Instructor Guide Computer Basics Windows
Instructor Guide Computer Basics Windows
Workshop Description
This in-person or virtual workshop is for those who are new to using a PC or want to build more
confidence using the Windows 10 operating system. Learners will learn how to navigate the Windows
10 operating system, manage applications using the task manager, find and manage files and folders,
save and delete files, and more.
Curriculum Track
Basics
Audience
Adults from newly connected households and/or who are looking to build basic skills and confidence
using technology
Workshop Length
60–90 minutes
Training Method
*If possible, have two to three volunteers on hand to assist learners when computer devices are
available.
Purpose
In this workshop you will help newly connected users to build more confidence using the Windows 10
operating system.
Equipment Requirements
In person: Projector and projection screen; internet-connected computers for instructor and
participants; laser pointer (recommended)
Classroom-only settings (with no participant computers): Instructor will project a live demonstration and
engage participants by talking through the activities and performing interactive tasks in a group
discussion format
Virtual: A web conferencing platform; computers for instructor and participants with internet
connections
Software Requirements
Material Requirements
Computer Setup: The workshop uses multiple files to demonstrate how to use a computer. If
possible, work with the computer lab administrators to have the files installed before the class or
install them yourself before the course begins.
o Download the following files to the desktop and drag and drop the files to the
appropriate location on the instructor station.
End of Year Party.docx should be in Celine’s folder.
School Party Budget.xlxs should be moved to the Desktop.
Library.jpg should be in Celine’s Folder.
School.jpg should be in Celine’s Folder.
To Do List End of Year Party.docx should be in Celine’s Folder.
o Repeat these steps on the classroom computers. If documents are not allowed to be
downloaded on the learner computers, please defer to learners without computers on all
activities to have learners follow along and answer collectively as a group. Learners can
still use the Activity Sheet to write down the answers.
Learner Handout
o For in-person workshop: Print handouts for each learner and provide them before the
workshop begins.
o For virtual workshop: Provide link to the Learner Handout, either before the workshop
as part of their registration confirmation or include in the online platform’s chat feature.
Learner Activity Sheet
o For in-person workshop: Print handouts for each learner and provide to the learners
before the workshop begins.
o For virtual workshop: During the workshop, ask the questions listed in the Activity
Sheet. You may want to insert slides into the PowerPoint presentation that include the
questions. Then you can ask learners to share their answers by chat or use the internal
polling tool if available within the web conferencing tool.
Certificate of Completion: For the in-person workshop, print a certificate to hand out to each
learner once the workshop is completed. For virtual learners, send them an electronic copy by
email.
Learner Name Tags: If you want to easily identify learners, make sure to bring name tag stickers
or table tents.
Learning Objectives
In person:
o Make sure all computers are turned on and ready for learners to use. (See the previous
note about classroom settings, in the “Computer Setup” section.)
o Place learner materials at each computer. Learner materials include the Learner Activity
Sheet and Learner Handout. They may also include paper (for learners to take notes) and
pens or pencils.
o If using name tags, make sure they are easily accessible to learners and that you provide
a marker or pen for learners to write their name.
o Keep a registration list so you can identify who attended.
o Review the computer before the course.
o If the files were not installed on the computers before you arrived, download the
following files to the desktop and drag and drop the files to the appropriate location on
the instructor station.
End of Year Party.docx should be in Celine’s folder.
School Party Budget.xlxs should be moved to the Desktop.
Library.jpg should be in Celine’s Folder.
School.jpg should be in Celine’s Folder.
To Do List End of Year Party.docx should be in Celine’s Folder.
o If time permits, repeat these steps on the classroom computers. If documents are not
allowed to be downloaded on the learner computers, please defer to learners without
computers on all Activities to have learners follow along and answer collectively as a
group. Learners can still use the Activity Sheet to write down the answers.
o Identify a “parking lot,” which is a place to track questions to be answered later in the
workshop. Some suggested places for a parking lot are a whiteboard, flip chart, or
notepad. Encourage learners to note the slide number and section as they “park”
questions.
Virtual:
o Send instructions to participants about how to connect to the workshop. If possible, you
may want to create a short video or document with step-by-step instructions (with
images) to provide a basic overview of how to use the web conferencing tool to share
with your participants.
o If the files are not installed on the computers before you the workshop, download the
following files to the desktop and drag and drop the files to the appropriate location on
the instructor station.
End of Year Party.docx should be in Celine’s folder.
School Party Budget.xlxs should be moved to the Desktop.
Library.jpg should be in Celine’s Folder.
School.jpg should be in Celine’s Folder.
To Do List End of Year Party.docx should be in Celine’s Folder.
o Send a link before the workshop to the learner materials. These include the Learner
Activity Sheet and Learner Handout. During the workshop, resend the link through the
web conferencing chat tool.
Instruction Methods
Assessment Technique(s)
Instructor Presentation
Slide 1: Computer Basics—Windows 10 Workshop.
Instructor name
Instructor affiliation (for example, AT&T employee, library staff, community volunteer, and so on)
Location name
Organizational logo
Before the workshop, please review the Instructor Outline. It provides guidance on what to do to prepare
for the workshop, how to conduct the workshop, and what you should do once the workshop ends.
My name is <your name here> and I am <brief description of yourself>. Before we get started, here
are a few housekeeping items: [Mention the items that are relevant to your workshop.]
Workshop Introduction
Slide 2: Workshop Content Outline—Agenda (3 mins.)
Introduction
o Learn about operating systems
Skill Building
o Find and navigate the desktop
o Find and organize files and folders
o Manage the windows of an application
o Save and close files
o Delete files
Tips for Using a PC
Practice
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Ask learners the question on the slide. Lead learners in a brief discussion about what
people can do with a computer. Allow a moment for the learners to think about it, and then proceed with
the conversation. Examples include: create online accounts, email family and friends, shop online, apply
for jobs, communicate with children’s teachers, and so on. The conversation should last two or three
minutes at most.
Just as your brain works to manage your body to make sure you are breathing and your heart is
pumping, the operating system manages the functions of the computer to make sure everything is
working together.
In today’s class we are going to learn and use the Windows 10 operating system.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: For the “Working from the Desktop” section (slides 6 through 21), use PowerPoint or
a live demonstration.
This is the Windows 10 desktop. Let’s explore different sections of the computer’s desktop, including
the task bar, start menu, and more.
If you’re using a Windows computer that has a different version of the operating system running, the
desktop may look different.
The Windows 10 desktop is just like the top of your desk at home or at work, where you keep different
folders with papers in them. The desktop also has other tools you need to get things done, such as a
calculator, a pen, or a reference work.
Just as you have folders and tools on your physical desk, you also have those tools and folders on the
computer, which you can access through the desktop.
Slide 8: Taskbar.
The taskbar is at the bottom of the screen. It can also show shortcut icons for commonly used
applications, much like the icons on the desktop.
The taskbar also shows an icon for any task or program that is currently open. You can use these
buttons on the taskbar to switch between the different windows you have open.
Information like the date, time, and volume control are also on the right edge of the taskbar.
Applications are tools that allow you to do things on a computer. In today’s example we will use the
icon for Microsoft Word, which allows you to open a document. We’ll also take a quick look at the Edge
browser, which allows you to search the web, and a calculator, which allows you to do math.
If you can’t find what you are looking for on your computer—such as a specific file, specific computer
setting, or an application—you can use the search box located in the taskbar. The search box will also
search for things on the web. The search box is at the bottom left-hand side of the screen.
To search for a file, type a word or phrase in the search box. In this example we are searching for a “to
do list.”
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Please use “To Do List” document that you downloaded from the lesson materials
before the workshop began.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: If you’re doing a live demonstration, close or minimize the file before moving to the
next task.
Back on the desktop, we can see that the taskbar also includes the Windows icon. While the taskbar has
the most commonly used applications on it, it may not have all of applications available on this
particular computer.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Demonstrate taskbar features and invite learners to follow along if computers are
available.
When you click on the Windows icon, it will launch the Start menu. The Start menu allows you to see all
of the computer’s applications.
The Start menu is another way you can open applications available on the computer, such as Microsoft
Word.
The power button opens a menu where you can choose to restart the computer, shut it down, or put it
into sleep mode.
When you click on the name of the account, which in this example is Celine, in the Start menu, the
account menu appears. From this menu you can sign out of your account, lock your account, or change
settings that are unique to your account on the computer.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Use the PowerPoint slide for this part of the presentation, even if you are doing a live
demonstration.
There’s more than one way to open an application on the computer. You can double-click on the
Desktop icon, click on the Taskbar icon, select it from the Start menu, and search for it using the Search
box.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Before moving to Activity 1, review “parking lot” questions. If there are no questions
in the parking lot, ask the learners if they have any questions before you move to Activity 1.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Point attendees to Activity 1 on Activity Sheet page 1. Review the topics in this
section. Go to the desktop. Ask the learners to call out the answers to the questions on the next slide. If the
learners have computers, encourage them to follow along on their computers. Encourage them to call out
answers, and then confirm the correct answer to have them update their Activity Sheet.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Use the slide to debrief the activity or as a guide for yourself if you are doing a
demonstration. For each question, demonstrate the answer.
1. Name three ways in which you can open an application like Microsoft Word of the Edge browser.
2. If you want to search for a file on your computer, where would you enter your search term?
Answer: Menu
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Only the Instructor should demonstrate the answer. Do so without clicking on Shut
Down.
After learners complete Activity 1: “Great job, everyone! In the next section, you’ll learn how to use
files and folders.”
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: For the “Files and Folders” section (slides 24 through 51), use PowerPoint or a live
demonstration.
Applications are software or tools that allow you to do things on the computer with the file. Some
applications allow you to work on text documents. Others allow you to edit pictures, watch videos,
listen to music, or access the internet.
As we learned, there is more than one way to open a file. You can double-click on the Desktop icon or
in the taskbar Start menu. You can also search for the file using the search box, click on the taskbar
icon, or select it from the Start menu.
Any time you open a file, it will open inside a related software application.
A folder provides a method for storing and organizing files, just like the folders you’d find on a physical
desk.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Please use the “Celine’s Documents” folder, which you downloaded before the class,
as an example.
When you double-click a folder, it will open the folder and show the files inside.
Let’s open Celine’s folder by double clicking it and select file End of Year Party.docx. To open the file,
you double click End of Year Party.docx.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Please use the “Celine’s Documents” folder and End of Year Party.docx file for
examples. You should have downloaded these before class began. If you’re doing a live demonstration,
close the folder before moving to the next task.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: If you’re doing a live demonstration, minimize the file before moving to the next
task. You will use this document again later in the presentation.
Let’s review opening a file on the desktop. How would you open the file “School Party budget”?
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Ask the learners to call out the answers to this question.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Demonstrate how to open the file by double-clicking the file named School Party
budget that you downloaded before the class began.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Do not close the file before moving to the next task.
Every time you open and use applications, files, and folders, you see them inside a window. The window
is your working area.
Sometimes, the window may be too big or too small. To change the size of the window, use your
mouse or touchpad to place the cursor on the edge of the window.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Use the file School Party Budget to demonstrate how to change the size of the
window.
When you do this, the cursor will change into a double-headed arrow.
You can then click and hold the left mouse button to “grab” the edges of the window. Then drag the
mouse to the left to change the size of the window.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Again, use the file School Party Budget to demonstrate how to change the size of the
window.
Release the mouse button when the window is the desired size.
The right-hand corner of the title bar includes buttons that help manage the window.
The Maximize button looks like a square. When you click on it, the window will expand.
The Restore button makes the window smaller again. The Restore button looks like a double rectangle.
When you maximized this window, the Restore button replaced the Maximize button.
Here is an example of what it looks like when the window is restored to the previous size.
You can scroll inside the window to display more of the file contents by using the scroll bar. To do this,
you move the cursor to the scroll bar, left-click the mouse, and hold the button, which “grabs” the scroll
bar. You then drag the mouse down to scroll down in the document.
When you need to see other files or folders on the desktop, you can use the Minimize button to move
this window out of the way. This button looks like a dash, and it will collapse the window into the
taskbar at the bottom of the screen.
The file is minimized and appears on the taskbar as an icon. You can get back to it at any time by
clicking on this icon.
Let’s review. How would you restore the file “School Party budget”?
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Demonstrate how to restore the file by clicking on its icon in the task bar.
It’s common to have many windows open at the same time. People find it easy to switch between tasks
or work between multiple files.
If you have more than one window open, moving them around or resizing them may be helpful. Let’s
restore the “End of Year Party” document by clicking on the Word file in the task bar.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Please use the “End of Year Party” file you minimized in the previous lesson.
There are now two windows open: “School Party Budget” and “End of Party”. To move a specific
window, you can pick it up by moving the cursor to the title bar.
Click and hold the mouse button to move the window around.
The task view is another way to manage having more than one window open.
Clicking the task view button in the task bar displays all the windows that are currently open. From the
task view, you can close or select an application.
Or you can click on the task view buttons again, like a toggle switch.
Instructor Note: Do not close the “School Party Budget” and “End of Party” before moving to the next
section.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Before moving to Activity 2, review “parking lot” questions. If there are no questions
in the parking lot, ask the learners if they have any questions before you move to Activity 2.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Point attendees to Activity 2 on Activity Sheet pages 1 and 2. Review the topics in
this section. Go to the desktop. Ask the learners to call out the answers to the questions on the next slide.
If the learners have computers, encourage them to follow along on their computers. Encourage them to
call out answers, and then confirm the correct answer to have them update their Activity Sheet.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Use slide to debrief the activity or as a guide for yourself if you are doing a
demonstration. For each item, demonstrate the answer.
2. Make the browser window wider. Move the browser window to the right side of the screen.
3. What button do you click on to expand or maximize the window to fill the desktop?
Answer: Click on the square at the top right-hand side of the window.
Answer: Click on the double square at the top right-hand side of the window.
Answer: You will need to search to see if the calculator is available on this computer.
7. In the web browser address bar, go to https://www.digitallearn.org/. Scroll to the bottom of the
webpage.
8. Name one of the links under the Learn More section at the bottom of the page.
Answer:
About DigitalLearn.org
After learners complete Activity 2: “Great job, everyone! In the next section, you’ll learn how to use
save and close.”
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: For the “Saving and Closing Files” section (slides 54 through 69), use PowerPoint or a
live demonstration.
Occasionally, while you are working on a file, or before you close it, you will want to save your work.
We are finished working in this Excel document, and we need to save our work before closing the file.
This file has been saved before, and we want to keep the same file name and location of the file.
To save the file, click the Save option which is in the toolbar.
Some applications, including Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word, save the file as you go. You can see
that this file was saved.
The toolbar will show you the saved status of the document.
What if this is the first time you are saving the file? In that case, click File.
A “Save As” window opens. This allows you to select where your computer to save the file.
You can also use the navigation pane on the left to choose a different location for your file. Be sure to
choose a location you can remember easily, such as on the desktop or in a clearly labeled folder. We
need to enter a file name before clicking the Save button.
If you want to save the file to a different location on your computer, click on Save a Copy.
A “Save a Copy” window opens. This allows you to select where the saved file will be located on the
computer. We want to save the file to the Documents folder, so we will click on This PC.
The Save As folder opens. Because we want to save the file to the Documents folder, we click on the
Documents icon on the left-hand menu.
Because we do not want to change the file name, we can click Save.
If you use a public computer, there may be restrictions on where you can save files. Using a USB or flash
drive is a common way to save your files when using a public computer.
Now that we have saved the file, we can close it. To do this, click the X in the title bar. Excel will
automatically save the file before it closes.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Before moving to Activity 3, review “parking lot” questions. If there are no questions
in the parking lot, ask the learners if they have any questions before you move to Activity 3.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Point attendees to Activity 3 on Activity Sheet page 2. Review the topics in this
section. Go to the desktop. Ask the learners to call out the answers to the questions on the next slide. If the
learners have computers, encourage them to follow along on their computers. Encourage them to call out
answers, and then confirm the correct answer to have them update their Activity Sheet.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Use the slide to debrief the activity or as a guide for yourself if you are doing a
demonstration. For each item, demonstrate the answer.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: For the “Deleting Files” section (slides 72 through 87), use PowerPoint or a live
demonstration.
To delete files, you will use the Recycle Bin, which is located on the desktop.
There are files in Celine’s folder that we want to delete. How do we open the folder?
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Ask the learners to call out the answer. Then demonstrate the step.
Celine’s folder is now open. To delete a file, move your cursor to the file you want to delete. In this
example, we’re deleting the “To Do List End of the Year Party” document. Click and hold down the left
mouse button to select the file. Then drag it to the Recycle Bin on the desktop.
You can also delete a file by clicking once to select it. In this example, we’re deleting the library picture.
Tap the Delete key on your keyboard. The Delete button may be in a different location depending on
your keyboard.
Now that the Library and To Do List files have been deleted, they no longer display in Celine’s folder.
The files are inside the Recycle Bin. The Recycle Bin is a temporary holding place for the files that have
been deleted.
Just like a recycle bin in your home, the contents stay in the bin until you empty it and take it out.
If you move a file to the Recycle Bin and later realize you want to keep the file, you can still get the file
back—as long as nobody has emptied the Recycle Bin. To open the Recycle Bin, double-click the icon.
The Recycle Bin folder will open and a list of the files in the folder will appear.
To keep a file after placing it in the Recycle Bin, left-click on the file and hold the mouse button down
while dragging the file to the desktop or other location where you want to keep it.
Let’s place the To Do List back in the Recycle Bin. When you are certain that you are done with
everything in the Recycle Bin, you can empty it to permanently delete those files.
One way to empty the Recycle Bin is to move your cursor over the Recycle Bin icon and then right-click
on your mouse.
In the menu that appears, you would click on “Empty Recycle Bin.”
You can also empty the Recycle Bin from the Recycle Bin folder. To do this, click on the Empty Recycle
Bin icon.
You will be asked to confirm that you want to delete the file. If you do want to delete the files, click Yes.
Remember that once you click Yes, you will not be able to retrieve the files!
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Before moving to Activity 4, review “parking lot” questions. If there are no questions
in the parking lot, ask the learners if they have any questions before you move to Activity 4.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Point attendees to Activity 4 on Activity Sheet page 2. Review the topics in this
section. Go to the desktop. Ask the learners to call out the answers to the questions on the next slide. If the
learners have computers, encourage them to follow along on their computers. Encourage them to call out
answers, and then confirm the correct answer to have them update their Activity Sheet.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Use the slide to debrief the activity or as a guide for yourself if you’re doing a
demonstration. For each item, demonstrate the answer.
1. Move the file named Hello.docx on the Desktop to the Recycle Bin.
2. Empty the Recycle Bin using one of the two methods we learned today.
Answer: Right-click on the Recycle Bin or open the Recycle Bin and click on Empty Recycle Bin.
After learners complete Activity 4: “Great job, everyone! In the next section you’ll learn tips for using
a PC.”
• The desktop and taskbar are useful tools to access common applications and documents.
• Task View allows you to see all the open windows at one time.
• Folders helps you organize files.
• The search box allows you to quickly locate folders and documents.
• You can restore documents from the Recycle Bin, but only if nobody has emptied it.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Before moving to Activity 5, review “parking lot” questions. If there are no questions
in the parking lot, ask the learners if they have any questions before you move to Activity 5.
• Launch the Practice section online by clicking on the link “Open Using a PC Practice
Module” on the slide
OR ask learners if they would prefer a demo to walk through these instructions, which are
also listed on the Learner Activity Sheet (pages 3).
• In the address bar of the web browser, enter www.digitallearn.org. > Click on “Using a PC
(Windows 10)” > Click on “Practice Lesson”
• Use the next four slides to review what students have learned in this section.
Learners should follow along as you go through each question. Engage them by asking them to call out
answers. Then confirm the correct answer.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: For the rest of this section (slides 92 through 96), use PowerPoint or a live
demonstration.
If you want to open an application on the desktop, what do you need to do?
If you want to minimize the window currently open on your screen, what icon would you click?
Answer: It’s the icon that looks like a line at the top-right side of the window.
If you want to close the window, what icon would you click?
Answer: It’s the icon that looks like an X at the top-right side of the window.
Answer: You can click the File menu or click the Save icon.
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Point out the File menu and the Save icon.
If you accidentally deleted a file, where can you find and retrieve it?
INSTRUCTOR NOTE: Point the learners to additional courses that are available. Draw learners’ attention
to the website address in the slide.