Computer Basics for Absolute Beginners

Plenty of people own a computer they barely touch, because nobody ever showed them where to start. This course begins at the power button and assumes nothing: no jargon, no rush, and no such thing as a silly question.

By week six you will write and print a letter, keep your files in order, get online with confidence and send an email you would happily show your boss.

What you will build

• A one-page CV written and formatted in Word
• A tidy folder system for your own documents
• A Gmail account with a proper signature

The journey

1. 1

   Meet your computer

   Parts of a computer; switching on and off; the desktop and Start menu; mouse and touchpad.

2. 2

   Keyboard and typing

   Key layout and shortcuts; typing practice; numbers and punctuation.

3. 3

   Files and folders

   Create, save and rename; copy, move and delete; USB drives and downloads.

4. 4

   Word processing basics

   Type and format a letter; save and print; build a simple CV.

5. 5

   Internet and email

   Wi-Fi and data; browsers and search; set up Gmail; send, reply and attach.

Tools you will use

• Windows
• Microsoft Word
• Gmail
• Google Chrome

Who it is for

Parents, retirees, school leavers and anyone who has ever turned the screen away so nobody sees them struggle.

Before you enrol