I Can Teach Myself!  Learning the Computer

ReadMe File

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QUICK INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Double-click on the "Learning the Computer" folder to open it.
  2. Double-click on the file called "Learning the Computer" (or "Learning the Computer.html") to open the main lesson program.
  3. Left-click once on a button to open the Beginning, Intermediate or Advanced lessons.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

"I Can Teach Myself! Learning the Computer" was created by Peace Corps Volunteer Theresa London (Kenya 2004-2007). It is Public Domain, meaning it is available for free. The only allowable charges are for data storage media such as disks and CDs, Internet usage if applicable, and/or postage.

"I Can Teach Myself! Learning the Computer" uses the computer's web browser (see below for requirements) and also includes PowerPoint shows, handouts, posters and other features. The Beginning and Intermediate lessons include theory, practical, review, tests and answers. The Advanced lessons include theory and practical.

Although these lessons are meant for self-learning, students may still need guidance from someone with more experience. For example, students with no computer experience at all will need help getting started with the lessons because the lessons require use of the mouse and the keyboard, which are skills the students will not yet have. Students will also need help when they make mistakes and/or encounter problems and error messages.

If you use this program, please email the author (londontheresa @ yahoo.com - no spaces) and tell her how you obtained this program, how it is used (e.g., in a classroom setting, for personal use, etc.) and if it is helpful. Any suggestions for future versions are also welcome.

For the answers to frequently asked questions, double-click on the file called "FAQ" (or "FAQ.html") to open it. Click on a question to find the answer to that question, or scroll through the page to read all of the questions and answers.

REQUIREMENTS:

Windows 95/98/2000/NT, ME or XP. WINDOWS VISTA IS NOT COVERED IN THIS VERSION OF THE PROGRAM. Internet Explorer 4.0 or later, Netscape Navigator 4.0 or later, or any browser that supports frames and forms. (Please note that these lessons have only been tested on Internet Explorer. Also, although these lessons will work with Windows 95, some features explained in the lessons may not work with that version of Windows.) The handouts are in Rich Text Format and they should be able to be opened by any text editor except Notepad. The posters are in Microsoft Word format and will require either Microsoft Word or other word processing software that can read Word documents. A printer is needed to print the handouts and posters.

Some of the lesson practice sections use Microsoft Word. If Word is not available, the practices can be rewritten so that students use other applications instead.

Please note: These lessons were created for use with desktop computers. The lessons may be used with laptop computers, but the keyboard and mouse will obviously be different. Students learning on laptop computers may need extra instructor guidance.

INSTALLATION:

The lesson program can be run from the CD or other storage media, without being transferred to the computer hard drive. However, if you wish to transfer the program to the hard drive, follow the instructions below:

Copy the "Learning the Computer" folder onto the computer (perhaps into the "My Documents" folder). Open the copied "Learning the Computer" folder and make a desktop shortcut for the file called "Learning the Computer" (or "Learning the Computer.html") [To make a desktop shortcut, right-click over the icon, slide the mouse pointer over the words "Send To" on the menu and then select "Desktop (create shortcut)" by left-clicking on it.] To use the lessons, double-click on the "Learning the Computer" desktop shortcut you created, then left-click once on a button to open the Beginning, Intermediate or Advanced lessons. Once a lesson is open, the lesson names will be listed on the left - click on a lesson name to begin. From within the lesson, continue clicking "Next Page" until the lesson is finished (it will say "End of Lesson" at the end of each lesson).

To run the PowerPoint shows, open the "Learning the Computer" folder, then the "Extras" folder, the "PowerPoint Shows" folder, and the "Beginning Lessons PowerPoint Shows" folder. Double-click on the show that you want to run and it will start. (If none of the shows begins when you double-click on it, your computer may not have the ability to view PowerPoint shows. The main lesson program covers the same material shown in the PowerPoint shows, however, so you can use the main lesson program without the shows.) Desktop shortcuts can be made for the shows, too, if desired.

There are posters available for the Beginning lessons which can be used for hanging on classroom walls or for handing out to students. To use the posters, you must be able to open Microsoft Word documents. Open the "Learning the Computer" folder and then the "Extras" folder, the "Posters" folder, the "Beginning Lessons Posters" folder, and the "Microsoft Word" folder. Double-click on a poster to open it, view it and print it.

There are handouts available for the Beginning and Intermediate lessons. You do not need Microsoft Word as the handouts are in Rich Text Format, so any word processing application except Notepad should be able to open and print them. Open the "Learning the Computer" folder and then the "Extras" folder and the "Handouts" folder. Next, open the folder for the handouts for either the Beginning lessons or the Intermediate lessons. Double-click on a handout to open it, view it and print it.

ORDER OF LESSONS:

This is the suggested order for the lessons. The lessons build on each other, so it is recommended that they be followed in order. If students are going to skip lessons, they should at least read the review page(s) of the lessons they are going to skip. Of note, each lesson continues until the "Next Page" link is no longer available and the bottom of the page says "End of Lesson."

The PowerPoint shows are for Beginning Lessons 1 ("Parts of the Computer"), 2 ("Using the Mouse"), 4 ("Turning the Computer On & Off"), 5 ("Care & Cleaning of Computers"), and 13 ("The Importance of Saving"). The shows are meant to give students extra emphasis in these areas. There are also handouts available for Beginning Lessons 4, 5 and 13 ("Turning the Computer On & Off," "Care & Cleaning of Computers," and "The Importance of Saving"), again for extra emphasis. The handout for "Turning the Computer On & Off" may be the most important because students will probably need to use it when turning the computers on.

There is also a handout for Intermediate Lesson 18 ("Using the Internet").

The web page lessons "How to Move Around on Lesson Pages" and "How to Show Two Windows at Once" should be covered at the point(s) where they are needed. (For example, "How to Move Around on Lesson Pages" should probably be covered before Lesson 1, but "How to Show Two Windows at Once" isn't needed until Lesson 9, "Opening & Closing Applications, Files & Folders.")

BEGINNING LESSONS:

PP = PowerPoint Show
WP = Web Page Lesson

  1. PP: Lesson 1 - Parts of the Computer
  2. PP: Lesson 2 - Using the Mouse
  3. WP: Lesson 1 - Parts of the Computer
  4. WP: Lesson 2 - Using the Mouse
  5. WP: Lesson 3 - Keyboard Keys
  6. PP: Lesson 4 - Turning the Computer On & Off (Handout also available)
  7. WP: Lesson 4 - Turning the Computer On & Off
  8. PP: Lesson 5 - Care & Cleaning of Computers (Handout also available)
  9. WP: Lesson 5 - Care & Cleaning of Computers
  10. WP: Lesson 6 - Working on the Desktop
  11. WP: Lesson 7 - Document Windows
  12. WP: Lesson 8 - Start Menu
  13. WP: Lesson 9 - Opening & Closing Applications, Files & Folders
  14. WP: Lesson 10 - Application Menus
  15. WP: Lesson 11 - Dialog Boxes
  16. WP: Lesson 12 - Toolbars
  17. PP: Lesson 13 - The Importance of Saving (Handout also available)
  18. WP: Lesson 13 - The Importance of Saving
  19. WP: Lesson 14 - Saving Documents
  20. WP: Lesson 15 - Editing Text
  21. WP: Lesson 16 - Using Text Editors
  22. WP: Lesson 17 - Printing
  23. WP: Lesson 18 - Creating New Folders
  24. WP: Lesson 19 - Folder Views
  25. WP: Lesson 20 - Renaming Files & Folders
  26. WP: Lesson 21 - Moving Files & Folders
  27. WP: Lesson 22 - Deleting/Recycle Bin

INTERMEDIATE LESSONS:

(All lessons are WP; there are no PowerPoint shows for the Intermediate lessons.)

  1. Lesson 1 - My Computer/Disk Drives
  2. Lesson 2 - Document & Folder Properties
  3. Lesson 3 - File Name Extensions
  4. Lesson 4 - Customizing the Desktop
  5. Lesson 5 - Changing the Date & Time
  6. Lesson 6 - Taskbar & Start Menu Properties
  7. Lesson 7 - Creating Shortcuts
  8. Lesson 8 - Adding Printers
  9. Lesson 9 - Searching for Files & Folders
  10. Lesson 10 - Using the Keyboard Instead of the Mouse
  11. Lesson 11 - Windows Accessories
  12. Lesson 12 - Windows Help
  13. Lesson 13 - Application Help
  14. Lesson 14 - System Tools
  15. Lesson 15 - Microsoft Office
  16. Lesson 16 - Templates & Wizards
  17. Lesson 17 - Advanced Text Editing
  18. Lesson 18 - Using the Internet
  19. Lesson 19 - Working with Email
  20. Lesson 20 - "Surfing the Net"

ADVANCED LESSONS:

(All lessons are WP; there are no PowerPoint shows for the Advanced lessons.)

  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Access

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

To learn more about "I Can Teach Myself! Learning the Computer," click the "About this Program" link on any of the title pages. For comments or questions, please email the author at londontheresa @ yahoo.com (no spaces).

VERSION HISTORY:

Click on the "About this Program" link on any of the title pages and then on the "Version History" link at the bottom of that page.

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Click here to go to the FAQ page

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