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Recommended Technology Proficiencies

Basic Computer Skills

  1. Turn on and shut down the computer
  2. Turn the monitor on and off
  3. Know basic parts of the computer: monitor, CPU, mouse, keyboard, CD drive, USB port, printer
  4. Use the mouse: left-click, right-click, drag and drop
  5. Use the keyboard

Operating Systems

  1. Start a program from the Start menu
  2. Manage computer settings from the Control Panel
  3. Exit a program
  4. Save files
  5. Change filename or location using Save As
  6. Minimize and maximize a window
  7. Scroll within a document
  8. Manage multiple windows using the taskbar
  9. Use menus and toolbars
  10. Use the Help feature in programs
  11. Find and open files by browsing from within a program
  12. Find file icons and open files
  13. Drag files to a new location
  14. Copy files and paste them into a new location
  15. Understand the difference between files and folders
  16. Make a new folder
  17. Delete a file or a folder
  18. Empty the recycle bin and restore files from the recycle bin
  19. Use Ctrl-Alt-Delete and the Task Manager to end non-responsive programs
  20. Tab between fields
  21. Respond to dialog boxes

Troubleshooting

  1. Check the various connections in the back of the computer
  2. Reboot the computer
  3. Use Ctrl-Alt-Delete and the Task Manager to end non-responsive programs

Printers and Printing

  1. Turn the printer on and off
  2. Load paper
  3. Clear a paper jam
  4. Replace toner
  5. Use print preview
  6. Switch between portrait and landscape layouts
  7. Print specific pages or selections
  8. Print multiple copies

External Storage Devices

  1. Know the difference between floppy discs, CDs, and flash drives
  2. Insert floppy discs, CDs/DVDs, and flash drives and access the files they contain
  3. Copy files to external storage devices
  4. “Burn” or copy to a CD or DVD

File Management

  1. Understand the differences between files and folders
  2. Copy and paste, and drag and drop within files and whole files/folders
  3. Navigate in the file structure to open, save, or delete files or folders
  4. Empty and/or recover files from recycle bin
  5. Understand file extensions (.docx, .xls, .pptx)
  6. Create files and folders
  7. Move files between folders or drives
  8. Copy files between folders, and to a flash drive or other external storage devices
  9. Delete files and folders
  10. Back up files – to a website, a USB device, to CD/DVD, to a network drive
  11. Open and save a file
  12. Rename a file or folder
  13. Create a shortcut to a file, a folder, or a program

Word Processing

  1. Insert, edit text
  2. Change font and font size
  3. Align text: left, right, center
  4. Bold, italic, underlined text
  5. Change line spacing
  6. Change margins
  7. Cut, copy, and paste
  8. Use spell-check
  9. Copy text from the Web into Word and clean it up
  10. Use print preview and print selection
  11. Understand different word processing file types (i.e. .doc, .docx, .pdf)

Web Browsers

  1. Understand what a web browser does
  2. Understand what a URL or web address is
  3. Understand the difference between a search box and the address bar
  4. Find and open Internet Explorer and Firefox
  5. Type in a web address
  6. Navigate using links
  7. Use Back, Forward, Home buttons
  8. Fill out an online form
  9. View the browsing history
  10. Delete history and temporary files
  11. Add, delete, and organize bookmarks or favorites
  12. Use a search engine
  13. Print all or part of a web page
  14. Use the Find command
  15. Change the text size
  16. Download a file from the Internet

Email

  1. Access email by typing in web address
  2. Log into account
  3. Read, archive, and delete messages
  4. Send messages to one recipient or to multiple recipients
  5. Reply to and forward messages
  6. Print messages
  7. Open and download attachments
  8. Send attachments
  9. Understand basic email etiquette

Electronic Reading Devices

  1. Download e-book content
  2. Connect device and transfer content
  3. Understand e-book file types and compatible devices

Cameras and Images

  1. Take digital pictures
  2. Connect camera and transfer photos to computer
  3. Upload photos to email, photo-sharing websites, Facebook, etc.
  4. Manage and organize photos on computer
  5. Edit photos in photo-editing software (i.e. Picasa, Microsoft Picture Manager)

Social Networking

  1. Be familiar with social networking tools (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, etc.)
  2. Understand privacy issues
  3. Edit options and settings
  4. Upload content such as photos and videos

Digital Music

  1. Download music
  2. Understand file types (wma, mp3)
  3. Manage and organize music
  4. Understand file sharing and copyright infringement issues

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