ECDL - Module Two
Using the Computer and Managing Files
Overview
This module requires the candidate to demonstrate knowledge and competence in using the common functions of a personal computer and its operating system. The candidate shall be able to adjust main settings, use the built-in help features and deal with a non-responding application. He or she shall be able to operate effectively within the desktop environment and work with desktop icons and windows. The candidate shall be able to manage and organize files and directories/folders, and know how to duplicate, move and delete files and directories/folders, and compress and extract files. The candidate shall also understand what a computer virus is and be able to use virus-scanning software. The candidate shall demonstrate the ability to use simple editing tools and print management facilities available within the operating system.
Duration
1 day.
Course Content
Computer Environment
- Which mouse button?
- "Select then manipulate"
- Double clicking
- "Drag and drop" moving
- "Drag and drop" copying
- Multiple selection techniques
- The other (right) mouse button
- What is the "Desktop"?
- What is the Start Button?
- The Start Menu
- To display the Start menu using a mouse
- To display the Start menu using a keyboard shortcut
- To display the Start menu using a Windows
- Keyboard
- To close the Start menu
- Drag and Drop techniques
First Steps with the Computer
- To turn the computer on
- To properly shutdown the computer
- ‘Turn Off Computer’ Options
- To restart your computer
- To close down an application which is not responding
Basic Information and Operations
- The Power On System Test (POST)
- What is an operating system?
- What is RAM?
- What is a CPU?
- To view your “System Properties” and see the version of Windows you are using
- To change the Date and Time
- To configure the volume setting
- To customise the Windows Desktop
- To set screen resolution and colour quality settings
- To modify screens appearance
- To change the Desktop background or to apply a theme
- Why use a screen saver?
- To select a screen saver
- To set the language used by the keyboard
- To format a diskette (floppy disk)
- To format a removable drive
- Installing a software application
- Uninstalling a software application
- To use the Print Screen facility
- To take the Windows XP Tour
- Help within the Start Menu
- To search for Help
Text Editing
- What is WordPad?
- To start WordPad
- To enter text into WordPad
- To save a WordPad file
- To create a new document within WordPad
- To open an existing WordPad file
- To save a file to a specific folder (directory)
- Creating a new folder in which to save your document
- Close the text editing application
- To close an editing application
Desktop
Work with Icons
- Desktop files
- Desktop applications
- Desktop folders
- The Recycle Bin/Wastebasket
- To select a Desktop icon
- To move a Desktop icon
- To copy a Desktop icon
- To customise your Desktop icon alignment
- To open a Desktop object
- To create a Desktop shortcut icon
Work with Windows
- What is the Title Bar?
- The Menu Bar
- The Tool Bar
- The Status Bar
- What is the Scroll Bar?
- To move up and down within a window (using the scroll bar)
- To move right to left within a window
- To scroll through a window at speed
- Maximise, Minimise, Restore and Close Buttons
- To minimise a window
- To maximise a window
- To restore a maximised object to run in a window
- To make a Desktop window taller or shorter
- To make a Desktop window narrower or wider
- To resize a Desktop window in two directions at once
- To close a program using the Close button
- To switch between programs (using the Task Bar)
- To switch between programs (using a keyboard shortcut)
Managing Files
Concepts
- What are Drives, Folders and Files?
- The Windows Explorer Window
- The Windows Explorer Toolbars
- The Windows Explorer Views
- To view the contents of a folder (displayed on right)
- To expand a branch one level
- To open all folders on a disk
- To close all the folders within the Explorer
- To switch drives
- Data storage devices
Directories/Folders
- To open a file from a specified folder on a drive
- To create a new folder within the Windows Explorer
- To create folders within folders
- To create a folder directly on the Desktop, using a popup menu
- To view folder attributes
- To view folder properties
Working with Files
- To determine file types
- Audio and video files
- Compressed files
- Temporary files
- To count up the number of files within a folder (inc. sub-folders)
- To count files of a specific type in a folder (which does not contain sub-folders)
- To count files of a specific type in a folder (which does contain sub-folders)
- To view files as a detailed list
- To view file properties
- To write protect a file
- To change a read-only file to a read/write file
- To sort your Windows Explorer file listing
- Why are file extension names important?
- To rename files or folders using the Explorer
- To rename files or folders - the easy way
- To view file name extensions using the Windows Explorer
- Beware of re-naming certain files!
Duplicate/Move>
- To select an individual file or folder within the Windows Explorer
- To select a continuous block of files
- To select multiple files which are not in a continuous block
- To copy files (the hard way) using the Windows Explorer
- To copy files (the easy way) using the Windows Explorer
- To use “Cut and Paste” to move files from one folder to another
- To use "drag and drop" to move files from one folder to another - Moving the easy way!
- Why do you need to back up your computer?
- Why you should use 'off-site' storage
- To copy files to a diskette
Delete/Restore
- To delete a file or folder
- To physically delete files (rather than sending them to the Recycle Bin)
- To delete a folder
- The Recycle Bin and deleted files
- To restore deleted files or folders
- To empty the Recycle Bin
Searching
- The Start Button – Search
- To search for a file, or folder, by name
- To search for a file using wildcards instead of the full name
- To find a file containing a specific word or phrase
- To find a file created on or around a certain date
- To find files of a particular type
- To view recently used files
Compressing Files
- What is file compression?
- To compress files using WinZip
- To extract compressed files using the Windows Explorer
- To extract files using WinZip
Viruses
Concepts
- What is a virus and what does it do?
- How viruses infect computers
- Why use a virus checker?
- What is virus disinfecting?
Handling Viruses
- To run a virus checker
- Regularly update your virus checking software!
Printer Management
Setup
- To change the default printer
- Windows and printing
- To install a new printer driver
Print Outputs
- To print from an application
- Why print to a file?
- How to print to a file
- To view print jobs
- To control print jobs using the Print Manager