Understanding Your Computer
Get comfortable with your computer - what the parts are called, how to turn it on and off properly, and finding your way around the screen.
Can You Guess?
What do you think happens if you just press the power button to turn off your computer?
What Are We Looking At?
Let’s start with the basics - no judgment here. Everyone was a beginner once.
Desktop vs Laptop
Desktop: The computer stays in one place. You have a separate screen (monitor), keyboard, and mouse.
Laptop: Everything is built into one portable device that folds open.
✨ Fun Fact Click to reveal!
The first laptop weighed 24 pounds (about 11 kg) and cost $8,150 in 1981. Your smartphone today is more powerful than the computers that sent astronauts to the moon! 🚀
The Main Parts
Click each card to learn what it does:
Turning Your Computer On
Can You Guess?
Where is the power button usually located?
When you press it:
- You might see a logo appear (like Windows or Apple)
- Wait 30 seconds to 2 minutes - this is normal!
- You’ll eventually see the “desktop” - your home screen
✨ Fun Fact Click to reveal!
The power symbol ⏻ combines a “1” (on) and “0” (off) from binary code - the language computers understand!
The Desktop
This is your computer’s “home base” - like a real desk where you keep things you use often.
What You’ll See
Desktop Elements
- Icons
- Small pictures that open programs when you double-click them
- Taskbar (Windows)
- The bar at the bottom with the Start button and running programs
- Dock (Mac)
- Similar bar, usually at the bottom, with your favorite apps
- Wallpaper
- The background image - purely decorative, you can change it!
Can You Guess?
If you want to open a program, what do you do to its icon?
Turning Your Computer Off (Properly!)
This is important - turning off your computer the right way protects your files and keeps your computer healthy.
Practice the Basics
Quick Reference: Power Options
Key Takeaways
- ✓ Double-click icons to open programs
- ✓ Always shut down properly using the Start menu (Windows) or Apple menu (Mac)
- ✓ The taskbar/dock shows what programs are currently running
- ✓ It's okay to explore - clicking things won't break your computer!
- ✓ Only use the power button to force shutdown if your computer is completely frozen
Quick poll
What brought you to this free lesson?
Lesson: Understanding Your Computer