Welcome! If you have never touched a computer before, you are in exactly the right place. In this first module we go slowly and explain everything in plain language — no jargon, no rushing. By the end you will be able to switch a computer on, move things around the screen, and keep your files tidy. Take your time, and feel free to try each step on a real computer as you read.
1What is a computer? The main parts
A computer is an electronic machine that follows your instructions to do useful work — writing letters, doing sums, watching videos, sending messages, and much more. You give it instructions, it does the work, and it shows you the result on the screen.
A typical desktop computer is made of a few separate parts. You do not need to remember technical details — just recognise each part and what it is for.
The four parts you will use most:
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| Monitor | The screen that shows you everything — like the computer's face. |
| CPU / cabinet | The box that does all the thinking and remembering. People call it the "brain" of the computer. |
| Keyboard | The board of buttons (keys) you use to type words and numbers. |
| Mouse | The small device you slide on the desk to point at and click things on the screen. |
- A computer follows your instructions and shows the result on the screen.
- Monitor = screen, CPU = the "brain" box, keyboard = for typing, mouse = for pointing.
- A laptop has all these parts built into one device.
2Using the mouse and keyboard
The mouse moves a small arrow on the screen called the pointer (or cursor). Slide the mouse on the desk and the pointer moves the same way. Most mice have two buttons and a wheel in the middle.
| Action | How | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Click | Press the left button once | Select something, press a button on screen |
| Double-click | Press the left button twice, quickly | Open a file, folder or program |
| Right-click | Press the right button once | Open a menu of extra options |
| Scroll | Roll the middle wheel up or down | Move up and down a long page |
| Drag | Hold the left button and move the mouse | Move things from one place to another |
The keyboard is for typing. A few important keys to know:
- Spacebar — the long key that adds a space between words.
- Enter — starts a new line, or confirms an action.
- Backspace — deletes the letter just before the cursor.
- Shift — hold it to type a CAPITAL letter or the symbol on top of a key.
Handy shortcuts (hold the first key, then tap the second):
- Ctrl + C = Copy · Ctrl + V = Paste · Ctrl + Z = Undo (take back your last action)
- Single-click selects; double-click opens; right-click shows extra options.
- Scroll with the middle wheel to move up and down a page.
- Shift makes capitals; Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V copy and paste; Ctrl+Z undoes a mistake.
3Turning on and off, logging in safely
Switching a computer on and off the right way keeps it healthy and your work safe.
Turning it on
Turning it off
Never switch a computer off by pulling the plug — that can lose your work. Always shut down properly:
- Press the power button once and wait for the computer to start.
- Type your password and press Enter at the login screen to keep your work private.
- Always Shut down from the Start menu — never pull the plug.
4The desktop, taskbar, icons and windows
After you log in, the first thing you see is the desktop — your computer's main workspace, like the top of a tidy desk.
- Icons — the little pictures on the desktop. Each one opens a program or file when you double-click it.
- Taskbar — the strip along the bottom of the screen. It holds the Start button, your clock, and buttons for whatever you have open.
- Start button — the Windows logo at the bottom-left. Click it to find all your programs and the shut-down option.
When you open a program it appears in a window — a rectangle you can move and resize. Every window has three buttons in its top-right corner:
- Minimise (the line
—) — hides the window down to the taskbar without closing it. - Maximise (the square
▢) — makes the window fill the whole screen. - Close (the cross
✕) — closes the program. Save your work first!
- The desktop is your main workspace; icons open programs and files.
- The taskbar (bottom strip) holds the Start button, clock and open programs.
- Every window has Minimise (hide), Maximise (full screen) and Close (✕) buttons.
5Files and folders — saving and organising
Everything you create or download is stored as a file — a document, a photo, a song. To keep files tidy you put related ones inside a folder, just like papers in a labelled cardboard folder.
Create a new folder
Save a file into a folder
When you save your work, the program asks where to keep it. Choose your folder, type a name in the File name box, and click Save.
To open a file again, find its folder and double-click the file.
- A file is one item (document, photo); a folder holds related files together.
- Right-click → New → Folder to create a folder; give it a clear name.
- When saving, choose the folder, type a clear file name, then click Save.
6USB drives, copy-paste and the Recycle Bin
A USB drive (pen drive) is a small stick that plugs into the computer to carry files between machines. Push it gently into a rectangular USB port until it fits; a new drive appears in This PC / File Explorer.
Copy a file to a USB drive
The Recycle Bin
When you delete a file it isn't gone forever — it goes to the Recycle Bin, a safety net on your desktop. If you deleted something by mistake, open the Recycle Bin, right-click the file and choose Restore. To free up space for good, empty the bin — but only when you're sure.
- A USB / pen drive carries files between computers; eject it safely before removing.
- Copy keeps a file in both places; Cut moves it. Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X, Ctrl+V are the shortcuts.
- Deleted files wait in the Recycle Bin — right-click → Restore to get them back.
7Basic maintenance — updates and shutting down properly
A little care keeps your computer fast, safe and reliable. None of this is hard.
- Shut down properly every time (Start → Power → Shut down), as you learned earlier. This protects your files.
- Let updates install. Now and then the computer asks to update. Updates fix problems and close security holes — say yes, ideally when you've finished your work, as it may restart.
- Restart when things feel slow. If the computer becomes sluggish or a program freezes, a simple Restart (Start → Power → Restart) fixes most small problems.
- Keep it cool and clean. Don't block the air vents, and wipe the screen and keyboard gently with a dry cloth.
That's it — you now know how to keep your computer in good shape. You've reached the end of Module 1. Try the practical task below, then take the short quiz to lock in what you've learned.
- Always shut down properly; let updates install (they fix security problems).
- Restart to fix most small glitches and freezes.
- Keep vents unblocked and wipe the screen/keyboard gently with a dry cloth.
★ Practical Task — Make it yours
Put this module into practice on a real computer. There's nothing to submit — the goal is to build confidence with your own hands.
- Turn the computer on and log in.
- Create a new folder on the desktop and name it "My First Folder".
- Open a program (any one), then practise Minimise, Maximise and Close on its window.
- Plug in a USB drive (if you have one) and copy a file onto it, then eject it safely.
- Delete a file you don't need, then restore it from the Recycle Bin.
- Shut the computer down properly from the Start menu.
Ready to test yourself?
Take the short module quiz. Score 60% or more to mark this module complete.
Start the quiz →💡 Log in to save your progress and earn the certificate.