Computers for Beginners 2:

Use the Keyboard

JAN 2020 YG
Learning Objectives

In this class you will:

1. Learn proper keyboarding posture.

2. Familiarize yourself with alphabet keys, number keys and special symbol
keys.
3. Practice typing using an online tutorial.
4. Review where to get more online typing practice.

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Keyboarding Posture

Exercising proper posture and technique will allow you to type efficiently and avoid
injury.

 Sit up straight with feet flat on the floor.

 Adjust your chair and keyboard height so your elbows are at 90-degree
angle with arms close to your sides.
 Keep wrists straight and fingers curved over the keys.
 Adjust the height of the monitor so the top of the screen is at eye level.

Word Processing Application

Microsoft Word is a word processing application used for electronically writing and
storing documents such as letters, resumes, research papers and many more.

1. Using the mouse, double click on the Microsoft Office Word icon on the
desktop to open the application.

TIP: Double click (two quick taps on the left mouse button) is used to open a file
or start a program.

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The white workspace represents a sheet of paper. The black flashing line is called
the text cursor. The text cursor shows you where you are typing. We will practice
keyboarding here.

TIP: Microsoft Word is just one example of an application used for word
processing. You can use other applications such as Notepad, Pages, WordPad,
Google Docs and more.

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Touch Typing
Touch typing is the ability to use muscle memory to find keys quickly using all
fingers. Touch typing is an acquired skill that takes practice. For now, we will NOT
be learning Touch Typing. Don’t worry if you use only a few fingers. You will
get more comfortable with practice.

In North America, we use a QWERTY keyboard. Can you guess why?

The hand diagrams depict the finger positioning for touch typing and are for your
reference only.

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Typing

Home Row

Other Important Keys

When you press the Spacebar key, it will move your cursor to the right and enter
an empty space between words or characters.

When you press the Enter key, it will move your cursor to the next line below. You
can then begin typing a new line.

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When you press the Backspace key, it will move your cursor backwards, and erase
typing errors.

TIP: Saying the key aloud (or in your head) as you type will boost memory.

Exercise 1: Home Row Practice

1. Type asdfg
2. Press Enter to begin a new line

Repeat Twice.

3. Type ;lkjh
4. Press Enter

Repeat twice.

5. Type asdfg ;lkjh

TIP: Use the spacebar to create a space between g and ;

6. Press Enter

Repeat twice.

TIP: Microsoft word will automatically capitalize the first letter of a sentence for
you. Just ignore the capitalization for this exercise.

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Exercise 2: Top Row Practice

1. Type qwert
2. Press Enter

Repeat twice.

3. Type poiuy
4. Press Enter

Repeat twice.

5. Type qwert poiuy

6. Press Enter

Repeat twice.

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Exercise 3: Bottom Row Practice

1. Type zxcvb
2. Press Enter

Repeat twice.

3. Type /.,mn
4. Press Enter

Repeat twice.

5. Type zxcvb /.,mn

6. Press Enter

TIP: Use your mouse to scroll down the page when you start to run out of room.

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Exercise 4: All the Alphabet Keys

A pangram is a sentence that contains all letters of the alphabet. With practice, the
location of each key will become embedded in your memory.

1. Type A quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog

2. Press Enter

Repeat twice.

Shift Keys

The Shift keys on the keyboard can help us type capital letters. The Shift keys can
also help us type other keyboard characters. Notice on the keyboard, some keys
have more than one characters. The Shift keys allows us to access the top
character such as the question mark.

Exercise 5: Using Shift to Capitalize

To capitalize a letter, hold down one of the Shift keys, tap on the letter, then
release the Shift key. You can use two hands for this exercise!

1. Type A Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog

2. Press Enter

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Take a Stretch Break!

Take frequent breaks when working at the computer. While working, you are
sitting in an unnatural position, reaching for the mouse, and staring at the screen.

 Look away from the computer screen.

 Stand up and stretch your shoulders
 Gently roll your head to relieve neck strain.
 Shake hands out gently, and open and close your fingers.

OPTIONAL: Symbols & Numbers

Reaching the numbers and symbols and the upper row require some hand
movement and a little stretch of the fingers.

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OPTIONAL Exercise: Numbers Practice
1. Type 12345
2. Press Enter

Repeat twice.

3. Type 67890
4. Press Enter

Repeat twice.

In order to type the symbols in the upper row, rather than the number, you need
to hold down the Shift key and then tap the key for the symbol you want.

Hold down the right Shift key, and use the corresponding fingers on the left hand
to create the symbols !@#$%^.

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Hold down the Shift key, and use the corresponding fingers on the right hand to
create the symbols &*().

OPTIONAL Exercise: Symbols Practice

1. Type !@#$%^
2. Press Enter

Repeat twice.

3. Type &*()
4. Press Enter

Repeat twice.

5. Type !@#$%^&*()

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Secure Passwords

Question: When would you use special characters? Consider an email address
such as [email protected] or how about when you create a password?

Using a secure password - something unique that will be difficult, if not impossible,
for others to guess - is the first step to keeping your information and identity safe
online.

Some elements of a strong password include (but are not limited to):

 Minimum of 8 characters in length

 String of random words but not a phrase
 A combination of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols

Exercise 6: Combining Keys for Safe Password

http://howsecureismypassword.net is a website that estimates how long it will take

a computer to crack a password.

Example Time to crack

password instantly
captainpugtree 51 years
Captainpugtree 837 thousand years
C@ptainpugtree 29 million years

Capitalizing a letter makes the password stronger. Adding a symbol to a password

makes it even stronger! In the example above, it will take 28,163,000 years longer
to crack the password just by adding the @ symbol.

1. Type captainpugtree (lowercase)

2. Press Enter.
3. Type Captainpugtree (capitalize)
4. Press Enter.
5. Type C@ptainpugtree (combination of upper & lower case letters and a
symbol)

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Windows: Minimize, Maximize, Restore & Close

A “Window” is a separate viewing area in a computer screen. Each window usually

represents a different computer program. It could be Word, Excel or a web
browser. Multiple windows (and therefore programs) can be open at the same
time.

 Each program or file opens in its own window.

 Windows can be controlled with your mouse or can overlap with other
windows.
 Windows can be resized, hidden, restored, closed or moved.

Windows typically include a title bar, a toolbar and a working area. No matter what
program or file it belongs to, every window has the following buttons/controls:

Close - closes the program’s or file’s window completely

Maximize - opens the window up full screen

Minimize - hides the window from view (it is still accessible from your task bar)

Restore - restores the window to a previously specified size

Using your mouse, click Close to close Microsoft Word. There will be a pop up box
asking if you want to save the changes. Click Don’t Save.

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Typing Practice Online

Exercise 7: GCF Learn Typing Tutorial

There are different software applications which allow you to access the internet on
library computers. You have the option to use:

Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, or Google Chrome

1. Using the mouse, double click on the Google Chrome icon on the desktop
to open application.
2. Click the address bar and type gcflearnfree.org/typing

TIP: Another method to access the website is to use Google search:

Go to www.google.com and search for gcf typing.

Click on “Free Typing Tutorial at GCFGlobal”.

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3. Left click Typing.

4. Scroll down the screen (use your mouse scroll wheel or the Window’s scroll
bar) and left click on Practice

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 5. For full sentence practice: scroll down and left click on Sentences

TIP: Each one of the segments along the path is a typing exercise! You can click on
a segment to practice words with a few letters or words with spaces or
capitalization (Shift).

6. Type a number in the space provided for the number of practice exercises
(Example: 10) and left click on Start.
7. Have fun!

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Review Quiz

Question #1

To type the $ symbol, you need to

a) Hold down the Shift key and the number 4 key at the same time.
b) Hold down the Ctrl key and the number 4 key at the same time.
c) Hold down the number 4 key for 5 seconds.
d) Press the Shift key then press the number 4 key.

Question #2

A secure password has

a) A minimum of 8 characters in length

b) String of random words but not a phrase
c) A combination of upper-and lower-case letters, numbers and symbols.
d) All of the above

Question #3

The Backspace key is used to

a) Close a window.
b) Erase typing errors.
c) Go to a website.
d) Move the cursor to the bottom of the page.

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Answer Key

1. A – Hold down the Shift key and the number 4 key at the same time.
2. D – All of the above.
3. B – Erase typing errors.

WRAP UP: Common features to keep you fearless!

It takes time to learn a new skill. Computer applications are no different. But with
time and practice it gets easier. It’s also fun to learn something new!

At first you might be concerned about making a “mistake” but try not to be. You
can’t really “break” anything! You can always make a copy (or a backup) of a file
before editing or changing it.

And while there is a learning curve it’s good to know that there are many common
functions across different programs. It may surprise you to know that most
functions are found in the same menus in different software.

Understanding the similarities across different programs can really help you use
and learn a new one.

Remember to practice! Take the class again if you want to. Or, if you want a new
challenge, take one of the other classes.

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Where to Learn More: Practice, Practice, Practice

GCF Learn Free Typing Tutorial

gcflearnfree.org/typing

Keybr - Online keyboarding lesson

keybr.com

Peter's Online Typing Course

typing-lessons.org

Power Typing
powertyping.com

Typing Club
typingclub.com/sportal/catalog.html

typeonline.co.uk
typeonline.co.uk/lesson1.html

TIP: In North America we use a QWERTY keyboard. Avoid DVORAK keyboard

lessons.

Thank-you for attending!

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