Interactive Modules - Developing your IT skills
Module 1. Basic skills
These resources are on the BBC's Raw skills pages:
This unit addresses the basics of using a computer on the internet: How to use a mouse – Getting to know your computer (basics, mouse, keyboard, icons, windows, music, photos, printing) – Introducing the internet (basics, browsing, searching, registering on a website, e-mail, shopping).
These resources are on the ALISON site (an online university - you'll have to register but it's free):
Basic concepts of IT - Teaches how computing can be an everyday feature of life and work. In this unit, we introduce computer hardware and software for the first time and also teach the key concepts of the IT world.
Module 2. Using broadband internet
These resources are found on the BBC Webwise Guides site:
Guides to getting online (what can broadband do, choosing a provider, getting WiFi, staying safe online), online sharing (sharing photos, podcasts, social networks) and watching TV online (media players, programme guides, downloading, streaming).
Whereas these are on the Open University's OpenLearn site:
Finding information on the internet - The internet provides a world of information, but how do you find what you are looking for? This unit will help you discover the meaning of information quality and teach you how to evaluate the material you come across. Device to device communication - Are you a technophobe? Bluetooth, Ethernet WiFi – are they terms that mean nothing to you? This unit will gently guide you to an understanding of how devices 'talk' to each other and what technologies and processes are involved.
Living with the internet – keeping it safe - Computer crashes are often the result of viruses, worms or Trojans as unfortunately some internet users want to cause havoc or vandalise your computer. This unit provides a guide to the downsides of living with the Net. Living with the internet – online shopping - Online shopping – think of it as a shopping centre in cyberspace, with online auctions as the car-boot sale in the car park. This unit will help you understand how to use online shopping sites as well as ensuring that you are using the best sites.
Module 3. Using software and applications
These resources are on the ALISON site (an online university - you'll have to register but it's free):
Practical elements of computing - Covers three of the most practical elements of computing which are: Touch Typing, How to use Webmail (Googlemail), desktop ergonomics. Introduction to Microsoft Office 2003 - Introduces the learner to the Microsoft Office 2003 application suite, one of the most commonly-used and most popular office-software packages worldwide. This suite includes MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.
Note: if you have now Office 2007 and are used to Office 2003, click here to see how the commands map from one to the other.
The following resources are found on the Webmonkey site:
Get started building web pages - HTML, CSS, XML — taken together, they make up the lingua franca of the net. They're simple, universal, languages that allow web publishers to create pages of text and images that anyone on the web can view. If you want to build web pages, you should start here.
