Everyday Computer Skills

See, Think, Wonder

Look closely at an image, object, or text. Answer three prompts: What do you see? What do you think about that? What does it make you wonder?

Teacher notes: Ensure all student accounts are pre-configured before this lesson.

• Foundation: Turn a device on/off.
• Developing: Target icons with a mouse.
• Secure: Log on to school network.
• Mastering: Use a mouse to target/select. Typing: 5 WPM.

Interactive Walkthrough

Your device is your main tool for learning. Knowing how to securely log on to the school network, open your apps from the taskbar, and accurately use your mouse will make every other task much easier.

Practice logging in and opening apps.

Turn on your device, log into the school network, and open two different apps from your taskbar using your mouse.

Self-Assessment Slider

How confident do you feel about logging in and opening apps on your own?

Curriculum strand: CM.01.B.1.2

Outcome code: CORE-O-01

Outcome summary: Basic device operation and access.

Central idea: Technology helps us connect and learn.

Key concept: Function

Learner profile: Inquirer

• digital-literacy
• mouse-skills
• logins

Primary file: core-s1-login-guide.webp

Plenary file: core-s1-plenary-slider.json

Alt text: A student successfully logging into the school network.

Folder: /assets/core/s01/

Zoom In

Reveal an image or text in small, progressive fragments. After each part, say what you see and what will it be?

Teacher notes: Model saving to the correct folder on the projector.

• Foundation: Open apps from taskbar.
• Developing: Change font size/colour.
• Secure: Save/open files to a folder.
• Mastering: Identify USB/Power cables. Typing: 10 WPM.

Before/After Visuals

Knowing exactly where you saved your work is crucial. We will practice saving files to a specific folder so they never get lost. We will also explore how to change font sizes and colors to make your text clear and easy to read.

Format text and save to folder.

Create a new document, type a short sentence, change the font color, and save the file into your main folder.

Self-Assessment Slider

Were you able to easily find the file you saved in your folder?

Curriculum strand: CM.01.B.1.2

Outcome code: CORE-O-02

Outcome summary: File saving and text formatting.

Central idea: Organization improves how we work and share.

Key concept: Form

Learner profile: Communicator

• file-management
• word-processing
• formatting

Primary file: core-s2-files-fonts.webp

Plenary file: core-s2-plenary-slider.json

Alt text: Comparison of unformatted text and beautifully formatted text.

Folder: /assets/core/s02/

Think, Puzzle, Explore

Activate prior knowledge and curiosity when introducing a new topic. Ask: What do you think you know about this topic? What questions or puzzles do you have? What does this make you want to explore?

Teacher notes: Demonstrate split screen using Windows/Mac shortcuts.

• Foundation: Use left/right click.
• Developing: Navigate browser tabs.
• Secure: Organise split-screen view.
• Mastering: Save with meaningful names. Typing: 15 WPM.

Interactive Walkthrough

When you are researching or working on big projects, you will often need more than one window open. Using a split screen and navigating safely between tabs helps you see all your information at the exact same time.

Set up a split-screen workspace.

Open two separate browser tabs. Then, arrange your screen so you can see both windows side-by-side using the split-screen feature.

Self-Assessment Slider

How did using the split-screen feature make viewing your information easier today?

Curriculum strand: CM.02.B.1.1

Outcome code: CORE-O-03

Outcome summary: Browser navigation and split screen usage.

Central idea: Effective tools help us gather information efficiently.

Key concept: Connection

Learner profile: Thinker

• browser-skills
• split-screen
• multitasking

Primary file: core-s3-split-screen.webp

Plenary file: core-s3-plenary-slider.json

Alt text: A computer monitor showing two browser windows side by side.

Folder: /assets/core/s03/

See, Think, Wonder

Look closely at an image, object, or text. Answer three prompts: What do you see? What do you think about that? What does it make you wonder?

Teacher notes: Discuss why mixing personal and school profiles is risky.

• Foundation: Manage Chrome profiles.
• Developing: Use Shift/Delete keys.
• Secure: Copy/paste between docs.
• Mastering: Troubleshoot frozen apps. Typing: 20 WPM.

Interactive Diagram

Sharing a device or having multiple accounts can get confusing. Managing your Chrome profile ensures your bookmarks, passwords, and history stay perfectly separated and secure.

Verify and switch Chrome profiles.

Check your current Chrome profile. Make sure you are logged into your school account, and practice safely switching to another profile.

Self-Assessment Slider

Do you understand why keeping your school Chrome profile completely separate is important?

Curriculum strand: CM.02.B.1.1

Outcome code: CORE-O-04

Outcome summary: Profile management and troubleshooting.

Central idea: Digital systems require management and care.

Key concept: Responsibility

Learner profile: Principled

• digital-citizenship
• chrome-profiles
• troubleshooting

Primary file: core-s4-chrome-profiles.webp

Plenary file: core-s4-plenary-slider.json

Alt text: Animation showing switching between school and personal Chrome profiles.

Folder: /assets/core/s04/

I used to think...

I used to think... Now I think...

Teacher notes: Encourage students to put the mouse away for this exercise.

• Foundation: Use Ctrl+C/V/Z fluently.
• Developing: Mute/unmute audio inputs.
• Secure: Search system for apps.
• Mastering: Use advanced search filters. Typing: 25 WPM.

Interactive Walkthrough

Keyboard shortcuts are secret time-savers! Using shortcuts like Ctrl+C to copy, Ctrl+V to paste, and Ctrl+Z to undo will speed up your writing and editing so you can focus on your ideas, not your typing.

Use copy, paste, and undo shortcuts.

Type a short paragraph. Use Ctrl+C to copy a specific sentence, Ctrl+V to paste it at the bottom, and Ctrl+Z to quickly undo it.

Self-Assessment Slider

Which keyboard shortcut did you find the most useful for saving time today?

Curriculum strand: CM.03.B.1.1

Outcome code: CORE-O-05

Outcome summary: Keyboard shortcuts for efficiency.

Central idea: Mastering tools increases our efficiency.

Key concept: Change

Learner profile: Knowledgeable

• keyboard-shortcuts
• productivity
• efficiency

Primary file: core-s5-keyboard-shortcuts.webp

Plenary file: core-s5-plenary-slider.json

Alt text: Diagram of a keyboard highlighting Ctrl, C, V, and Z keys.

Folder: /assets/core/s05/

Step Inside

Imagine taking on the role or perspective of a character, object, or historical figure. Describe the topic or event from this chosen viewpoint.

Teacher notes: Use the analogy of a physical filing cabinet.

• Foundation: Use Alt+Tab for tasks.
• Developing: Explain OS functions.
• Secure: Logically fix network errors.
• Mastering: Manage multi-folder projects. Typing: 30+ WPM.

Interactive Diagram

Your Operating System (OS) is the brain of your computer. Setting up a highly logical folder structure inside your OS will keep your massive multi-part projects organized, safe, and incredibly easy to find.

Create a logical multi-level folder structure.

Create a main project folder on your device, then create three sub-folders inside of it. Move one different file into each sub-folder.

Self-Assessment Slider

How will organizing your folders like this help you in your future school projects?

Curriculum strand: CM.03.B.1.1

Outcome code: CORE-O-06

Outcome summary: OS navigation and advanced folder hierarchy.

Central idea: Systems are organized logically to function properly.

Key concept: Function

Learner profile: Reflective

• operating-system
• folder-hierarchy
• organization

Primary file: core-s6-os-folders.webp

Plenary file: core-s6-plenary-slider.json

Alt text: A visual tree diagram showing folders and sub-folders.

Folder: /assets/core/s06/