Computers for beginners
Before you can design a web site you need to know how to use a computer. Here I will only be talking about PCs, not Macs. I have collected some great links about how to use email, office documents and the internet. I thought it was silly to reinvent the wheel, so you will see those links below. Firstly though, you need to know how to make your computer secure from spam, viruses, trojans and worms.
Maintaining your computer
You need to know how to clean up your computer, in order to free up space and to keep it running smoothly.
Networking your computer
You might like to network your computers at home. This means you can use the one internet connection. And stop the arguments as to who uses the internet. You need a few bits of hardware and software though.
How to back up your computer files
Use ID Backup Manager or see the other cumbersome ways you can back up.
Copying and pasting
Although this might seem basic, one day at a new job, I found I couldn't use any of my copying and pasting techniques. I was so embarrassed to learn the new way. It looked like I was a luddite. So everyone can still learn.
Keyboard shortcuts
Young kids know how to use keyboard shortcuts, but if you learned the computer by yourself, you probably won't know them very well. They really do save time. There is a PDF document you can download too.
Free virus checker
New technologies
I recently upgraded to a 3rd generation mobile. I had to learn how to download music and podcasts. There's some information about RSS feeds and a podcast generator too. Read about podcasting, mobiles, MP3 players
Portable applications
Download some great applications to your laptop or iPodMaking ebooks
My first ebook was a short little html document made with an ebook creator. These days most people would make it with Acrobat Writer, but that is very expensive.
Making autorun cds
I made a fairly basic cd rom which started up automatically. They can be useful for home made cds.
How to make a slideshow screensaver for your computer
I
got a computer way back when. I was linked to the internet, before the
school I taught in had it. So I learned about computers first and then
as I was a teacher librarian I learned a computer system which we used
to computerize the stock. We had to teach students and teachers how to
use it. How to search. At home I was learning to use HTML and images on
the site I had back then. When the school was ready to create a site for
itself I was all for it and wanted to do it. However, the job was given
to the computer techie of course. After I left that school and at another
I had much more access to the internet and collected many sites suitable
for students and teachers to assist with their learning. Then, after retirement
I started learning web design and as I did, being a teacher, I developed
some tutorials, which you will find on this site. I also take photos.
