Computer Basics and Word Processing

1. APPLICATION: Another word for a program or software.
2. BOLD: A font style that makes letters and words darker.	These words are bold. These words are not.
3. CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT or CPU: Where all of the information you put into the computer is stored.
4. CLICKING: Pointing to something on the screen and then pushing the button on the mouse is called clicking.
5. CURSOR: The line or arrow that you control by moving the mouse.
6. DESKTOP: The screen you see first when your computer turns on. This screen has many icons.
7. DIALOGUE BOX: A window that opens and asks you questions.
8. DISK DRIVE: The place where you put your floppy disk so that you can save files on it.
9. DISKS: One way to save your work, like recording on a video tape.
10. DOCUMENT: Anything you create in Microsoft Word is called a document.
11. FILE: A piece of computer information such as a document or part of a computer program.
12. FOLDER: Like a file folder in a filing cabinet, a file is where documents (letters, spreadsheets, etc.) are kept.
13. FONT: The way letters and words look.
14. FORMAT: Changing the way that text looks on the page.	THIS is formatted. This is not formatted.
15. HARDWARE: All the parts of the computer that you can touch: the monitor, CPU, printer, mouse, and keyboard.
16. HARD DRIVE: The place inside your computer where programs and files are stored.
17. HEADSET: Earphones and a microphone that you wear on your head.
18. HIGHLIGHT/SELECTING: Click and drag across a word or sentence to highlight it. When it is highlighted you can make changes to it.
19. ICON: Symbols or pictures that you can click on to perform an action. Each program has its own icon.
20. ITALICS: A font style that slants words to the right.
21. KEYBOARD: Like a typewriter, it’s where you type and enter numbers. It is one way to tell the computer what you want it to do.
22. LAPTOP: A portable computer that you can carry with you.
23. Mac or MACINTOSH: A computer that is made to use the Macintosh operating system. There are two basic kinds of computers: PCs and Macs.
24. MENU BAR: The words at the top of the screen. Click on these words and you see menus of other things you can do.
25. MENU: A list of other things you can do. You see a menu when you click on one of the words on the Menu Bar.
26. MICROSOFT: A software company owned by Bill Gates.
27. MICROSOFT POWERPOINT: A software program for making presentations that you can show to others.
28. MICROSOFT WINDOWS: An operating system made by the Microsoft company.
29. MICROSOFT WORD: A word-processing program for typing letters, resumes, school papers and more.
30. MINIMIZE: To move a window to the bottom of the screen without closing the window. 31. MAXIMIZE: To expand a window to the full size of the screen. 32. RESTORE: To make a window smaller so that you can change the size or position.
33. MONITOR: Your computer’s screen
34. MOUSE: The tool you can use tell the computer what to do. For example you can open programs and files by clicking or double clicking.
35. OPEN: A command on the File Menu that brings files onto the screen so that you can see them.
36. OPERATING SYSTEM: The most important program in your computer. This program is like the “manager” of all of the other programs.
37. PC = PERSONAL COMPUTER: A computer that is made to use the Windows operating system. There are two basic kinds of computers: PCs and Macs.
38. POINT: The size of text.	12 point 16 point 24 point
39. PROGRAMS: Another word for software or applications.
40. SCREEN SAVER: A design on the screen that turns on if you don’t use your computer for a few minutes.
41. SCROLL BARS: The bars on the sides of the screen that allow you to move up or down the page.
42. SOFTWARE: Another word for programs, instructions in the computer that help it do different tasks.
43. SPELL CHECK: When you’re using Microsoft Word, you can click on this button to look for spelling and grammar mistakes.
44. SPREADSHEET: Organizes information into rows and columns and often uses math and numbers.
45. TOOL BARS: The bars across the top of the screen that have icons you click on to do different things.
46. USB DRIVE: A disk that you can save information on. Also called a flash drive, jump drive, or thumb drive.
47. WORD PROCESSING: Typing documents on a computer. Word processing also allows you to format, save, and edit your writing.