Computer Connections: Lesson 1 - Outer Hardware

Take a look at the computer in front of you. No, not just

the screen. Look at all of the other parts. Do you know
what they are? Do you know what they do? If you already
know - great! Give yourself a big pat on the back! But if
you don't know about all the gadgets surrounding your
computer, then read on and find out!
The Basics
Let's start with the center of any computer system. Do you see something shaped like a box
nearby? It will have a power switch and a light or two. It should also have a place or places to
insert disks. This is the case that houses all of the important computer components. If it stands up
tall, it is a tower case. If it sits flat, it is a desktop case. Ask your parents to let you look at the
back of the computer (never do this without permission, because there is a lot of dangerous
electricity back there!). You will see lots of cords and cables coming out of the back of the case
and going to other computer parts like the monitor.
Your computer case probably has a place to insert CDs. This is
usually called and the CD-ROM or CD drive. CD-ROM is short
for Compact Disk - Read Only Memory. A compact disk is a
shiny, circular disk that stores information. A CD-ROM can
only read information from the disk. Many new computers have
a CD-RW (RW stands for ReWritable) instead of a CD-ROM.
CD-RW allows you to write information to the disk as well as
read from it. Also, some new computers have a DVD (Digital
Video Disc) drive instead of a CD-ROM or CD-RW. A DVD
looks just like a CD, but it holds much more information. You
can watch movies, listen to music, or play computer games from
DVDs. One important thing to know is that you can play CDs in
a DVD player, but you cannot play DVDs in a CD player.
Input Devices
There are several ways to get new information or input into a computer. The two most common
ways are the keyboard and the mouse. The keyboard has keys for characters (letters, numbers
and punctuation marks) and special commands. Pressing the keys tells the computer what to do
or what to write. The mouse has a special ball that allows you to roll it around on a pad or desk
and move the cursor around on screen. By clicking on the buttons on the mouse, you give the
computer directions on what to do. There are other devices similar to a mouse that can be used in
its place. A trackball has the ball on top and you move it with your finger. A touchpad allows
you to move your finger across a pressure sensitive pad and press to click.
Other types of input devices allow you to put images into the computer. A scanner copies a
picture or document into the computer. There are several types of scanners and some look very
different, but most look like a flat tray with a glass pane and a lid to cover it. You can input

photographs into a computer with a digital camera. Photos are taken with the camera away from
the computer and stored on a memory chip. Then the camera is plugged into the computer, so
that the images can be downloaded. Another input device is a graphics tablet. A pressure
sensitive pad is plugged into the computer. When you draw on the tablet with the special pen
(never use an ink pen or pencil!), the drawing appears on the screen. The tablet and pen can also
be used like a mouse to move the cursor and click.

Output Devices
Output devices display information in a way that you can you can understand. The most common
output device is a monitor. It looks a lot a like a TV and houses the computer screen. The
monitor allows you to 'see' what you and the computer are doing together.
Speakers are output devices that allow you to hear sound from
your computer. Computer speakers are just like stereo
speakers. There are usually two of them and they come in
various sizes.
A printer is another common part of a computer system. It
takes what you see on the computer screen and prints it on
paper. There are two types of printers. The inkjet printer uses
inks to print. It is the most common printer used with home
computers and it can print in either black and white or color. Laser printers run much faster
because they use lasers to print. Laser printers are mostly used in businesses. Black and white
laser printers are the most common, but some print in color, too.

Testing 123.
Find these working sheets and do it.
Labeling Worksheet
Input/Output Worksheet

Computers Connections: Lesson 2 - Hardware on the Inside

Computers are made of many electronic components or parts. These components each have a
special job and they all work together to make your computer operate. Some components are
hidden inside the computer where you can't see them. Others can be seen partly from the outside.
Power It Up!
Every computer needs a power supply to take electricity from your house and convert it into a
current that works for your computer. The electrical cord that comes out of your computer comes
out of the power supply. When it is plugged into the wall, electricity travels from the electrical
wires in your house into the computer's power supply. When your computer is turned on, the
power supply allows the converted electricity to travel to other components inside the computer.
Circuits
The motherboard gets its name because it is like a mother to all of the
other circuit boards. Found at the bottom of a desktop case or the side of
a tower case, the motherboard is the largest circuit board and has many
smaller boards plugged into it. It holds all of the most important parts of
the computer.
On the motherboard, you will find several expansion cards. Each of
these cards has a special purpose. The sound card contains special
circuits for operating the computer's sound. The video card handles
graphics that are displayed on the monitor. There are also expansion
cards for other computer components including the drives and ports.
The modem is an expansion card that allows computers to talk to each other. A modem plugs the
computer in to a phone or cable line so that information can be transferred between computers.
Current modems can run up to 56,000 bits per second. Don't know what a bit is? Don't worry,
we'll get to that in a later lesson
The brain of a computer is the CPU or Central Processing Unit.
Like a brain, it controls information and tells other parts what to
do. The type of CPU in a computer also determines how fast that
computer can operate. A CPU generates lots of heat, so there is
usually a small fan nearby to cool it down.
A very important computer component is the BIOS chip. BIOS
stands for Basic Input Output System. In very simple terms, the
BIOS chip wakes up the computer when you turn it on and reminds it what parts it has and what
they do.
RAM & ROM
Have you ever heard the terms RAM and ROM? These two terms sound very similar and can
easily be confused by beginners. However, understanding what they mean and what they do can
help you to remember.

RAM stands for Random Access Memory. RAM chips will remember what you tell them and
can even change to remember new information. But, when the computer is turned off, RAM
forgets everything you told it. This is why it is so important to
save your work on a computer - if the computer gets turned off,
RAM will lose all of your work!
ROM stands for Read Only Memory. ROM is good at
remembering, but cannot change it's mind. It holds information
that is built into it. ROM is like reading a library book - lots of
information is there, but you can't change it (because you never
write in a library book). RAM, on the other hand, is more like a journal - you can write
information into the journal. But if you change your mind, you can erase and write in new
information.
Ports
Ports are the places on the outside of the computer case where you plug in hardware. On the
inside of the case, they are connected to expansion cards. The keyboard, mouse, monitor, and
printer all plug into ports. There are also extra ports to plug in extra hardware like joysticks,
gamepads, scanners, digital cameras and the like. The ports are controlled by their expansion
cards which are plugged into the motherboard and are connected to other components by cables long, flat bands that contain electrical wiring.
Disk Drives
Disk drives read information off of storage disks. The three most common disk drives are the
hard drive, floppy disk drive and CD-ROM. In lesson 1, you learned a bit about the latter two,
which are usually installed inside the front of your computer case so that you can get to them
from the outside to load the software. The hard drive, however is hidden inside the computer
because the disks are not meant to be removed. Information that you save on your computer is
stored on these hard disks. You can learn more about storage disks in Lesson 4: Storage; but
first, check out Lesson 3 to learn about bits and bytes.

Testing 123.
Find these working sheets and do it.
What Am I? Worksheet
Labeling Worksheet

Computer Connections: Lesson 3 - Bits & Bytes

Did you know that all of the information that travels through your computer is based on two
commands? It's true. The only data that a computer can understand is on and off. But, the
millions of combinations of those two commands given in series are what make a computer
work.
Binary Code
Remember the power supply that is inside your computer and
how it sends electricity to all of the components? That
electricity is what creates an on signal. The memory chips
inside your computer are divided into thousands of tiny
compartments called bits. Each bit has an electronic switch or
gate. On means the gate is open and letting electricity go
through. The computer reads on or open switches as a number
1. Closed gates are off because the electricity is blocked and
cannot get through. The computer reads off bits as 0. It is by
grouping these bits together to form a series of 1/0 commands, that data is formed. Eight bits are
grouped together to form a byte. In this group of eight, there are 256 possible combinations of
1/0. The grouping of 1/0 within a byte is called Binary Code.
Here's an example of the Binary Code in action: When you type the letter A on your keyboard,
electrical signals are sent from the keyboard to the CPU. The CPU turns the signals into binary
code. Then, the computer reads the code and sends it on to the monitor to display the letter A.

KB, MB & GB
You may have seen these abbreviations many times before. Do you know what they mean?

KB = kilobyte =
MB = megabyte =
GB = gigabyte =

about 1,000 (one thousand) bytes, (1024 or 2^10)

about 1,000,000 (one million) bytes, (1,048,576 or 2^20)
about 1,000,000,000 (one billion) bytes (1,073,741,824 or 2^30)

As you can see, these abbreviations stand for a specific number of bytes. And each byte holds 8
bits capable of forming 256 combinations of 1/0. Wow!
The number that comes before one of these abbreviations represents the computer's memory
capacity. For example, if a computer has 64MB of RAM that means that the computer can
handle 64,000,000 (64 million) bytes of random access memory (that's 64,000,000 microscopic

8-bit panels). Hard disk space is also measured in bytes. So, a 15GB hard drive has
15,000,000,000 (15 billion) bytes for storing memory.
Look at your keyboard. Each character key is represented by a number that is held in a single
byte. Remember how the letter A is sent to the CPU to be translated into binary code? The
numerical value of the uppercase letter A is 65. That number 65 is represented in one byte - a
combination of 1 and 0 or on and off switches. The computer cannot understand letters, so it
translates them into numbers that are represented by patterns of on and off. To get an idea of how
much on/off data a computer can store, just imagine pressing one key one billion times! How
long would it take? If you pressed the key 5 times per second, it would take you over 6 years of
continuously typing to reach 1 billion keystrokes equal to 1GB of memory! And many computers
today can store over 20GB of memory on their hard disks! Incredible! So, the next time your
computer is taking a long time to load a web page, think of how fast it really is going!

Testing 123.
Find these working sheets and do it.
Byte Worksheet
Byte Math Worksheet

Computer Connections: Lesson 4 - Storage

The purpose of storage in a computer is to hold data or information and get that data to the CPU
as quickly as possible when it is needed. Computers use disks for storage: hard disks that are
located inside the computer and floppy or compact disks that are used externally.
Hard Disks
Your computer uses two types of memory: primary memory which is stored on chips located
on the motherboard, and secondary memory that is stored in the hard drive. Primary memory
holds all of the essential memory that tells your computer how to be a computer. Secondary
memory holds the information that you store in the computer.
Inside the hard disk drive case you will find circular disks that are made from polished steel. On
the disks, there are many tracks or cylinders. Within the hard drive, an electronic reading/writing
device called the head passes back and forth over the cylinders, reading information from the
disk or writing information to it. Hard drives spin at 3600 or more rpm (Revolutions Per Minute)
- that means that in one minute, the hard drive spins around over 3600 times!
Today's hard drives can hold a great deal of information - sometimes over 20GB!
How Hard Disks Work
The process of reading and writing to a hard disk is done with electricity and magnetism. The
surfaces of this type of disks can be easily magnetized. The electromagnetic head of the disk
drive records information to the disk by creating a pattern of magnetized and non-magnetized
areas on the disk's surface. Do you remember how the binary code uses on and off commands to
represent information? On the disk, magnetized areas are on and non-magnetized areas are off, so
that all information is stored in binary code. This is how the electronic head can both write to or
read from the disk surface.
It is very important to always keep magnets away from your computer! The magnets can erase
information from the hard disk!
Compact Disks
Instead of electromagnetism, CDs use pits (microscopic indentations) and lands (flat surfaces) to
store information much the same way hard disks use magnetic and non-magnetic storage. Inside
the CD-ROM is a laser that reflects light off of the surface of the disk to an electric eye. The
pattern of reflected light (pit) and no reflected light (land) creates a code that represents data.
CDs usually store about 650MB. A DVD or Digital Video Disk holds even more information
than a CD, because the DVD can store information on two levels, in smaller pits or sometimes
on both sides.
Why Do You Need External Disks?
You might wonder: If all the information is stored safely inside my computer, why would I need
to store it outside? There are several reasons why portable storage is so important.

CDs and other kinds of external memory make it possible to backup important information in
case it is lost by the computer. Do you remember in Lesson 2, we talked about RAM and ROM?
RAM loses its memory each time the computer is turned off, but ROM keeps information stored
even when the computer is not turned on. Well, sometimes computers have problems that can
cause them to crash. No, that doesn't mean they jump off the desk and smash on the floor. A
crash is something that happens inside the computer's circuits and can make it forget things.
Some crashes can even make ROM forget everything! Having important information backed up
on disks will allow you to put it back into your computer's memory. Backup disks can save you
lots of time and headaches.
Disks also allow information to be transferred between different computers. Let's say that you
are working on a project using a computer at the library, but you don't finish it by closing time.
There's your project sitting in the computer. How do you get it home to finish it on your
computer? You write the information to a disk, take it home and upload the information into
your computer from the disk. What an easy way to transfer information!
Uses of Compact Discs
The most common use for compact discs (aside from playing music) is storage of software
programs. When you purchase a computer game, the program that tells your computer how to
run the game is stored on a CD. You move the program into your computer's memory by
installing it. Some programs are transferred completely into your computer's hard drive.
However, many programs are very large and would take up lots of memory space on your hard
drive. To keep that from happening, these programs are designed to only upload part of the
program onto your computer. The rest of the program stays on the software disk. The program
cannot be run from your computer unless you have the CD in the disc drive so that RAM can
read the rest of the program from it.
With the introduction of CD-RW (disc drives that can write to compact discs as well as read
from them), CDs can now be used for storage. Using a CD-RW, computer data can be backed up
to a CD. All kinds of information can now be saved on CD. Many people store music files or
family photos on CD.

Testing 123.
Find these working sheets and do it.
Backup Math Worksheet
Vocabulary Worksheet

Computer Connections: Lesson 5 - Programs

Programming
In Lesson 3, you learned that all of the information that travels
through your computer is stored on bits as either an on or off signal.
Using bits and bytes in different combinations to represent a code is
known as programming. These codes allow the computer to
understand instructions. Computer programmers are people who
write these codes to create programs. There are even programming
languages that make it easier, so that these people don't have to
remember all the bit or byte combinations. Programming allows
people and computers to communicate more easily.
Computer Programs
A program is a set of instructions that tells the computer how to perform a specific task. For
example, your favorite computer game is a program. In order for your computer to know how to
play that game, you (or your parents) must first install the program from the game software usually a CD. Installing the program means that you are copying the program or instructions that
are stored on the CD on to your computer's hard drive. Programs can also be downloaded from
the Internet directly to your hard drive.
Many programs (especially games) are very large and would take up lots of memory space on
your hard drive. To keep that from happening, these programs are designed to only copy part of
the program onto your computer. The rest of the program stays on the software disk. The
program cannot be run from your computer unless you have the disk in the disk drive so that
RAM can read the rest of the program from it.
Other programs install completely on your hard drive, so that they can be used without running
the CD. This is very helpful with programs that are designed to help the user perform a specific
task, such as typing a letter or creating a birthday card. Having the program run without the CD,
frees up the CD-ROM drive in case you might need to run a clip art CD to add some pizzazz to
your creation!
Types of Programs
There are many different types of programs for the computer. They are grouped according to the
tasks that they perform. Here are some very common types of programs and some examples of
their uses:

Word processing - letter writing, essays, writing stories

Database - address books, mailing lists
Spreadsheets - storing financial information
Research - encyclopedias, informational programs
Entertainment - games, music/video programs
Education - skill practice games, tutorials, how-to programs
Desktop Publishing - creating birthday cards, newsletters, etc.

Programs do much of the work for us, when we perform tasks on the computer. The program
instructs the computer in a language that it understands. Think of how hard it would be to dictate
a story for someone else to type if that other person spoke a foreign language! You could learn
that person's language, but that could take years. The easiest way would be to have a translator.
Programs are like translators that allow people to work with computers without learning the
computer's language.

Testing 123.
Find these working sheets and do it.
Matching Worksheet
Vocabulary Worksheet

Computer Connections: Lesson 6 - Operating Systems

What is an Operating System?
The most important program on any computer is the
Operating System or OS. The OS is a large program made
up of many smaller programs that control how the CPU
communicates with other hardware components. It also
makes computers easier to operate by people who don't
understand programming languages. In other words,
operating systems make computers user friendly.
Do you remember ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory) from
Lesson 2? ROM and RAM are very important to the OS. Part of a computer's operating system is
built into ROM. That part contains the most essential programs that the computer needs in order
to run correctly. The ROM operating system is also known as the BIOS (Basic Input Output
System). You may remember from Lesson 2 that the BIOS is responsible for waking up the
computer when you turn it on to remind it of all the parts it
has and what they do.
The operating system also contains other programs that are
important, but not essential to making the computer run. The
part of the operating system that contains these programs is
stored on a computer's hard drive and is booted to RAM
whenever the computer is turned on. This part of the
operating system is known as DOS which stands for Diskbased Operating System.
Types of Operating Systems
Different computer manufacturers use different operating systems. Apple has specific operating
systems for its line of Macintosh computers. When IBM released their Personal Computer or PC
back in the early 1980's, they did not get a copyright on it, which allowed many other companies
to build similar computers that were IBM-compatible; in other words, they used the same
operating system as the IBM PC. There are different operating systems available for PCs, but the
most common is Windows, which was developed by a company named Microsoft. Windows is
similar to the Macintosh operating system, because it also uses a mouse and a GUI (Graphical
User Interface) that uses graphics or pictures to help the user navigate within the computer
system.
There are several versions of Windows (95, 98, NT, 2000), just as there are several versions of
Macintosh operating systems (System 7, System 8). Operating systems are constantly being
improved or upgraded as technology advances. When a company thinks that their operating
system is now more advanced than the one already on the market, they release their new version
for sale. Users can then purchase the new version and upgrade the part of the operating system
that is stored on the hard drive. The ROM OS is not affected by the upgrade. Upgrading an
operating system can have several advantages, such as simplifying tasks and navigation.
However, there can be disadvantages, too. Many Windows 95 users upgraded to Windows 98

and discovered that many of their older programs would no longer run using the new operating
system.
The Computer Revolution
The introduction of the Macintosh OS and the later introduction of Windows played a large part
in making computers accessible to so many people. The user-friendly interfaces of both
operating systems made it easier for people with no computer training to learn to use these
amazing machines. Other machines, such as typewriters and payroll calculators quickly became a
thing of the past, as computers became so easy to use and so affordable.

Testing 123.
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Matching Worksheet
Vocabulary Worksheet

Computer Connections: Lesson 7 - Files & Folders

Computer hard drives hold an enormous amount of data or information. It is very important that
all of the data is well organized. That way it is easy for the computer to find what it is looking
for. Knowing how a computer's organization system works will help you to find what you are
looking for. Computers use files and folders to organize data.
What is a file?
A file is a collection of data that is stored together. Files can be stored on a hard drive, a floppy
disk, or a CD. Everything that a computer does is based on data stored in files. You can do lots
of things with files - create them, name them, rename them, save them, or delete them. Certain
files can even be looked at, listened to, and run.
In some ways, files are like television shows. All TV shows have 3 things, just like computer
files:

Name
Location
Length

Just as you recognize your favorite TV program by its name, you can also recognize a file by its
name. File names often consist of 2 parts: name and type. There are many different types of TV
shows - comedies, dramas, cartoons, sports shows, game shows, etc. Similarly, computer files
come in different types - text files, graphic files, program files,
e-mail files, etc. In many computer systems, files are named so
that you know what type of file it is just by looking at the
abbreviation behind the name. A period is used to separate the
name from the type, like this: "name.type". If TV show titles
came in 2 parts like computer files, they would give the name
of the program, followed by a period, followed by the type of
show it is. It might look like this: "Sillykids.toon" or
"EmergencyRoom.drama" or "Football.sport"! One important
thing that you should know about file types or extensions is
that they are always written as abbreviations, usually with 3
letters. For example, a text file is shown as .txt and an
executable program file is shown as .exe. You may not always
see the extension on a file name, because many PCs offer the
option of turning off the extension. Even though you don't see
it, the computer still does. On the Macintosh system, however,
the practice of naming files with extensions is not always
followed; but you can see what kind of file it is by the icon or 'kind' identifier in the directory
listings. Common Mac extensions you'll see are .sit (a compressed stuffit file), .hqx (a binhexed
encoded file), .pdf (Adobe Acrobat file). Web pages (no matter what system) always use
extensions to identify the kind of file - .htm or .html for the web pages, .gif for gif graphics, .jpg
for jpg graphics and so on.
Files are stored in certain places within your computer, much like TV programs are shown on
certain channels. So, to find a file you must know where it is located, just like you must know on

what channel to find your favorite TV show. If you forget what channel a TV show is on, you
can either flip through channels until you find the program or you can look in a TV guide to find
the information you need quickly. The quickest way to find files on most computers is to use
Find. This is a type of search program where you can type in the name of a file and the computer
will search and tell you where the file is located. If you use a Windows Operating System, Find
is located on your Start Menu. On a Macintosh System, Find! is located under File on the menu
bar. (More on Start Menu and menu bar in Lesson 8).
TV Programs, like files, have specific lengths. TV shows may be 30 minutes long, 1 hour long,
or several hours long. Files are not measured in time, but in bytes. If you'll remember from
Lesson 3: Bits & Bytes, a byte is a measurement of stored data. Larger files may be measured in
kilobytes or megabytes. The length of a file tells how much storage space that file is using within
the computer.
Folders or Directories
With so many thousands of files stored inside a computer, it is very important to keep them
organized. Folders, also known as Directories, keep files organized by grouping them together.
Imagine for a moment that you had a giant toy room filled with toys and you were given the job
of organizing all of those toys. You decide to start the job by sorting all of the toys and grouping
similar toys together. For example, you put all of your red marbles in a box and all of your blue
marbles in another box and all of your clear marbles in a third box. Then, you put all of those
boxes into a bigger box and label it "marbles". Then, you might even put the "marbles" box into
a bigger box that contains boxes of "super balls" and "tennis balls" and "baseballs". You would
name that big box "balls". If you continued to organize toys that way, you would end up with an
entire room of boxes with labels that contain similar kinds of toys. Then if you needed to find
your plastic brontosaurus, you would know to open the box labeled "toy animals" and go past the
"bug box" and the "reptile box" until you find the "dinosaur box" - open it and there is the
brontosaurus! In this example, the toys are like files and the boxes are like folders. Your
computer is set up to store similar files in specific folders. Then similar folders can be put inside
other folders, and so on.
Many times, the computer will automatically store files in
certain folders in order to keep itself organized. However,
when you create new files, you must decide which folders to
put them. You can even create new folders to store your files.
For example, let's say that a boy named Adam wants to make
a folder of all the fun things he creates on the computer. With
an adult's help, Adam creates a folder titled "Adam". Within
that folder, he creates 3 new folders titled "stories",
"drawings" and "jokes". Then, when Adam writes a story
called "Alien Tap Dancing", he stores or saves that file that
contains the story in the "stories" folder. On a PC, the file
name would be "Alien Tap Dancing.txt" because it is a text file.
The best way to keep up with a file is to know its address. The address basically tells you what
drive and folders to look in for a file. For example, the address for Adam's story might look like
this on a Macintosh system: "Macintosh HD\Users\Adam\stories\Alien Tap Dancing"
(Macintosh HD indicates the hard drive). On a PC, the address might look like this: "C:\\My

Documents\Adam\stories\Alien Tap Dancing.txt". In this case, the letter "C" indicates the hard
drive, as most PCs assign a letter to each drive in the system. Note, that the file address always
includes the drive, folder(s), and file name in exactly that order.
Be a Responsible Computer User
Understanding the relationship between files and folders, and how they are addressed and located
within your computer system is a very important part of using a computer. Beginners should
make it a priority to learn about this early in their computer education. Never delete, move or
rename a file unless you are absolutely sure of what you are doing! A computer relies on many
files to keep itself running correctly, so changing or deleting those files can cause major
computer malfunctions. When in doubt, ask a parent, teacher or other expert for assistance. The
safest way to learn about using files and folders is to ask for help in setting up your own personal
folder, then creating new folders and files within it.

Testing 123.
Find these working sheets and do it.
Organizing Files Worksheet
File Address Worksheet

Computer Connections: Lesson 8a - The Mac Desktop

When your computer is booted up and ready to use, the screen you see is called the desktop. It is
the background for all programs and contains the commands needed for accessing those
programs. Desktops vary from one operating system (OS) to another, and even vary somewhat
from version to version of a particular OS. Whatever type of OS you use, it is very important to
learn how to use the desktop correctly, since it is the base for all computer operations. The best
place to learn about your particular OS is with the user manual or tutorial included with your
computer.
In this lesson, we will look at Macintosh desktops only, since Macintosh is one of the most
common operating systems used today - particularly by students and educators. It would be
impossible for me to fully cover each version of this OS; instead, I will try to give a basic
overview of how the desktop looks and what it does. This lesson is based on the desktop of a
Mac OS 9.0.4, so please understand that your own desktop may be slightly different if it is
another OS version.
Desktop Graphics
Macintosh systems are based on Graphical
User Interface or GUI, which simply means
that the interface uses graphics or pictures to
help the user navigate and access programs.
When you first turn on a new computer, most
of the screen will be plain blue or blue with a
logo or design. This background graphic is
called a Desktop Pattern. It is essentially a
backdrop for your work area. The graphic can
be changed to a different pattern or even a
photo or picture (Desktop Picture).
Another important graphic feature that you find on a desktop is an icon. Icons are small pictures
that are linked to programs. Double-clicking on the icon runs the program or accesses the file.
Certain icons are a permanent fixture on the desktop. The user can put other icons on the desktop
that will quickly access programs or files - like a shortcut. Icons can be moved around on the
desktop by clicking and dragging them.
One icon that you should know about is the Trash Can. It has the same purpose that a real trash
can does - you put things in it that you no longer need or want. Anytime you delete a file or
folder, it goes into the Trash Can where it stays until the Trash Can is emptied. Double-clicking
on the icon will open a window that will show you what is stored there. Just like in real life,
things sometimes get thrown away by accident and have to be rescued. The computer Trash Can
lets you do the same thing. If you delete something you shouldn't have, you can find it in the
Trash Can and restore it to its proper place. When the Trash Can is emptied, everything in it is
permanently deleted. Never put anything in the Trash Can or empty the Trash Can without
permission!
Many newer versions of the Mac OS offer sticky notes that can be placed on the desktop as
quick reminders - similar to sticking a paper note on the computer screen!

On the left side of the screen, you may see a small, triangular-shaped icon. This icon accesses the
Control Panel. Clicking on the icon will open a menu bar that includes various icons for
accessing important system features. The Control Panel usually includes monitor controls,
volume controls, printers, energy savers and more, providing quick access to these important
system controls.
The Menu Bar
At the top of the screen, you will see a long, thin bar with words and a clock on it. This is the
menu bar - another graphic tool that helps you to access programs and files. On the left side of
the menu bar, you will see an apple icon. If you click on this icon, a box called a drop-down
menu will appear under it. The drop-down menu contains several words or items that allow you
to do different things within the computer. Clicking on an item will let you access files or run
programs. Look back at the menu bar again. To the right of the apple icon, you will see several
menus: "File", "Edit", "View", and "Help" are the most common menus, but you may see others
depending on what program you are running. Each of these menus accesses its own drop-down
menu with its own set of items.

Apple icon menu contains system

info and special programs that deal
with running the computer.
File menu contains file items like
open, print, save, quit, move to
trash and close.
Edit menu contains editing items
like undo, cut, copy, paste and
clear.
View menu contains items for
changing how things appear on the
screen.
Help menu contains items to access
tutorials or helpful information.

On a Mac system, the menu bar always

remains at the top of the screen, except
when running certain programs, like
games, that do not require a menu bar.
Windows (not the operating system)
Many programs and applications run within windows or boxes that can be opened, minimized,
resized and closed. When a program window opens, you may notice that the menus on the menu
bar change. That is because the menus vary to suit the needs of the program that is running. At
the top of each window, you will see a title bar that contains the title of the program or folder.
To the left of the title bar is a small square icon that closes the window. On the right, are two
square icons: the left one resizes the window and the right one minimizes/maximizes it. Resizing
allows the user to make the window smaller or larger. Minimizing the window shrinks it so that
only the title bar is seen. This is helpful if the user is temporarily not using the program, but
plans to return to it soon. When several windows are minimized, you will see the title bars lined
up on the desktop. The bars can be moved around the desktop by clicking and dragging them.

Bars that are pale are inactive or not being used. Clicking on the bar makes that window active
or ready to use again. Clicking the icon on the far right of the title bar again maximizes the
window, so that the entire window can be seen. When the window is maximized, look just below
the title bar. You may see folder information there that tells how many items are in the folder and
the amount of space that is available within the folder. On the right side of the window, you may
see a scroll bar. The scroll bar appears when the window contains more information than can fit
on the screen. Moving the scroll bar up or down allows the user to see all of the information in
the window.
Learning the Basics
Learning how to use the desktop is the first step in learning to use a Macintosh system.
Hopefully, you can use this brief lesson as a starting point. Remember, though, that experience is
the best teacher, so do some exploring on your own Mac. Go to the "Help" menu on the menu
bar, and check the drop-down menu for "Mac Tutorials" to help you learn to use your system.

Testing 123.
Find these working sheets and do it.
Labeling Worksheet
Vocabulary Worksheet

Computer Connections: Lesson 8b - The Windows Desktop

When your computer is booted up and ready to use, the screen you see is called the desktop. It is
the background for all programs and contains the commands needed for accessing those
programs. Desktops vary from one operating system (OS) to another, and even vary somewhat
from version to version of a particular OS. Whatever type of OS you use, it is very important to
learn how to use the desktop correctly, since it is the base for all computer operations. The best
place to learn about your particular OS is with the user manual or tutorial included with your
computer.
In this lesson, we will look at the Windows desktop only, since Windows is one of the most
common operating systems used today - particularly by students and educators. It would be
impossible for me to fully cover each version of this OS; instead, I will try to give a basic
overview of how the desktop looks and what it does. This lesson is based on the Windows 98
desktop, so please understand that your own desktop may be slightly different if it is a different
OS version.
Desktop Graphics
Both Windows and Macintosh systems are
based on Graphical User Interface or GUI,
which simply means that the interface uses
graphics or pictures to help the user navigate
and access programs. When you first turn on
a new computer, most of the screen will be
plain blue or blue with a logo or design. This
background graphic is called Wallpaper. It is
essentially a backdrop for your work area.
The graphic can be changed to a different
pattern or even a photo or picture by
accessing "Display" in the Control Panel.
Another important graphic feature that you will find on a desktop is an icon. Icons are small
pictures that are linked to programs. Double-clicking on the icon runs the program or accesses
the file and right-clicking accesses a menu offering options, actions and properties. Certain icons
are a permanent fixture on the desktop. The user can put other icons on the desktop that will
quickly access programs or files - like a shortcut. Icons can be moved around on the desktop by
clicking and dragging them.
One of the most important icons on the desktop is My Computer, which accesses drives,
printers, the Control Panel and other system applications. The Control Panel gives the user
access to the computer system and many support applications, such as "Add New Hardware",
"Add/Remove Programs" and "Accessibility Options". From the Control Panel, you can access
hardware settings for the keyboard, mouse, printers and modem; as well as settings for the
monitor display and sound.
Another important icon that you should know about is the Recycle Bin. It has the same purpose
that a real trash can does - you put things in it that you no longer need or want. Anytime you
delete a file or folder, it goes into the Recycle Bin where it stays until the bin is emptied. Double-

clicking on the icon will open a window that will show you what is stored in the Recycle Bin.
Just like in real life, things sometimes get thrown away by accident and have to be rescued. The
Recycle Bin lets you do the same thing. If you delete something you shouldn't have, you can find
it in the Recycle Bin and restore it to its proper place. When the Recycle Bin is emptied,
everything in it is permanently deleted. Never put anything in the Recycle Bin or empty the
Recycle Bin without permission!
The Start Menu and Taskbar
At the edge of the screen (usually the bottom edge), you will see a
long, thin bar with a box labeled "Start" on one end and a clock on
the other end. This is the taskbar - another graphic tool that helps
you to access programs and files. You may see icons on the
taskbar, too. These are called "Quick Launch" icons that allow
one-click access to frequently used programs.
If you click on the "Start" button, a box called a menu will appear.
The menu will contain several words. Some words will have
arrows next to them that access other menus. Listed below are the
basic Start-menu options:

Programs - accesses installed programs.

Favorites - accesses book-marked web pages.
Documents - accesses the most recently opened documents.
Settings - accesses system applications such as Control Panel, printers, taskbar and Start
Menu options.
Find - searches for specific files or folders.
Help - offers helpful topics for computer use.
Run - user can input commands to run specific programs.
Log Off - allows a password-protected user to log off and another to log on.
Shut Down - shuts down or restarts the computer.

The Start Menu can be personalized by adding and removing programs, files and folders.

Windows (not the operating system)

Many programs and applications run within
windows or boxes that can be opened, minimized,
resized and closed. At the top of each window, you
will see a title bar that contains the title of the
program or folder. To the right of the title bar are
three square icons or buttons. The button on the far
right has an "X" on it and closes the window
(which also closes the program). The middle button
will have one or two small boxes on it - this is the
resize button. Resizing allows the user to make the
window full-screen or smaller. The button on the
left has a small line on it - this is the minimize
button. When a window is open, you will see a

rectangular button on the taskbar that displays the windows title and maybe an icon. Minimizing
the window clears it from the screen, but keeps the program running - all you will see of a
minimized window is the button on the taskbar. A raised button indicates a minimized or
inactive window, and a depressed button indicates an open or active window. Minimizing a
window is helpful if the user is temporarily not using the program, but plans to return to it soon.
To restore a minimized window, simply click on the button on the taskbar. Also, it is sometimes
possible to have several windows open at once and lined up in a cascade, one in front of another.
In this case, the active window will always be in the front.
In the Windows operating system, each window contains its own menu. Found just under the
title bar, the menu contains several words that will access drop-down menus of options and
actions. The menus vary from one program to another, but here are some basic examples:

File menu contains file items like new, open, close, and print.
Edit menu contains editing items like undo, cut, copy, paste and clear.
View menu contains items for changing how things appear on the screen.
Help menu contains items to access tutorials or helpful information.

Under the menu, you will often find a toolbar - a bar of icons or options that allow you to
perform specific operations within the program.
In the main body of the window, you may find lists of folders or files or you may be given a
workspace for typing, drawing or other activities. On the right side of the window, you may see a
scroll bar. The scroll bar appears when the window contains more information than can fit on
the screen. Moving the scroll bar up or down allows the user to see all of the information in the
window.
Learning the Basics
Learning how to use the desktop is the first step in learning to use a Windows system. Hopefully,
you can use this brief lesson as a starting point. Remember, though, that experience is the best
teacher, so do some exploring on your own PC. Many systems include Tutorials that will teach
you how to use your system step-by-step. You'll also find some very helpful information about
the Windows desktop under the "Help" option of the Start Menu.

Testing 123.
Find these working sheets and do it.
Labeling Worksheet
Vocabulary Worksheet

Computer Connections: Lesson 9 - Knowing Your System

Now that you have a basic understanding of computer components and how they work, let's
apply this knowledge to your own system. It is important to know your computer system's
specifications so that you can purchase or download appropriate software programs.
Read the Label
When you are shopping for computer software - in a virtual
store or a real one - it is important to check out the program's
Minimum System Requirements before making a purchase.
They will help you to determine whether or not the software is
compatible with your computer system. System Requirements
will be listed somewhere on the packaging of a software
product or should be available on the product's web page if
you are shopping online. Check out the graphic to the right for
a sample from a software package.
Requirement information will vary from product to product, but most requirements will tell you
the following:

Operating System compatibility

Processor speed
RAM requirements
available Hard Disk Space needed for installation
CD-ROM or DVD speed

Additional requirements may be listed for:

Monitor Display
Video Card
Sound Card
Peripherals - joystick, gamepad, etc.
Modem (for internet applications)
Support software

Remember that the information listed covers the minimum requirements. In other words, your
system needs to have at least that much speed, memory, space, etc. in order to run the software
properly. If your system specs are higher than the minimum requirement, then the software
should run on your system. The only caution you should have here is that some programs written
for older operating systems (particularly Windows 95) may not run on newer operating systems.
Requirement or Recommendation?
On many software products, the manufacturer will list System Recommendations along with
Minimum System Requirements. This information lets the consumer know that higher specs may
be needed to get optimum software performance. The program will run on a system with the
minimum requirements, but it will run better at the recommended requirements.

System Specifications
If you don't know your system specifications already, you should be able to find them in your
user guide or other paperwork from the manufacturer. System information can also be accessed
through your computer. Although the location of this information may vary from system to
system, the most common place to find it will be in the "System" menu of the Control Panel.
Knowing this information about your system will help you make compatible software purchases.

Testing 123.
Find these working sheets and do it.
System Requirements Worksheet
Hands On Worksheet

Computer Connections: Lesson 10 - Computer Care &

Safety
Computers, like any other piece of electronic equipment, need special
care and attention in order to perform properly and safely. There are
several specialized tasks such as defragmenting, scanning and
reformatting that computer experts can do to keep the internal system of
a computer working well. However, we'll leave these tasks to the
experts for now and concentrate on some daily do's and don'ts that any
computer user should know.
A Clean Machine
This may seem like a simple topic, but computers require special cleaning even on the outside.
Keeping your system free of dust, dirt and liquids is the first step to computer care. Your
system's user guide is the best place to find information on how to clean your outer components;
but here are some general tips that you should always remember:

Never spray your monitor screen (or any other computer component) with glass cleaner.
Instead, spray a lint-free cloth lightly with glass cleaner, then clean the screen. Be sure to
hold the cloth away from the computer when spraying.
Computer components should be kept as dust-free as possible.
Canned air or small computer-specific vacuum cleaners are an excellent way to clean
keyboards, computer case vents, or around disk drive openings.
The rubber ball inside the bottom of a mouse may need occasional cleaning. If the mouse
does not perform correctly, check your user guide for cleaning directions.
Never try to remove the cover on your computer to clean inside. Instead, take it to an
authorized service technician for cleaning.
Keep all liquids and food items away from your computer. Liquids and food crumbs can
damage delicate electronic circuits. Also, mixing liquids and electronic components can
cause serious electrical shock!
Wash your hands before using the computer to avoid "sticky keys."
When in doubt about how to clean your computer system, consult your user manual or
technical support.

A Shocking Possibility
It is important to remember that your computer is connected to electricity. If you have an Internet
connection that also means that your computer is connected to a telephone line or cable
connection. These are also conductive connections. That means that lightning could be
conducted to your computer through any of these connections. For safety reasons, you should
never use your computer during a storm.
Many computer users purchase surge protectors to safeguard their system. The user plugs
computer components into the surge protector, and then plugs the surge protector into the wall.
Just like the name implies, surge protectors are designed to protect computers against electrical
surges or lightning. However, these devices can fail, so it's best to stay clear of the computer
during storms.

Also, as mentioned earlier, electricity and liquids don't mix. Keep water and other liquids away
from the computer system. This includes drinks, water guns, fish bowls and cleaning fluids.
Beware of Viruses
Viruses and worms are names for pesky computer-unfriendly programs that can accidentally be
downloaded into your system. Some are just a nuisance, but others can crash your system and
cause irreparable damage. To avoid these nasty creatures, follow these safety tips:

Install, use and regularly update virus software

Never open an e-mail attachment unless you know and trust the person who sent it.
Do not accept downloads from Internet sites that you don't know and trust.

If you would like to learn more about viruses and antivirus utilities, Check out The Virus Zoo at
CNet for some great information!
Avoid Installation Marathons
Let's say that you were given several new computer games for your birthday. Or maybe your
parents just bought you a new system and you want to load all your favorite games. Do you sit
down and install all of these programs one right after another? No! It may be tempting, but it's
not a good idea. Sometimes, installing a new program can cause conflicts within your system.
These conflicts will need to be worked out or else the program will have to be uninstalled so that
your system will work correctly. If you install 2 or more programs before you realize there is a
problem, it will be very difficult to determine what the problem is and which program caused it.
Instead, try installing one program, then use your computer long enough to see how your system
responds to the installation before loading the next program.
Safe Computing!
Following these guidelines should help you to take good care of your computer system, so that
you can get lots of enjoyment from it. Remember, that if you have any questions about your
particular system, you should check your user guide or contact technical support.

Testing 123.
Find these working sheets and do it.
Safety Worksheet

Computer Connections
Worksheet Answer Keys
Lesson 1: Outer Hardware
Labeling Worksheet: 1. monitor, 2. tower case, 3.keyboard, 4. digital camera, 5. trackball,
6. mouse, 7. scanner, 8. speakers, 9. printer.
Input/Output Worksheet: 1. output, 2. input, 3. input, 4. input, 5. input, 6. output, 7. input, 8.
output 9. output, 10. input, 11. input.
Lesson 2: Hardware on the Inside
What Am I? Worksheet: 1. modem, 2. BIOS, 3. CPU, 4. ROM, 5. hard drive, 6. RAM,
7. motherboard, 8. power supply, 9. video card, 10. port.
Labeling Worksheet: 1. power supply, 2. video card, 3. sound card, 4. modem, 5. motherboard,
6. CD-ROM drive, 7. hard drive, 8. floppy disk drive, 9. RAM, 10. CPU, 11. BIOS.
Lesson 3: Bits & Bytes
Bytes Worksheet: 1. 01011110, 2. 10011011, 3. 11101000, 4. 00110111, 5. 10110111,
6. 10101010, 7. 00101001, 8. 10011100, 9. 10101000, 10. 01000111, 11. 10100101,
12. 10100010.
Byte Math Worksheet: 1. 32KB, 2. 4KB, 3. 6KB, 4. 75KB, 5. 26KB, 6. 360KB, 7. 450KB,
8. 235KB, 9. 427KB, 10. .5KB, 11. 2MB, 12. 64MB, 13. 32MB, 14. 8MB, 15. 16MB, 16.
128MB,
17. 256MB, 18. 40MB, 19. 6MB, 20. .5MB 21. 20GB, 22. 7GB, 23. 13GB, 24. 4GB, 25. .5GB
Lesson 4: Storage
Backup Math Worksheet 1. CD, 2. floppy disk, 3. floppy disk, 4. CD, 5. CD, 6. CD, 7. CD,
8. floppy disk, 9. floppy disk, 10. floppy disk, 11. CD, 12. CD, 13. floppy disk, 14. CD, 15. CD
Vocabulary Worksheet 1. primary, 2. secondary, 3. floppy disk, 4. electricity, magnetism, 5.
CD, 6. pits, lands, 7. magnets, 8. data, 9. rpm, 10. DVD.
Lesson 5: Programs
Matching Worksheet 1. desktop publishing, 2. spreadsheet, 3. database, 4. research,
5. entertainment, 6. education, 7. database, 8. word processing, 9. desktop publishing,
10. word processing.
Vocabulary Worksheet 1. program, 2. translators, 3. programming, 4. installing,
5. programmers, 6. BASIC, Pascal, 7. downloaded, 8. word processing, 9. entertainment,
10. desktop publishing.

Lesson 6: Operating Systems

Matching Worksheet 1. PC, 2. Macintosh, 3. PC, 4. PC, 5. Macintosh, 6. ROM, 7. Hard Drive.
Vocabulary Worksheet 1. operating system, 2. user friendly, 3. BIOS, 4. essential, 5. hard
drive, 6. DOS, 7. Windows, 8. upgraded, 9. System 8, 10. graphics.
Lesson 7: Files & Folders
Organizing Files Worksheet
stories/animals: Big Bear.txt, The Lion's Roar.txt, My Dog ate my Book.txt.
stories/aliens: Space Men.txt, Creatures from Mars.txt, UFO Pilot.txt.
pictures/flowers: red rose.gif, yellow daisy.jpg, white tulip.gif.
pictures/insects: ants marching.jpg, bumblebee.jpg, green grasshopper.jpg.
File Address Worksheet 1. Sara, 2. jokes, 3. Users, 4. my cat, 5. drawings, 6. jokes, 7. Adam, 8.
stories.
Lesson 8a: The Mac Desktop
Labeling Worksheet 1. Apple icon, 2. sticky notes, 3. menu bar, 4. clock, 5. minimized
window, 6. icon, 7. Trash can icon, 8. Control Panel.
Vocabulary Worksheet 1. Trash Can, 2. GUI, 3. menu bar, 4. desktop, 5. icon, 6. menu items,
7. scroll bar, 8. windows, 9. Desktop Pattern, 10. title bar, 11. sticky notes, 12. Control Panel.
Lesson 8b: The Windows Desktop
Labeling Worksheet 1. My Computer icon, 2. Recycle Bin icon, 3. icon, 4. Start Menu, 5.
minimized windows, 6. taskbar, 7. clock, 8. wallpaper.
Vocabulary Worksheet 1. Recycle Bin, 2. GUI, 3. task bar, 4. desktop, 5. icon, 6. title bar, 7.
scroll bar, 8. windows, 9. wallpaper, 10. tool bar, 11. Start Menu, 12. Control Panel.
Lesson 9: Knowing Your System
System Requirements Worksheet 1. Yes, 2. Yes, 3. No, 4. No, 5. Yes, 6. No, 7. No, 8. Yes.
Hands On Worksheet Answers Will Vary.
Lesson 10: Computer Care & Safety
Safety Worksheet 1. True, 2. False, 3. False, 4. True, 5. False, 6. False, 7. True, 8. True, 9. True,
10. False, 11. True, 12. True.