You will find updates to this Syllabus throughout the course.

Overview
Become a confident, self-sufficient PC user! This class is designed for people who know how to use a mouse and keyboard but are new to computers or not confident in their skills. Learn what you really need to manage a computer system, reduce your dependence on others, avoid and solve problems and communicate effectively. Topics include: hardware, software, operatingsystems, Internet, E-mail, security and file management. This class or equivalent skills is a prerequisite for all other computer classes.

Text
  Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics
  by Michael Miller
  ISBN: 978-0-7897-4253-7

Note: the following schedule roughly corresponds to our class sessions. However, based on class discussion and questions, this schedule should be considered flexible.

Lesson	Class Description	Web Resources
1	What's in your Computer Computer Hardware Motherboard Microprocessors Computer Memory Hard Disk drives CD/DVD Drives Keyboards Mice and Touchpads Modems Network Connections Sound Cards and Speakers Video Cards and Monitors Desktops and Notebook PCs Printers and Scanners Computer Software Windows Operating Systems Application Program	What is a Computer? What is Computer Hardware? What is a Computer Mouse?
2	Using your Windows Operating System Windows gives you access to your data storage: hard drive, DVD/CD, camera, USB drives, etc. Windows gives you access to your programs Windows lets you organize things on your computer Windows lets you change the way things look and work on your computer Troubleshooting your Windows OS Troubleshooting in Safe Mode What to Do When Windows Freezes What Causes Windows to Freeze? Dealing with Frozen Windows Dealing with a Frozen Program Dealing with a Major Crash Undoing the Damage with System Restore
3	Working With Files, Folders and Disks Understanding Files and Folder Viewing Files and Folder Changing the Way files are Displayed Sorting Files and Folders, Grouping Files and Folders Navigating Folders Working with Libraries Searching for Files Creating New Folders Renaming Files and Folders Coping, Moving, and Deleting Files Copying Files to Another Computer Copy Files Over a Network Copying Files with a Portable Drive Copying Files via Email Backing Up Your Important Files	What is the Difference Between a File, a Folder and a Program? The Difference between Save and Save As Copying Files
4	Chapter  10—Protecting Your PC from Viruses, Spam, and other Online Nuisances                         Safeguarding your System from Computer Viruses Signs of Infection, How to Catch a virus, Practicing Safe Computing, Disinfecting Your System with Antivirus Software                         Hunting Down Spyware                         Defending Against Computer Attacks                         Fighting Email Spam Protecting Your Email Address, Blocking Spammers in Your Email Programs, Using Anti-Spam Software                         Resisting Phishing Scams                         Shielding your Children from Inappropriate Content                         Chapter 13 Letters, Memos, and More:  Working with Microsoft Word                         Exploring the Word Interface                         Working with Documents                         Working with Text                         Printing a Document                         Formatting your Document                         Working with Pictures
5	Chapter 17—Surfing the Web with Internet Explorer                         Understanding the Web                         Using Internet Explorer 8                         Basic Web Surfing                         Using Tabbed Browsing                         Advanced Operations Searching from the Browser, Saving Your Favorite Pages, Revisiting History, Printing                         Internet Security with IE8                                     Protecting Against Phishing Scams, Blocking Pop-Up Ads                         Managing Cookies                         InPrivate Browsing                                                 Chapter 18—Searching the Web                         How to search the Web                         Where to Search                         Searching for People and Businesses
6	Sending and Receiving Email                         How Email Works                         POP Email Versus Web Mail                         Using Gmail Navigating Gmail, Reading Messages, Viewing Conversations, Replying to a Message, Composing a New Message, Adding New Contacts                         Sending Files via Gmail                                     Dangers of File Attachments                                     Attaching a File in Gmail                                     Opening an Attachment in Gmail