Basics
Use this document with
the glossary
Beginner’s guide to
Your set up
1.2 Using your computer
This activity will help you get used to using applications, files
and folders on a computer.
What will I learn?
• How to use the keyboard
• How to open and close applications
• How to open and save a document
www.bt.com/freedigiguides
A helper should take you
through this guide
How do I do it?
Can you find the:
Be safe! If you’re using this hand-out on a
shared or public computer, remember to:
• S pace bar
this is the long key on the bottom row of your keyboard
• Log on using a ‘strong password’:
one that includes upper and lower case
letters, numbers, and isn’t something
that someone else could guess.
• Never share or write down
your password.
• Log out when you’re finished.
• S hift keys
you hold these at the same time as a letter, to type a capital
•E
nter key
this lets you start a new paragraph and is also known as ‘Return’
How do I use a keyboard?
1.Have a look at your keyboard. You’ll use this to
type your letter.
•B
ackspace this lets you delete mistakes
key
•A
rrow keys these move your cursor around
the document
•C
aps lock
press this to change what you type from lower case to capitals, without
holding down a ‘Shift key’.
How do I open and close applications?
2.Use your mouse to open the Windows Start
menu, then click on ‘Microsoft Office Word’.
Backspace
Return
Caps lock
Shift
Shift
3.Another way to open an application is to
double click on its icon. This also works for
folders and documents.
<
Spacebar
<
<
<
Arrow keys
Windows 7 Start Menu – Windows 8 is different
2 Your set-up: Using your computer
Basics
4.You control programs like Word by using the
menu options at the top of the screen:
• Find the ‘File’ menu and click on it to see
what this menu lets you do. Find the
options to:
- open an existing document
- save a document
- open documents that you’ve worked
on recently
- start a new document
- print a paper copy of your document.
How do I open and save a document?
6.Word opens with a new blank document
for you to use. Firstly, save this as your own
document, so you don’t lose your work.
• Click on ‘File’ in the menu bar and then click
‘Save As’. In windows 7 a ‘dialogue box’ will
open. Dialogue boxes let you choose what
you want to do when you open and save a
file, like what it will be called and where you
will save it on your computer.
• Click on the ‘New Folder’ button. This will
create a new area in which you can save your
work. Type a name for your folder and click
on the button to create this new folder. Your
name is a good idea.
• Now type a name for your document and
click on ‘Save’. You could call this document
‘Practice letter’.
File menu options
5.To close an application, click on the cross in the
top right of the screen. You don’t need to do
this now.
Naming a folder
• Windows 8 will offer a choice of recently
used places to save your file before offering
the dialogue box.
Closing an application
3 Your set-up: Using your computer
Basics
7.Now write a short letter. Start with
your address:
• Move the cursor, using your mouse, until
it is on your blank document. Can you see
how the cursor changed shape? Left click
to position the cursor at the start of your
document, at the top.
• Type your address, one line at a time. Press
the return or enter key each time you want
to begin a new line.
• Underneath it, type the address of the
person you are sending it to.
• Now move your address to the right-hand
side of your letter: use the mouse to position
your cursor at the top left of your address.
Holding the left mouse button down, move
the mouse down and across to highlight your
address (it will be highlighted in blue). Let
go of the mouse button. Now find the ‘align
text right’ button in the toolbar:
Click on
this and watch how the text you highlighted
moves to the right-hand side. (You may need
to click on ‘Home’ to get to the toolbar with
the ‘align text right’ button on it.)
8.Now type your letter:
• Press enter or return a couple of times to add
some blank lines below your addresses.
• If you can’t think of what to write, just
type a few sentences about what you are
learning today.
• You don’t have to press return or enter when
you get to the end of a line. Word will start a
new line for you.
• Press return or enter twice to lave a blank
line and start a new paragraph.
• Click on ‘File’ in the menu bar and then click
‘Save’ to keep the finished letter on the
computer. It’s important to do this every so
often while you are writing as well as when
you are finished.
• To print your letter, find ‘Print’ in the ‘File’
menu. Click on this to print your letter.
• To close your document, click on the ‘X’ in
the top of the document window, or click on
‘File’, then ‘Close’.
9. Adding emphasis to your letter:
• Word has a range of features to allow you
to change colour, font and layout to your
letter. Experiment with these to get different
effects.
• Try to avoid using too many effects
together in a letter as this might distract
the reader.
Aligning your address on a letter
4 Your set-up: Using your computer
Basics
Quiz yourself
Try your new skills
• How can I find the program I want to use?
• Type, save and print another short letter to
a family member or friend.
• How do I save a document?
• How do I print a document?
• W
hat keys do I use to type a capital letter,
delete a mistake, move my cursor and start a
new paragraph?
Write down any notes that will help you:
5 Your set-up: Using your computer
Basics
My learning checklist
Where next?
o I can open a program or application.
o I can create a new folder and save
• Find out what the other buttons do in the
Microsoft Word toolbar: rest the cursor over
each one until a box pops up telling you
what it is.
a document.
o I can use the keyboard to change and control
what I type.
o I can print a document.
Top tips
• Give each document a name that helps you
to find the right one each time, for example:
‘letter to Fred 21 August 11’.
• Organise your documents into folders for each
person or activity. You can put folders inside
folders: for example, you could have a ‘house’
folder, in which you’ve also got folders for
‘finance’, ‘utilities’, ‘garden’ etc.
• Rather than using Word to see your files and
folders, find out about Windows Explorer which
can be used to create folders and move files
between them.
• P
ractice double-clicking to open folders or
documents.
• Using either the search facility of Windows
Explorer of the Windows 8 search facility
‘magnifying glass’ on the Start screen, look for
files by entering part of the name.
• Explore the different applications on your
computer.
Write down any notes that will help you:
6 Your set-up: Using your computer
Basics
Useful Links
You may want to use these links in your session:
Windows Help:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/support
7 Your set-up: Using your computer
Basics
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