

Basic Computer Skills

• Basic Computer Skills: A short, web-based course that guides students through basic computer skills, including how to use a mouse, keyboard and typing skills, opening and closing files, accessing data from a CD-ROM, how to locate saved files, how to copy and paste text, review questions, activities, and a quiz.
• CUergo: Computer Workstation Ergonomics Guidelines: A 10-step guideline to preparing and arranging an ergonomically sound computer workstation.
• Turn Off a Computer: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Microsoft provides a set of fifteen frequently asked questions (FAQ) in relation to turning on and off a computer using the Windows operating system.

Using Software

• Computer Basics (PDF): A general overview on using computers, including basic computer skills, the keyboard and mouse, operating systems and software, and shutting down the computer.
• An Introduction to Computer Basics: Software: A thorough introduction to using a computer, including all hardware, portage storage devices, keyboard and mouse, the Windows operating system, and Microsoft Office software.
• Computer Basics: Quick Reference Card (PDF): A quick reference card that covers the main parts of the computer, parts of a typical window, window tips, file management, and Internet Explorer.

Accessing a CD-ROM

• Accessing a CD-ROM: A web-based tutorial that guides students to accessing a CD-Rom through Real Media Player for the Microsoft Windows operating system.
• How to Use the CD-ROM (PDF): A brief tutorial that guides students through a step-by-step procedure of using the CD-ROM, including identifying its key components, navigating the related software, using the CD-ROM to enhance learning style, and related terms.
• How to Use this CD-ROM Tutorial? (PDF): An extensive document that describes how to use the CD-ROM in Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Opening and Saving Files

• Use Microsoft Word to Open and Save a File in a Different Format (PDF): A structure tutorial on saving existing files under different formats using Microsoft Word processor.
• Run vs. Save When Downloading Programs or Files: A brief technical introduction to running and saving downloadable programs and files.

Keyboarding

• Nimble Fingers: An interactive, Java-based typing test that guides students to learning the beginning, intermediate, and advanced stages of keyboarding.
• Text Type: A student and teacher tutorial to digital keyboarding. This exercise helps students to memorize where each alphabetical, numerical, and special characters are located on the keyboard.
• Typing Web: A set of typing exercises that guides students through beginning, intermediate, advanced, and specialty lessons.
• The PC Keyboard (PDF): A comprehensive guide that introduces and guides students to mastering the keyboard.
• Basics: Keyboard Shortcuts: A brief introduction to basic keyboard shortcuts, including its definition and resulting action.
• Typing Basics – The Home Keys: A comprehensive introduction to competent keyboarding, including exercises to master the “home row” keys, and a fingering diagram to identify them.
• Power Typing: An interactive program that teaches students how to master the Qwerty, the standard 101 keyboard.
• Typing Tutor: A computer program that helps guides students to improving their typing skills by playing a simple game.
• Rapid Typing: A free web-based program that provides add-ons, software, games, techniques, and active testing for those wishing to improve their typing abilities.

Mouse Exercises

• Mouse Exercises: Interested parties looking to improve their mouse using abilities should take practice tests to master its utility. This webpage offers four distinct mouse exercises to accomplish this goal, including learning where to place the mouse, clicking it, how to drag and drop, and using the mouse to draw.
• Mousing Around: Games!: A set of fourteen interactive games that tests the mouse skills of those new to the PC hardware. Each set of games tests one-click, faster clicking and mouse movement, and drag and drop abilities.
• Mouse Concentration: An interactive game consisting of 36 squares that tests the mouse concentration of the game participant. The game participant must match a pair of squares over a set amount of time.
• Learn How to Use a Computer Mouse: A set of online mouse games that tests the memory of computer users, including practice exercises, tests, and other related instructions.
• BBC: Clicky Mouse Game: The BBC WebWise computer game tests the mouse skills of computer novices, including single clicking, double clicking, and dragging.
• Mousing Tutorial: The Palm Beach County Library System teaches students how to effectively use a mouse, offers “mousercise” activities, and then tests the students for accuracy.
•  Mousercise: An interactive game that teaches elementary students how to effectively use a mouse to navigate and execute actions on the operating system and applicable software.
• Learn Mouse Skills: Green River Community College offers a series of basic computer skill tutorials, including exercises on how to hold, highlight, cut, paste, move, click, point, drag, use radio buttons, check boxes, drop-down menus, scroll, and complete forms.
• Mouse Tutorial: A brief six-step introduction to using a computer mouse.
• Jan’s Windows Basics: The Mouse: A comprehensive introduction to using a computer mouse, including starting up, shutting down, controlling the mouse, controlling the window, and context menus.

Internet

• Web by Design: Internet Basics Tutorial: An authoritative tutorial that teaches the Internet basics, including the basis for the World Wide Web, network activity, netiquette, forbidden Internet activities, electronic services, e-mail, and other related information.
• Internet Basics – A Guide to Getting Started: A basic guide to the Internet, including basic terminology, anonymity, Internet tools, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), domain names, telnet, FTP, finger, ping, gopher, the World Wide Web, Usenet, and network etiquette.
• Internet Basics 101: A brief overview of beginning, intermediate, and advanced Internet concepts, including hook up, e-mail, www, creating web pages, FTP, chat, and miscellaneous.
• The Internet: Internet Basics: A novice’s tutorial to explaining the core principles of the Internet, including the necessity for a web browser and the necessary steps to navigate it.
• Internet Basics (PDF): A lab covering the fundamental concepts of the Internet, including important vocabulary terms, post-lab questions, discussion and procedure, copying files across the network and FTP, and steps to completing Internet search activity.
• A Basic Tutorial on Searching the Web: A 20 lesson tutorial teaching students how to search the World Wide Web. It includes core concepts, such as search engines, metasearchers, subject directories, basic search tips, field searching, troubleshooting, and more detailed information about the aforementioned subjects.
• Getting Started with the Internet: An authoritative introduction to the Internet, including where to begin when planning to create a website, creating content, and driving traffic to make it a success.
• Zen and the Art of the Internet: Network Basics: A tutorial that covers networking basics, including domains, Internet numbers, resolving names and numbers, the networks, and physical connection.
• Basic Internet Terms: A glossary of basic Internet terms, including domain names, web browser, search engines, World Wide Web, uniform resources locator, printing, page, online databases, links, homepage, go and favorites.
• PHYS 251 – Internet Basics: An introduction to computer techniques in physics, including the history of the Internet, what it is, how the Internet accomplishes data interchange, Internet resources, e-mail, the World Wide Web, HTML document, tagging, examples of HTML usage, and HTML resources.

E-mail

• Outlook: Email Basics (PDF): An abstract paper covering the basics of electronic mail, including its objectives, prerequisites, related training, and definitions, creating, replying, forwarding, and printing a message.
• E-Mail Basics: An overview of key concepts in electronic mail, including its addresses, messages, attaching files, managing inbox, spam, garbage, and inputting signatures and styles.
• Netiquette: Business E-mail Basics (PDF): A brief overview on business e-mail etiquette.
• Free Email 101 Tutorial: An online course introducing the basics of electronic mail, including what email is, the features of email services, and tips for writing business emails.
• The Basics of Email Metrics: Are Your Campaigns Working? A tutorial that introduces how to collect data, what data to collect, how to capture the data, and making sense of the metrics involved.

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