Home > Computer Competencies

Essential Computer Competencies
Following is a list of helpful resources related to essential computer competencies that university faculty may need to know.

Terminology

Basic Computer Terminology
Description: List of basic terms and definitions.

Operating System information

Windows Quick Start Guide (PowerPoint)
Description: PowerPoint slides that walk the user through the basics of Windows 98. Would need to be updated but provides a decent walkthrough of the operating system.

Getting Started in Windows XP
Description: Fairly thorough web site that covers a large topic range related to both the Windows XP operating system and programs that run on it. Additionally, it has tutorials (PDF) that are for new and intermediate users of the operating system.

Using the Mouse

Palm Beach County Library System: Mousing Around
Description: Nice interactive site that shows how to use a mouse. Multiple skills involved including mouse, window, pointer and miscellaneous skills.

Calgary Public Library: Eeek! A Mouse!
Description: Interactive website for teaching people who have never used a mouse before. Covers the basic skills.

Right Mouse Button

mrswizard.com: Right mouse button tricks
Description: An overview of right mouse button tricks, including web pages, graphics, word processing and the desktop.

Using the Mouse: Right clicking (PDF document)
Description: Nice little pdf file that includes how to right click. Could be used "as is."

Common desktop shortcut icons

Identifying desktop icons
Description: Transmission oriented website that provides pictures of the icons one might see on his or her desk and then a description of the icon.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Rutgers Writing Program: Keyboard shortcuts
Description: Listing of various keyboard shortcuts.

• Universal Shortcuts
• Microsoft Word
• Corel WordPerfect
• Internet Explorer
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Netscape Navigator
• Macromedia Dreamweaver
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Netscape Composer
• Outside Resources

Internet4Classrooms: Microsoft Word keyboard shortcuts
Description: Listing of Microsoft Word shortcuts, menu explanations and keyboard shortcuts, including the File Menu, Edit Menu, View Menu, Insert Menu, Format Menu, Tools Menu, Window Menu, Help Menu and both common and less common keyboard shortcuts.

Internet4Classrooms: Getting the most out of your Windows keyboard
Description: Detailed listing of keyboard shortcuts, included is a hotspot-enabled picture of a keyboard that is linked to specific shortcuts.

Understanding a URL

Internet4Classrooms: Understanding URLs
Description: Includes URL definition, parts of a URL, using a URL and the most common error related to URLs.

Hypertext links

Find the Hypertext link:
Description: Interactive site that teaches how to recognize hypertext links on a Web document.