Everyone will get on a computer or work with a partner and we will go through the lesson together. If you have any questions you may raise your hand at any time and ask.
Computer Mouse
Here is a picture of a basic PC computer mouse.
Do you know all the ways it functions?
- Your mouse can connect to your computer in several ways. This mouse connects to the PC. Many mice now connect to your computer through a USB port or wirelessly.
Are you using a wireless or a connected mouse? Can you tell where it's connected to?
- When you move the mouse the arrow on your screen moves too. This is because underneath the mouse is a ball or a motion detecting laser that tracks the movement and direction of the mouse. Mice are typically made now with lasers because they are more efficient and don't break as easily.
Try moving around the mouse. Does yours work with a laser or a ball? You can turn it over and take a look.
- The left button on the mouse is to click on buttons and links or to open programs. Usually you have to double click to open a program and only click once for a button or a link. Every time you click on a link or button you are resending a command to a computer. It's best just to wait for the link to load. Clicking it over and over actually makes it take longer!
Test out your left mouse button by clicking the arrows on the scroll bar. If you click and hold the arrow facing down the page will go down. If you click the arrow facing up, the page will go up.
- You can also use the left button to highlight or select thing by holding it down and dragging it across what you want to highlight or select.
Try highlighting this sentence right here.
- The right button reveals hidden menus. You can use this button to save pictures, copy. paste, and many other things. NOTE: Computer mice mad for Mac computers don't always have right buttons. Either the right button is located on the sides of the mouse or you have to press the command key on the keyboard and click.
Test out the right click button by clicking on the mouse picture and saving it.
- Many mice now have a button in the middle. This allows you to scroll up and down a page without having to click the up/down arrows. What happens when you click it usually depends on the computer you're on.
If you have a mouse with a middle button try scrolling up and down. All you need to do is roll it. See what happens when you click it.
- Mice come in all shapes and sizes. Mine, for example, glows rainbow colors and has a floating Hello Kitty in a bathtub!
Keyboard
- All the letters and numbers are clearly labeled on the keyboard, as are all forms of punctuation. This set up is pretty basic and doesn't change much from keyboard to keyboard.
Take a look at your keyboard and try to remember where everything is.
- Traditionally, when you type you are supposed to place your index fingers on F and J, your middle fingers on D and K, your ring fingers on S and L, your pinkie fingers on A and ;, and your thumbs rest on the space bar (the long blank bar at the bottom). From this position you are supposed to work your way around the keyboard. It's much faster than typing with one finger, but it takes practice to learn!
Is this how you type? Try putting your hands on the keyboard the way they are supposed to sit. What does it feel like? Try typing your name this way in the textbox below.
- The space bar is the long blank bar at the bottom of the keyboard and is used to make gaps between words when you are typing. The tab key has a few functions; when filling out a form it can jump from one box from the next or it could make an indent when you are typing or it may do nothing at all. It depends on the system you are working on and what program you are using. The return or enter key jumps to the next line when you are typing. The delete or backspace key goes back to the last line or erases what you have typed.
Use the textbox below to experiment with the space bar, tab key, backspace/delete key, and enter/return key. Type some things in first so you have something to work with.
- The caplocks key puts all of the letter you type IN CAPITALS LIKE THIS. The shift key puts only the keys you hit at the same time as shift in Capital LikE wHeN I do This. (To capitalize the letters I hit shift and the letter) You know the caplocks key is on if it is lit up somewhere on the keyboard. Sometimes it will be the key itself that is lit, sometimes it will be an A lit up on the keyboard. The shift key is also used on the keys that have more than one option such as the punctuation keys, the number keys, and the function keys. Click shift + the key to get the second options.
Use the textbox below to test out the caplocks key and the shift key. On the first line type with the caplocks. On the second line type using the shift key and only click the letters you want to capitalize or test out the punctuation and number options.
- the numlock key enables the right side of the keyboard; the side with the number keypad. If this side isn't working for you it's probably because you have to hit numlock! You know when numlocks is enabled when it is lit up or a 123 light is on.
Test out the number keypad in the box below. See if it works if numlock isn't on.
- The arrow keys can be used to move from one place in your text to another without having to use a mouse. You can also use them to scroll a page. They only work when scrolling a page if you aren't typing in a textbox. You know when you are in a textbox when there is something like | blinking. Some keyboards even have page up/page down buttons that you can use for scrolling too, whether you're typing or not.
Try scrolling this page using only your arrow keys.
- Another important button is esc or the escape key located at the top left of your keyboard. This is like an emergency escape. If you are in a program you don't want to be in and you can't get to your mouse fast enough or your mouse isn't working hit esc. Or you can use esc to close out of any program. Don't try this out now though or you will have to reopen today's lesson.
- These are just some of the basics of typing and using a keyboard. As I mentioned before, different keyboards have different functions built in. I work on a Mac keyboard so from my keyboard I can adjust the volume of my computer, play my music in itunes, eject CDs, and play DVDs. Like computer mice keyboards can also be wireless.
Do you know some of the other functions a keyboard has? Do you see any keys on the keyboard you're using that we didn't talk about?
Assignment
Test out everything you learned today by writing me a letter in the comment box below and clicking (ONCE) "post comment." If you already knew everything we talked about today you can tell me what you would like to learn or tell me something you think I forgot to talk about.
When you're all done we will go over the questions again.
Pre/Post Question Review
1. What is the middle button on a mouse used for?
A. There is no middle button.
B. Decoration.
C. Scrolling.
D. Saving images.
2. How many times do you need to click on a link for it to load?
A. As many times as it takes for it to pop up.
B. Once.
C. Twice.
D. It doesn't matter as long as you click it.
3. What is the tab key used for?
A. Making a space or an indent.
B. Jumping textboxes.
C. All of the above.
D. None of the above.
4. T or F - All computer mice and keyboards need to be connected to a computer by a wire in order to work.
