Basic Computer Skills Tutorial — for a Windows Environment

The more prepared you are for WebTycho training, the greater your chances of success and satisfaction with the event.

CTLA201 WebTycho Training for Faculty is an intensive five-week Web-based course leading to a certificate of completion for online teaching at UMUC. As with any other skill-building event, the more prepared you are for the experience, the greater your chances of success and satisfaction.

The skill level among new online faculty in regard to basic computer know-how ranges from novice to advanced. If you think that your skill level falls between novice and intermediate, your success in the WebTycho training will greatly depend on your ability to acquire or enhance basic computer knowledge and skills prior to the training event.

The following tutorial has been created to assist new online faculty in familiarizing themselves with the Windows environment and building baseline knowledge and skills. It is particularly suited for novice to intermediate folks; all of the items on the list will be used, in one fashion or another, during the WebTycho training.

The following guidelines will help you benefit the most from this tutorial:

1. Read and review each item as often as you like.

2. After reading and viewing a given feature, try to locate it on your own computer.

3. Depending on your computer and/or Windows version, some of the items and features may look slightly different on your screen. Still, make sure that what you can do with the feature is the same as it appears on the list below.

4. It is essential that you master the knowledge and skill contained in each of these learning objects. Your mastery level will determine whether you are able to keep up or fall behind during WebTycho training. It's better if you don't fall behind.

5. Repetition increases familiarity. Familiarity enhances ability. The better your ability the greater your chances of success and satisfaction. We want you to succeed!

To start the tutorial, simply read the statements and click on the items for each section below.

In WebTycho training, your instructor will use a number of terms in connection with the Web. You need to be familiar with these terms so that you know what the instructor is talking about. Some of the most important ones are: Windows and its components Desktop Taskbar Start menu Minimize/Maximize/Close buttons My Computer When you use the mouse, you may click either the left button or the right button. Learn to use both and, if your mouse happens to have more than two buttons, make sure to discover which one functions as "left" and which one as "right." Multitasking is a very useful feature. During the training you will need to have various "windows" opened simultaneously. A "window" is often an "application." Use multitasking to practice the simultaneous use of various applications. Throughout your use of computers, you will have an opportunity to apply the text editing functions/operations shown below. The links below show how each would be used. Remember, you will most likely use all of them during your WebTycho training. Highlight Copy/Cut and Paste text Standard and Formatting toolbars Save and/or Save As Print command File management is a very useful feature in a Windows environment. File management allows you to complete each of the following tasks (remember to practice these as much as you can): Create a new folder. Copy/Move files from one folder to another. Drag and Drop files. Create different file types with varying extensions. Create a shortcut to an often-used file or application. Utilize the hard drive and floppy drive for file management. Rename/Delete a folder or file. Use the Recycle Bin appropriately. Maintenance on the PC can prevent unforeseen problems. The following two features can be extremely important in preserving and enhancing your computer's capabilities. Use a virus checking program. Use the System Tools to defragment your hard drive. Familiarity with the following terms will make you more savvy in the Web environment. As you click on each of the items, make sure you understand its current and potential use on your computer. ISP URL Web site Home page Bookmark Search engine

This is the end of this baseline tutorial.

Congratulations! Now that you have completed the above tutorial, you may want to become more familiarized with WebTycho itself. In order to do that, first take the brief Orientation to WebTycho. It introduces you to some specific applications of the WebTycho platform. After that, make sure to register for the WebTycho faculty tour. Once you complete the Basic Skills tutorial above, the WebTycho Navigational Skills Tutorial and the WebTycho faculty tour, your familiarity with the WebTycho environment will be much greater. Your WebTycho instructor will then be in a much better position to assist you with the training and you will be able to join the rest of your classmates in a very productive learning environment.