Type it Up!

Created Feb. 7, 2024 by Lin Lin

Table of Contents

Part 1: Lesson Description

Abstract

Educational Use

Material Type

College & Career Readiness Standards (CCRS) Alignment

Prior Knowledge

Lesson Author & License

Instructional Strategies and Activities

Warm-Up

Introduction

Presentation / Modeling / Demonstration

Guided Practice

Evaluation

Application

Key Terms and Concepts

Part 3: Supplementary Resources & References

Supplementary Resources

References

Attribution Statements

Design Guide

Designers for Learning - Adult Learning Zone

Part 1: Lesson Description

Lesson Title

Type it Up!

Abstract

Most work is processed through computers nowadays, like submitting reports or filling out forms. Therefore, typing skill is the prerequisite to these tasks. This motivational lesson about computers will help learners realize the necessity of using computer can be of help to them personally and for school or work, and will provide a basic understanding of some basics of computer skills.

Learner Audience / Primary Users

This lesson is intended for adults who have no background in or experience using computers, are at a 6th grade reading level, and need to understand why they should learn how to use a computer and what a computer is and does. The lesson will be in a small group format.

Educational Use

Curriculum / Instruction

Language

English

Material Type

  • Instructional material
  • Videos
  • Handouts with images and illustrations
  • Webpages

Keywords

  • Designers for Learning
  • Adult Education
  • Computer
  • Basic Computer Skills
  • Basic Computer Parts
  • Typing

Time Required for Lesson

1.75 Hours

Targeted Skills

Key skills covered in this lesson include:

  • Recognize the basic parts of a computer
  • Basic computer skills
  • Identify the correct finger placement on each key of keyboard

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to:

  • Identify the basic parts of a computer by attaching the name labels to the correct parts.
  • Correctly place finger on each designated key with 80% of accuracy within 10 seconds without  looking at keyboard and circle the wrong ones on a keyboard image on a piece of paper on within another 5 seconds. (First time, including the keys of Space, Period, Comma, Semicolon)
  • Correctly type his/her own name and place finger on each designated key with 80% of accuracy without looking at keyboard.
  • Answer the questions on the assessment sheet and share the answers with the class.

Level: Adult Education

Grade Level: Grade Level D for Reading

Subject:  English Language Arts / Literacy

Domain or Strand

  • Strand: Reading
    • Reading of Informational Text (RI)
    • Reading Scientific and Technical Text (RST)
    • Standard Description
      • CCR Anchor 6:C:Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text. (RI.6.6)
      • CCR Anchor 4:C: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a topic or subject area. (RI.5.4)
      • CCR Anchor 7: B: Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur). (RI.3.7)
  • Strand: Speaking and Listening
    • Standard Description
      • CCR Anchor 2:A: Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or             information presented orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and requesting clarification if something is not understood. (SL.K.2)

Prior Knowledge

The learners must be able to read at a 6th grade level and work in a group.

Required Resources

  • Access to a computer station(s)  
  • Access to Word
  • The following materials:
    • Tape
    • Scissors
    • Current Information for topics of discussion
    • Pens

Lesson Author & License

Part 2: Lesson

Instructional Strategies and Activities

Warm-Up: Say it!

Time: 5minutes

Ask question “What do you know about computer?”

Instructor Guide

The target learners do not have knowledge about computer, but they must see it somewhere because computer is very popular nowadays. Encourage the learners to share their ideas in class. You can also ask them questions like “ Where did you see computers?”, “What does it look like?”, or “ Did your friends tell you what computer was?”. Try to make connections between questions and daily life.

Introduction: Watch it!

Time: 10 minutes

After the discussion, a video about an introduction to computer will be played. More questions will be asked afterwards.

Instructor Guide

Ask questions about the video, questions are as follows,

  • What did you learn from the videos?
  • What are the basic parts of a computer?
  • What does a monitor do?
  • What does a keyboard do?
  • What does a mouse do?

When you ask the last three questions, you can point to the parts of the computer at the teacher station.

  • The video introduces Windows desktop and Mac. Showing learners the part about Windows desktop is enough for the lesson.
  • Introduce the learning objectives and activities of the lesson.

Presentation / Modeling / Demonstration

Time: 35 minutes

This section of the lesson will simply demonstrate basic computer parts and mainly focus on an introduction of typing and some basic computer skills, including how to turn on a computer, and how to open a Word document.

Part 1: Introduction to Basic Computer Parts and Functions

a. Demonstration Guide

     Time: 10 minutes

  • Demonstrate different computer parts by using an actual computer at the teacher station. Invite learners to come to the station and learn what the parts are. The parts should include a monitor, keyboard, mouse, different cables and computer case with different hardware in it. Speakers can be mentioned if needed.
  • The instructor should also point out the on/off button and explain that a computer is most often turned on and off through the operating system (can visually show the command for turning off the system), but that sometimes it is necessary to do so manually.
  • The instructor should show how a mouse is attached to a computer and how to use a mouse. The instructor should encourage members to try to use the mouse for a brief period of time.
  • The instructor should present how to open a blank Word document by using doubleclick, what does the pointer do, and how to type words on Word.

b. Activity Guide: Ask learners to…

     Time: 5 minutes

  • Look for power button and turn on their computers.
  • Move the mouse and see how it works on screen.
  • Double click Word application and open it.
  • Randomly press the keys on the keyboard and see how it works.
  • Move the pointer after a random letter and press the keys again.

Part 2: Introduction to Typing

Time: 20 minutes

Learners will learn correct finger placement from instructor’s slides. Then they will do some typing practice with printed handouts and instructor’s instructions. Slides are provided below:

Finger Placement on Keyboard

Instructor Guide

  • Do not ask learners to turn on computers.
  • Give handouts of finger placement to learners before presenting the slides. Invite some volunteers to read the text description on the handouts.
  • Ask learners to try to put their fingers on their keyboards during the presentation.

Individual Activity/Guided Practice

The following handouts are to be downloaded and printed. There are two types of typing practice - hand based (right and left hands) and row based, which will be called as one round. Instructor will read the letters one by one and learners are allowed to type by looking at the keyboard in the first round. When the practice is repeated in the second round, learners type without looking at the keyboard and circle wrong ones on the provided handouts by checking their keyboards. Then they will correct the wrong ones and practice.

  • Do not turn on computers.
  • Ask learners’ thoughts about the first round of practice.
  • Give handouts before the second round starts.
  • Invite learners to read the activity instruction.

Download: Instruction Sheet for Instructor

Download: Individual Activity Instruction for Learners

Evaluation

Time: 25 minutes

Learners will cut and attach provided labels to the parts of a computer. Then two people work as a team and repeat the practice in the last section. The following handouts are to be downloaded and printed.

Part 1: Basic Computer Parts and Functions

Time: 5 minutes

Instructor Guide

Each learner is to complete them individually. After each person is done on an assessment of basic parts, have the instructor go over the answers. Individual members should check their own work for accuracy and make corrections if needed. Tell the class that they only have 5 minutes this part. Then instructor ask the learner to:

  • Turn on computer.
  • Move around the mouse.
  • Open Word application by doubleclick.
  • Randomly type on the keyboard.

Download: Assessment Labels for Learners

Download: Assessment Checklist for Instructor

Download: Assessment Instructions for Learner

Part 2: Team Activity

Time: 20 minutes

In the first part, there are two types of typing practice - hand based (right and left hands) and row based. Two people work as a team and take turns to do assessment - one gives instruction, the other types accordingly. The “instructor” marks down the letter(s) with wrong finger placement(s) on the keyboard handout. Second, the “instructor” will read his/her partner’s name letter by letter and the partner will type accordingly. Then they make corrections on wrong ones that the “instructor” will ask his/her teammate to type again, and check his/her accuracy.

Instructor Guide

  • Ask learners if they have questions before the assessment.
  • Make sure learners do not look at keyboards when typing.

Download:Team Keyboard Handout for Learner

Download: Team Reading Instruction for Leaner

Application

Time: 10 minutes

L earners open a blank Word document and type their names, gender, home address, driver licence if applicable, and other personal information if they want to share.

Instructor Guide

The following website provides videos and hands on, interactive tutorials that covers similar material. This website is free and open source. The instructor will need to locate the start of the online tutorial and then allow the learner to sit at a computer station to go through the tutorial. Depending on time, the instructor can supervise or allow the learners to work on their own, providing the learner is comfortable doing so. The ideas and skills shown in these tutorials will not be assessed. These are available to reinforce the ideas already demonstrated and are available for learners who are eager to push further.

There are handouts that can be used in place of the online tutorial or as a supplement to the online tutorial. The handouts on this site can be downloaded and modified if the instructor chooses to do so. If a computer station is not available, download, print, and distribute the handouts to each learner. As a group, go through the handouts together. Have members read one of the handouts (there are four) individually first, then convene the group. Invite members to volunteer  to take turns reading the material out loud. Repeat this for the remaining three handouts.

Part 3: Supplementary Resources & References

Supplementary Resources

Optional if computer stations are available:  The following websites provide videos and hands on, interactive tutorials that cover the same material. These websites are free, but cannot be altered or re-purposed. The instructor will need to locate the start of the online tutorial and then allow the learner to sit at a computer station to go through the tutorial. Depending on time, the instructor can supervise or allow the learner to work on their own, providing the learner is comfortable doing so. The ideas and skills shown in these tutorials will not be assessed. These are available to reinforce the ideas already demonstrated and are available for learners who are eager to push further.

GCLEARN FREE: Basic Parts of a Computer

DIGITALLEARN.ORG: Getting Started on a Computer

TYPINGCLUB

LEARNTYPING.ORG

References

Computer Basics: What is a Computer?  was adapted from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cXEOWAStq4&list=PL4316FC411AD077AA&index=3

Keyboard Finger Placement  was adapted from:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:QWERTY-home-keys-position.svg

The photos used as illustrations for handout materials not otherwise attributed were  taken from commons.wikimedia.org under either the Public Domain license or under the "free to modify, share, and use" filter.

Add image descriptionEdit ARIA description

This course content is offered by Designers for Learning under a CC Attribution license.

Content in this course can be considered under this license unless otherwise noted. Page

(Design Guide effective May 25, 2017)

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