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Recommended Technology Proficiencies
Basic Computer Skills
- Turn on and shut down the computer
- Turn the monitor on and off
- Know basic parts of the computer: monitor, CPU, mouse, keyboard, CD drive, USB port, printer
- Use the mouse: left-click, right-click, drag and drop
- Use the keyboard
Operating Systems
- Start a program from the Start menu
- Manage computer settings from the Control Panel
- Exit a program
- Save files
- Change filename or location using Save As
- Minimize and maximize a window
- Scroll within a document
- Manage multiple windows using the taskbar
- Use menus and toolbars
- Use the Help feature in programs
- Find and open files by browsing from within a program
- Find file icons and open files
- Drag files to a new location
- Copy files and paste them into a new location
- Understand the difference between files and folders
- Make a new folder
- Delete a file or a folder
- Empty the recycle bin and restore files from the recycle bin
- Use Ctrl-Alt-Delete and the Task Manager to end non-responsive programs
- Tab between fields
- Respond to dialog boxes
Troubleshooting
- Check the various connections in the back of the computer
- Reboot the computer
- Use Ctrl-Alt-Delete and the Task Manager to end non-responsive programs
Printers and Printing
- Turn the printer on and off
- Load paper
- Clear a paper jam
- Replace toner
- Use print preview
- Switch between portrait and landscape layouts
- Print specific pages or selections
- Print multiple copies
External Storage Devices
- Know the difference between floppy discs, CDs, and flash drives
- Insert floppy discs, CDs/DVDs, and flash drives and access the files they contain
- Copy files to external storage devices
- “Burn” or copy to a CD or DVD
File Management
- Understand the differences between files and folders
- Copy and paste, and drag and drop within files and whole files/folders
- Navigate in the file structure to open, save, or delete files or folders
- Empty and/or recover files from recycle bin
- Understand file extensions (.docx, .xls, .pptx)
- Create files and folders
- Move files between folders or drives
- Copy files between folders, and to a flash drive or other external storage devices
- Delete files and folders
- Back up files – to a website, a USB device, to CD/DVD, to a network drive
- Open and save a file
- Rename a file or folder
- Create a shortcut to a file, a folder, or a program
Word Processing
- Insert, edit text
- Change font and font size
- Align text: left, right, center
- Bold, italic, underlined text
- Change line spacing
- Change margins
- Cut, copy, and paste
- Use spell-check
- Copy text from the Web into Word and clean it up
- Use print preview and print selection
- Understand different word processing file types (i.e. .doc, .docx, .pdf)
Web Browsers
- Understand what a web browser does
- Understand what a URL or web address is
- Understand the difference between a search box and the address bar
- Find and open Internet Explorer and Firefox
- Type in a web address
- Navigate using links
- Use Back, Forward, Home buttons
- Fill out an online form
- View the browsing history
- Delete history and temporary files
- Add, delete, and organize bookmarks or favorites
- Use a search engine
- Print all or part of a web page
- Use the Find command
- Change the text size
- Download a file from the Internet
- Access email by typing in web address
- Log into account
- Read, archive, and delete messages
- Send messages to one recipient or to multiple recipients
- Reply to and forward messages
- Print messages
- Open and download attachments
- Send attachments
- Understand basic email etiquette
Electronic Reading Devices
- Download e-book content
- Connect device and transfer content
- Understand e-book file types and compatible devices
Cameras and Images
- Take digital pictures
- Connect camera and transfer photos to computer
- Upload photos to email, photo-sharing websites, Facebook, etc.
- Manage and organize photos on computer
- Edit photos in photo-editing software (i.e. Picasa, Microsoft Picture Manager)
Social Networking
- Be familiar with social networking tools (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, etc.)
- Understand privacy issues
- Edit options and settings
- Upload content such as photos and videos
Digital Music
- Download music
- Understand file types (wma, mp3)
- Manage and organize music
- Understand file sharing and copyright infringement issues
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