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MODULE 1: BASIC DIGITAL

SKILLS

UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION AND PARTS

OF COMPUTER

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Content

INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 2

LET’S ENTER THE WORLD OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM ............................................................................... 3

Unit 1 Did you say computer parts? Did you say computer components? ............................................ 4

Unit 2 What is a Letter text editor and how it functions........................................................................ 4

Unit 3 Presenting in PowerPoint ............................................................................................................ 4

Unit 5 There are different search engines/browsers .............................................................................. 4

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"There's no better way to learn the mechanics and culture of the web than by playing around and learning in a structured way.«

INTRODUCTION Why?

Entering the world of computers is like learning a language. The learning is endless, so do not worry if there are things that you do not know right now. We know any language more or less, depending on a situation and single requirements.

Now, have you ever wanted to code, to programme an app, though you had no coding experience whatsoever? Shall we say, have you ever wanted to understand the code behind your beloved Facebook? Have you ever used Universal Windows Platform applications (apps) that can potentially work on a variety of devices including PC's ( personal computers), phones, tablets, Raspberry Pi, HoloLens, and Xbox? Is all this new to you? Well, it won't be after you will have used this manual and enrol into the educational programme we have prepared for you. Namely, learning coding is like learning a foreign language. First you do not understand. People around you speak a language that you do not understand and you feel lost. Then, gradually, you start recognizing words and bits of sentences. Then… Well, you know how it goes.

You would like to make your own webpage, but you do not know where to begin. You have a wonderful idea for a start up, but you are a complete beginner. You would like the lights in your flat to switch off at a given time….So you need to know something about coding. How?

This manual will help learners to learn about computer science but also how to make things with computers. We believe that learning how to create with digital technology will make learners of all ages better integrated in the digital world and will prepare them for living in the future. With the help of this course you will enhance your overall computer skills and you will learn how web functions and we will show you how you can co-create it. All you need is a laptop/PC and the readiness to learn.

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Learning involves change and progression. You start with certain skills and knowledge and then you gradually progress towards broader and deeper knowledge and competencies.

This course and manual have been structured around progression and not about the age-related and stage-related labels that are often associated with a learner’s progress and the preconceptions these labels bring. Older learners, like all other learners indeed, may differ a lot as concerns their progression towards becoming a digital maker. They can start by being users, they go on as creators and as builders and developers and end up as makers Who is this manual for? We have written this manual with older learners and their younger teachers in mind, but of course it can be used by a wide and diverse community of learners, who are interested in coding and digital making. Some might use this curriculum to help, guide and inform their own learning, or perhaps their children’s learning. Some younger teachers may wish to use the curriculum as inspiration for how and what to teach their (older )students. What do we want to achieve? Our aim is to help the learner improve their overall digital knowledge and skills, develop computational thinking and stop being intimidated by strange words and unknown concepts like coding and many others. Therefore at the end of each unit and even this Introduction we included a glossary, defining some underlined words and explaining them in a sentence or two if they had not been explained within the unit. Computational thinking is at the heart of the learning that we advocate. It is the thinking process that underpins computing and digital making: formulating a problem and expressing its solution in such a way that a computer and yourself can effectively carry it out. Computational thinking covers knowledge and skills including, but not limited to logical reasoning, algorithmic thinking, pattern recognition, abstraction, decomposition, debugging, problem solving. Do any of the words and concepts sound familiar to you? We are sure they do. All you will have to do is to apply them to the digital world. Now, let’s take the first steps on this journey,

LET’S ENTER THE WORLD OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM

Why and what for

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Although you know a lot about computers, it is useful that you get more familiar with the computer parts. Some day you might even want to build a computer on your own as to spare some money, so you will need some structured knowledge about its parts. It is also useful that you get deeper understanding of (and skills connected with) Text Editors, Power Point presenting, electronic mail, search engines, Skype and Facebook. All these units are meant to improve what your already know and do, to enhance your overall digital skills.

What

This introductory module contains 7 units.

Unit 1 Did you say computer parts? Did you say computer components?

Unit 2 What is a Letter text editor and how it functions

Unit 3 Presenting in PowerPoint

Unit 4 What is an electronic mail: About creating an e-mail account and using e-mail.

Unit 5 There are different search engines/browsers

Unit 6 About Skype and skyping

Unit 7 Facebook, a way to broaden horizons and your social network

Aims To consolidate the knowledge about computer outer and inner components. To be able to tell a difference between word processors and letter text editors. To prepare a simple Power Point presentation To deepen your knowledge about electronic mail and creating an email account To get familiar with search engines and to be able to tell the difference between browsers and directories and their functionality. To learn how to skype To start using Facebook To get familiar with certain words, abbreviations and concepts that you keep coming across. Key words computer system, mouse, central processing unit/ processor, memory, storage

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UNIT: DID YOU SAY COMPUTER PARTS? DID YOU SAY COMPUTER COMPONENTS?

In this unit we will proceed from what you see to what you do not see when looking at the system called computer system. Exercise No 1 Ice breaking activity This activity may seem “childish” but it involves kinaesthetic learning and episode memory and thus helps memorising. Form a circle (a computer system). Your teacher will glue a paper on your back with a name of a computer system component. Ask your colleagues questions: Am I a mouse. ? No, you are not a mouse/Yes you are a mouse Am I a keyboard? …………………………………………………………… Now try to wire the parts. Example: Switch the mouse into the keyboard. Connect the into the keyboard. Wire the mouse into a keyboard.

Exercise No 2- parts of computer

A computer is really a system of many parts working together. The physical parts, which you can see and touch, are collectively called hardware. Software, on the other hand, refers to the instructions, or programs, that tell the hardware what to do.

Look at the following drawing and answer the questions:

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Is there a mouse ? Yes, there is a mouse. Number 4 stands for a mouse. Is there a keyboard ? Is there a monitor? Are there speakers? Is there a modem? Is their a microphone. Is there a (an in-built) compact disk player (VD) Is there a flash drive? Is there a CPU? Is there an in-built computer unit (CPU) Are there in-built speakers? Is there an in-built microphone? (3) Match the names of the parts with their function Example: A mouse… is needed to move the cursor. A mouse is needed to control the cursor and input

A keyboard is needed to play disks Speakers are needed to enter data and

A display screen equipment is needed to move the cursor

A microphone is needed to play CDs, DDVs

A printer is needed to print hand outs

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A disk player is needed to amplify sound

A computer processing unit (CPU) is a computer component that is

responsible for interpreting and executing most of the commands from the computer's other hardware and software. All sorts of devices use it including desktop, laptop, and tablet computers, smartphones... even your flat-screen television set. It may be called processor, computer processor, microprocessor, central processor, and "the brains of the computer."

Free USB port serves mainly as a way to physically mount and contain all of the actual components inside a computer,

A case Is a device for pointing on a computer display screen. It is an alternative to the mouse. Originally incorporated in laptop computers, it is also being made for use with desktop computers. It works by sensing the user's finger movement and downward pressure.

A screen is a small, ultra-portable storage device which has no moving parts. It can be connected to computers and other devices. This storage device is often referred to as a pen drive, thumb drive, or jump drive. The terms USB drive and solid state drive (SD) are also sometimes used but most of the time those refer to larger and not-so-mobile USB-based storage devices.

A flash drive is the physical surface on which visual information is presented. This surface is usually made of glass.

A touch pad Million bytes. In computing and storage systems, a MB (Megabyte) is

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actually 1,048,576 (2 20 ) bytes, since the measurement is based on a base 2, or binary, number system. The term MB comes from the fact that 1,048,576 is nominally, or approximately, 1,000,000.

MB is a device for pointing on a computer display screen.

A screen is an external hardware output device that takes the electronic data stored on a computer or other device and generates a hard copy of it. It has from 8 GB to 64 GB storage capacity. When it is inserted you are alerted most of the times. It is inserted in an in-built USB port.

CD, DVD, BD are storage devices along with flash drives

Hard disk drive HDD. Is a secondary memory magnetic storage with magnetic platters. Data are retrieved at random. There are other secondary memory storage ( flash drive) like USB which is more reliable.

Exercise No 3

Let us ask now a basic question:

Which devices are computers? / mobile phone/ a smart phone/ a laptop/a tablet / a desk computer/ an apple watch.

All computers have basic components:

(1) a processor,

(2) some memory,

(3) storage

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Ad 1. A processor is a computer component that is responsible for interpreting and executing most of the commands from the computer's other hardware and software. All sorts of devices use it including desktop, laptop, and tablet computers, smartphones... even your flat-screen television set. It may be called processor, computer processor, microprocessor, central processor, and "the brains of the computer."

Ad You already know that the computer in front of you has memory. What you may not know is that most of the electronic items you use every day have some form of memory also. Here are just a few examples of the many items that use memory.

Ad 3. Most forms of computer memory are intended to store data temporarily. It is amazing how many different types of electronic memory you encounter in daily life. Many of them have become an integral part of our vocabulary:

RAM, random access memory ROM, Read-only memory programmed with specific data when it is

manufactured, It is used in most electronic devices Cache. It increases the speed at which computer pulls bits and bytes from

memory Flash memory. Portable storage devices that use a type of electronic memory

called flash memory may be the right solution. Virtual memory is a common part of most operating systems on desktop

computers. Virtual memory manager helps Windows allocate hard drive space

for virtual memory as needed.

Now, what makes a device a computer are the parts you can see and even more the components you do not see. Each computer has

Motherboards The motherboard serves to connect all of parts of a computer together. The CPU, memory, hard drives, and other ports and expansion cards all connect to the motherboard directly or via cables. The motherboard is the piece of computer hardware that can be thought of as the "backbone" of the PC, or more appropriately as the "mother" that holds all the pieces together. A computer's motherboard is also known as the mainboard, system board, baseboard, and even logic board.

Everything behind the computer case is connected in some way to the motherboard so that all the pieces can communicate with each other. These include video cards, sound cards, hard drives, optical drives, the CPU, USB ports, a power supply, etc.

Exercise N0 4

Which devices are computers and why?

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Is a smart phone a computer?

Is a laptop known as notebook a computer?

Is a mobile phone a computer?

Is your TV set a computer? If yes, why?

Is a tablet a computer? yes, why?

None of the enumerated computer devices equal

a desktop computer ; it has more power, more memory, more storage.

Exercise No 5

Look at your desk and tell your neighbour which computer components are there

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Unit: What is a Letter text editor and how it functions

A text editor is a programme used for editing plain text files. Such programmes are sometimes known as "notepad" software. Such programmes are sometimes provided with operating systems.

There are important differences between plain text files created by a text editor and document files created by word processors such as Microsoft Word

A plain text file uses a character encoding such as UTF-8 or ASCII to represent numbers, letters, and symbols.

Word processor documents are generally stored in a binary format to allow for localization and formatted text, such as boldface, italics and multiple fonts, and to be structured into columns and tables.

Web pages are plain text with HTML tags to achieve formatting when rendered by a web browser. Many web pages also contain embedded JavaScript that is interpreted by the browser.

Word processors were developed to allow formatting of text for presentation on a printed page, while text produced by text editors is generally used for other purposes, such as input data for a computer program.

You have to be prudent when saving a text. Saving a plain text in a word processor format may make the text unreadable. When both formats are available, the user must select with care between them as to make a text readable.

Later word processors like Microsoft Word store their files in a binary format and are almost never used to edit plain text files.

Some text editors can edit unusually large files . Simpler text editors may just read files into the computer's main memory.

Typical features of text editors

Three is a difference between text editors and word processors though they may have common features.

Find and replace – Text editors provide extensive facilities for searching and replacing text.

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Cut, copy, and paste – most text editors provide methods to duplicate and move text within the file, or between files.

Ability to handle UTF-8 encoded text.

Text formatting – text editors often provide basic formatting features like line wrap, auto-indentation, bullet list formatting using ASCII characters.

Undo and redo – As with word processors, text editors provide a way to undo and redo the last edit. The number of changes remembered depends upon the editor and is often configurable by the user.

Data transformation – Reading or merging the contents of another text file into the file currently being edited.

Syntax highlighting – contextually highlights source code, markup languages, config files and other text that appears in an organized or predictable format.

Extensibility - a text editor intended for use by programmers must provide some plugin mechanism, or be scriptable, so a programmer can customize the editor with features needed to manage individual software projects.

Exercise No 6: Copy a text from your files or Internet and use the above features.

ASCII characters-is a character encoding standard for electronic communication.

ASCII codes represent text in computers, telecommunication equipment, and other

devices. The internal machine representation of characters is in equivalent binary form.

The ASCII table has 128 characters, with values from 0 through 127. Thus, 7 bits are

sufficient to represent a character in ASCII; however, most computers typically reserve

1 byte, (8 bits), for an ASCII character. Binary format- A binary file is a computer file that is not a text file. The term "binary file" is

often used as a term meaning "non-text file". Formatting a text- producing a text that contains codes for font changes, headers, footers, bold,

italic and other page and document attributes. Word processors create formatted text,

and all the major ones use their own coding systems. HTML- Hypertext Markup

Language (HTML) is the standard markup language for creating web pages .

Main memory - the main memory of the computer is also known as RAM, standing for

Random Access Memory. It is constructed from integrated circuits and needs to have

electrical power in order to maintain its information. When power is lost, the

information is lost too! It can be directly accessed by the CPU.

Markup langauage - a system for annotating a document in a way that is syntactically

distinguishable from the text.

UTF-8 encoded text - computer cannot store "letters", "numbers", "pictures" or

anything else. The only thing it can store and work with are bits. A bit can only have

two values: yes or no, true or false, 1 or 0 or whatever else you want to call these two

values. UTF-8 is that it is binary compatible with ASCII, which is the baseline for all

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encodings. All characters available in the ASCII encoding only take up a single byte in

UTF-8 and they're the exact same bytes as are used in ASCII.

Unit: Presenting in PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is a presentation program, created by Robert Gaskins and Dennis Austin. It was released on April 20, 1987, initially for Macintosh computers only Microsoft PowerPoint lets you easily create slide presentations. Explore what else PowerPoint has to offer. How can you make a PowerPoint presentation

Step 1. Open Microsoft PowerPoint.

Step 2 .Go to File at the top of the screen and click New.

Step 3 In the “New Presentation” dialog box, click on “From Design Template.” You may then scan through design templates and choose one that you like. Step 4: Slide Design. Select a design template you like. You may choose a

different colour for your template by clicking on “Colour Schemes” in the “New Presentation” dialog box

Step 5: Slide Layout. You may change the slide layout (how information is presented in the slide) by going to the top of the screen and clicking on “Format” – “Slide Layout.” A box will appear on the right side of your screen (where “New Presentation” appeared) labelled “Slide Layout.” You may select a design by clicking on it. Step 6: Adding Text: Enter your text by clicking and then typing in the box titled “Click to Add Text” or “Click to Add Title. Step 7: Adding pictures. You may add pictures by clicking on the box that says “Click to add content.”. A new window will open, allowing you to browse for a picture on your computer or a CD. Once you find your picture, click on it and then click “Insert.

Step 8: Resizing Pictures:”. Once you find your picture, click on it and then click “Insert.”

Exercise N0 7: Prepare a presentation on your daily routine.