PCs for Beginners

Lesson 1: The Computer and You. Hardware; the processor; memory; input and output devices; storage; software; applications; the keyboard; navigating with the mouse and its variants; monitors; sound systems; printers.

Lesson 2: How PCs Work. Bits and bytes; the CPU; types of processors; factors affecting processing speed; extending the processor's power to other devices; storage devices; data storage; types of CD's; networking fundamentals.

Lesson 3: Software. The user interface; running programs; managing files; operating systems; word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database management systems.

Lesson 4: Graphics and Multimedia. Types of graphics files; getting images into your computer; graphics software; graphics and the World Wide Web; multimedia; creating new media content; supporting technologies.

Lesson 5: The Internet. How the Internet works; major Internet features; online services; Internet-related application programs; accessing and working on the Internet; connecting a PC to the Internet; commerce on the Web.

Lesson 6: Window Basics; Menus; the Taskbar. Logging on to Windows 2000; using the mouse; moving, resizing, and closing a window; logging off Windows; using menus; the dialog box; changing the way files and folders display; arranging windows on the desktop; formatting a disk.

Lesson 7: Programs, Folders and Files. Starting, using, closing, and saving programs; using shortcuts; using Windows Explorer; creating and opening folders and directories; moving, copying, revising, naming, and deleting files; copying and moving file data between programs; linking files.

Lesson 8: The Internet; Networking; Customizing Windows. Logging on with Internet Explorer; the Web browser; searching the Web; downloading; printing; using Help; customizing the control panel and screen saver; changing display options, the taskbar, and start menu; passwords; networks; sharing files; using network printers.

Lesson 9: Office XP Basics. Moving Windows; starting and exiting Office; opening and saving a document with a new name; working in multiple windows; toolbars; menus.

Lesson 10: Creating and Editing a Document. Creating, saving, printing, closing, and renaming a new document; entering text; correcting errors; checking spelling; inserting text; selecting, deleting, and replacing text; using cut-and-paste; using undo and redo.

Lesson 11: Text and Document Formatting. Changing the font type, size, and emphasis; applying character effects; inserting symbols, page numbers, page breaks, headers, and footers; working with alignment, line spacing, and indents; the format printer; creating a bulleted list; using tab stops; setting margins; creating columns.

Lesson 12: Tables and Utilities. Inserting a table into a document; typing and formatting text in a table; adding rows and columns; formatting borders; shading; the Autoformat and Autofit tools; checking spelling and grammar; using AutoCorrect, AutoText, and AutoComplete; finding and replacing text; templates; using Wizard.

Lesson 13: More About Word. Adding text borders, clip art, charts, and Hyperlinks; formatting a picture; wrapping text; WordArt; creating a diagram; moving text between documents; inserting an Excel chart; saving as a Web page.

Lesson 14: Excel Basics. Navigating a workbook; selecting cells; entering and formatting text and numbers; fixing errors; summing a column; saving, printing, and closing a workbook; manipulating data; aligning text; changing font, size, and text emphasis; adding lines, borders, colors, and shading.

Lesson 15: More About Excel. Making calculations; working with formulas and cells; applying basic formulas to a loan payment; creating, editing, and printing charts; deleting, inserting, renaming, and moving sheets; designing and linking to a summary sheet; pasting a worksheet into Word.

Lesson 16: Microsoft Outlook. Using Outlook to create or modify a contact, appointment, task, or journal entry; mail server vs. mail client; the username and password; sending and receiving mail on an E-mail account; the address book; attaching files to a message; creating a new mail folder.

Lesson 17: PowerPoint Basics. Applying a design; inserting, sizing, and moving clip art; creating and formatting WordArt objects; adding drawing objects, text boxes, and connectors between objects; grouping; adding sound and video.

Lesson 18: Advanced PowerPoint Techniques. Working in a slide sorter view; animating text and transitions; customizing animations to dim text or animate objects; setting timings; previewing and printing in black and white; using slides with other presentations; inserting Word text and tables on slides; importing Excel charts; exporting a presentation to an outline; saving a presentation as Web pages.

Lesson 19: Getting Started with Access. Copying, renaming, opening, and creating a database file; examining and printing tables; using a form to enter data and print a record; previewing and printing a report; compacting and closing a database; creating tables in Design view; using Wizard and Report Wizard; adding and deleting records; modifying a form design; changing tab order; working with reports.

Lesson 20: Databases. Working with fields; adding hyperlink field types, data, and input masks; setting field properties; creating a lookup list; displaying related records; creating relationships between tables and enforcing referential integrity; finding, sorting, and indexing records.