Resources for Teaching Computer Skills

Welcome to the Computer Skills Center. This page contains a collection of helpful Internet sites and lesson plans that can be used by people who teach (or learn) computer skills at the secondary school or college level. Many teenagers and adults enter high school and college today without essential computer skills, including an understanding of computer terminology, basic keyboarding and mouse skills, word processing and spreadsheet skills, and the ability to use the Internet. Since numerous pages exist on the World Wide Web designed to help people improve these necessary skills, the Computer Skills Center is designed to provide a useful starting point for accessing some of these sites.

The Web page references included on this page are grouped into nine major topics, including a group of lesson plans. Click on the topic of interest below to view the available places to visit.

General Hardware/Software Concepts
Keyboarding and Essential Windows Skills
Internet: E-Mail and the World Wide Web
Word Processing and Spreadsheets
Computer Values and Ethics
Associations and Companies
Journals/Magazines/News
Quotes and Humor
Lesson plans that use Internet activities

General Hardware/Software Concepts

The History of Computing: An extensive collection of facts, photos, and links related to the history of computers
Pioneers: Biographies and photos of the major pioneers in the computing industry
BABEL: An extensive glossary of computer-oriented abbreviations and acronyms; updated three times a year
Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing: A searchable online resource for definitions and descriptions of anything related to computing
CNN Science and Technology News: Current happenings in the world of computers and technology
Dave's Guide to Buying a Home Computer: A thorough guide to buying a home computer, including the examining of hardware and software requirements

Return to Menu.

Keyboarding and Essential Windows Skills

Keyboarding Glossary: Glossary of keyboarding terms, keys, and techniques
Windows 95 Visual Tour: Hyperlinked visual tour of the Windows 95 features
Microsoft Windows 95: The official Microsoft Windows site
Cutter's Windows 95 Crossroads: Collection of many Windows 95 links, including Usenet groups and the Easter Egg

Return to Menu.

Internet: E-Mail and the World Wide Web

Search the World Wide Web: Provides easy access to the major search engines available for searching the world wide web and newsgroups
How to Use WWW viw Telnet or E-Mail: A useful guide to accessing the world wide web in situations where you don't have a web client available
Stroud's Consummate Winsock Applications: Extensive list and reviews of Internet applications, including world wide web browsers and e-mail clients
How to Publish on the Web: An audience-specific primer (with lots of links) for preparing documents to be used on the world wide web
AntiVirus Resources: AntiVirus software, current lists, step-by-step instructions for handling virus attacks, and links to related sites

Return to Menu.

Word Processing and Spreadsheets

Corel WordPerfect Family of Products: Corel main page for WordPerfect and Quattro Pro, as well as several others in the WordPerfect family
Lotus Family of Products: Lotus main page for Lotus AmiPro and Lotus 1-2-3
Microsoft Family of Products: Microsoft main page for Word and Excel, and Microsoft Works
Claris Family of Products, now called FileMaker, Inc.: Claris main page for Claris products, including Claris Works

Return to Menu.

Computer Values and Ethics

The Net: User Guidelines and Netiquette: A comprehensive guide to responsibly using the various services on the Internet

Return to Menu.

Associations and Companies

Association for Computing Machinery: An international scientific and educational organization dedicated to advancing the art, science, engineering, and application of information technology
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers: The world's largest technical professional society -- promoting the development and application of electrotechnology and allied sciences
Microsoft Library - Computer Company Information: A collection of links to many computer-related companies, as well as searching aids to find out more about them

Return to Menu.

Journals/Magazines/News

PC Computing: PC Computing magazine with hardware and software reviews, tips, and files
Computer Shopper: Computer Shopper magazine for up-to-date prices and industry facts
PC Magazine: PC Magazine on the web, with industry news, reviews, and files
PC World: PC World magazine with news, hardware and software reviews, and tips
Win95 Magazine: For Windows 95 users
CNN Science and Technology News: Current news articles, including news about the computer industry

Return to Menu.

Quotes and Humor

Computer-Related Quotes: Great collection of computer-related quotes
Computer Humor: Yahoo's collection of computer humor sites

Return to Menu.

Lesson plans that use Internet activities

Internet Scavenger Hunt: Students improve their Internet searching skills to find computer-related pictures and text to copy and paste into a word processing document
State Lottery Numbers: Students find state lottery results on the Internet and create a spreadsheet and graph showing the frequency of winning numbers
A Computer Model for a Recycling Center: Students develop a working model computer program of a recycling center which can be used to make decisions about a school recycling program

Send your lesson plan ideas or other comments to: Ginger Dennis
Last updated: August 6, 1996