Word Processing Lesson - Terms of the Day 2

Goal
To develop computer literacy skills

Objective
Learners will gain familiarity with computer terminology.

Skills
Word processing: using the mouse, cursor, and insertion point; deleting and backspacing; basic text formatting (bolding, centering and enlarging text).

Preparation/pre-requisite skills
Opening a word processing program, mouse skills, basic keyboarding

Time
45 minutes to one hour

Related Activities
What’s In That Box? See Inside the Computer; Terms of the Day 1 and 3

Instructor’s Notes
The terms of the day are divided into 3 sections. I distribute the terms during the first few weeks of class. I use the terms frequently and encourage students to use them as much as possible. For example I’ll ask them “What is an icon?” or “Show me the insertion point” when I go around to work with them individually, so that these terms clearly have useful, practical functions.

This exercise works well even with multi-levels, since more experienced learners can contribute what they know. Often even those with more experience may not know what all the terms mean, so the lesson is valuable for them as well.

Computer Terms of the Day 2
files, folders, floppy (or floppy disk), floppy drive, select, de-select, scrolling, scrollbar, toolbar, status bar, keyboard commands

Activity

Give the class the handout “Terms of the Day 1” WITHOUT definitions.

Go through the terms one at a time, asking the students if anyone can define the term for the class. It may be necessary to rephrase or clarify the definition.

Participants write each definition on their handouts. This helps to remember what the terms mean.

From their handwritten list they will create a word processing document of their own. Instructors can also use Computer Terms of the Day 1 and 3.

Follow-up
The terms list can be used to practice simple formatting, by doing things like bolding the terms, centering the title and increasing the font size, etc. It’s also useful for very new students to practice things like moving the insertion point with the mouse and with the arrow keys, using the enter key, and using backspace and delete. This can be done as a group with participants who are on a similar level.

Here’s the Terms 2 list with its definitions:

files - documents

folders - a “place” where you can put files to organize them.

floppy (or floppy disk) - a removable storage disk where you can put files.

floppy drive - the drive which runs floppy disks, usually the “A” drive (as opposed to your hard drive, which is usually the “C” drive).

select - to choose text by highlighting it. Text can be selected in various ways.

de-select - click off of your selected text (anywhere on the blank white part of your screen). To de-activate.

scrolling - moving around (either up or down or from side to side) in a document or window.

scrollbar - the bar on the right of your window which lets you scroll vertically, or the bar on the bottom of your window which lets you scroll horizontally.

toolbar - the bar or bars across the top (and sometimes the bottom) of your window with various icons (picture symbols) to let you access tools.

status bar - the bar on the bottom of your window which tells you where your cursor is in your document.

keyboard commands - the quickest and most efficient way to give your computer orders (faster than using your mouse). Also called “keyboard shortcuts” or “keyboard combinations”. It is useful to know as many of these as possible (we have a handout with all of them). An example: Press and the “ctrl” key down (or the command key for Mac), then press the “a” key and you will select ALL the text in your document.