Mouse And Keyboard Notes New1.pub
Athens-Clarke County Library
Page 1
Instructor: Karen Douglas
Mouse and Keyboard Skills
Why Do I Need To Learn More About the Keyboard and Mouse?
• To use any computer, you will need to know both how to use a mouse
(or trackball), the keyboard and how to type in general. We have
tutorials here in the Educational Technology Center for improving
your typing skills. In this class, we will only be focusing on the basic
skills required to use the mouse and keyboard.
• In every computer application, you need to have some way to
navigate and “tell” the computer what you want to do.
What are the Parts of a 104-key Windows Keyboard?
• There are several different types of keyboards. In this class, we
will focus on The Standard 104-key Windows Keyboard which has
typing keys, a numeric keypad, function keys, control keys and a few
special Windows keys. Some manufactures of laptops will often have cus-
tom keyboards with specialty keys.
• The Standard 104-key Windows Keyboard is divided into four distinct sections.
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3
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1. The Alphanumeric (Section 1) keys are very similar to the keys found on a typewriter. They include
the keys A-Z and 0-9, punctuation keys, and the symbol keys.
2. The Function keys (Section 2) are used to execute commands for a specific program or even an
operating system such as Windows. There are labeled F1-F12 across the top of your keyboard. located
across the top of the keyboard such as “F1” or “F10.”
3. The Cursor Movement (Section 3) keys provide specific maneuvering capabilities with the screen. The
arrow keys allow you to quickly maneuver between letters, words, sentences and paragraphs. The other
keys (Home, End, Page Up and Page Down) will allow you to make jumps across larger screens and
sections. The Home key will take you to the beginning of the line where you are typing. If you press
the Control + Home keys you will go to the beginning of your document. The End key will take you
to the last character of that current line, while if you press the Control + End keys, you will be sent to
the end of your current document. The Page Up will move you up one page. The Page Down will
move you down one page.
4. The Numeric Keypad (Section 4) is located on the right side of the keyboard and is usually used to
enter numbers and perform calculations. This is used regularly to increase speed with data entry and has
been designed to be laid out similar to most calculators and adding machines. In order to use the
numeric pad, you must press the Num Lock key first. You will notice usually a green light indicating
that the Num Lock keys are on. To turn off this option, press the Num Lock again. Now the number
pad will work similarly to the arrow keys to their left and will function as navigating tools. You will
also find the arithmetic operators here.
Athens-Clarke County Library
Page 2
Instructor: Karen Douglas
Mouse and Keyboard Skills
What are Some Other Cursor Movement Keys?
• The Backspace key is used to delete a character just to the left (or before) the cursor. It is often confused
with the delete key.
• The Delete key is used to remove a character from the right of the cursor. It is also used to delete an
object that has been selected. Click on the object or file you want to remove and press the Delete key.
• The Insert key allows text to be inserted. In most word processing programs you can toggle between
(enabled) inserting new text that will automatically push the current characters to the right or (disabled)
typing over current text. In Microsoft Word, you will see OVR in the status bar which means “Overtype.”
In that mode, you will be overtyping any current text to the right of the cursor. If you want to remove this
option, just press the Insert key again and OVR will disappear from the status bar.
What Are the Arrow Keys?
• The arrow keys are useful in many applications such as spreadsheet, word
processing applications, and games.
• Each arrow will move you one character to the right or left (if using the
right and left arrow keys) or one cell (in a spreadsheet) to the right or left.
• The up and down arrows will move you one line up or down in a word
processing program and one cell up and down spreadsheet program.
What About All The Other Keys ?
• The Modifier keys are the Shift, Alt (Alternate) and Ctrl (Control) keys.
They are used in conjunction with another key to perform a certain
task. For instance, when you have multiple windows open in the
Windows Operating System, while you hold down the Alt key and
then tap the Tab key, you will be able to select which window you
would like to open. If you press Ctrl + Alt + Delete you will be given several
choices, one of which is to reboot the computer.
• We will now review other important keys. The Escape key (Esc) will allow the user to abort or
cancel an operation. If you need to capitalize a letter, or select a symbol from above the numbers,
you must press and hold the Shift key while typing. If you would like for all your letters to be
capitalized and you wish to use your number keys regularly, press the
Caps Lock key. Once you are finished, press the Caps Lock key again.
When you press the horizontal bar on the keyboard, the Spacebar, it
Enter
creates a space to separate words or sentences. The Tab key will
advance the cursor to the next tab setting on the line. To return the
cursor on a new line or to execute a command or operation, use the
Enter key. When typing in a Word Processor program, do not press
the Enter key at the end of each line (your text will wrap). You will
want to press the Enter key at the end of each paragraph.
• If you press the Ctrl key and the Print Screen key, a copy of your screen will be sent to the
clipboard.
• The Scroll Lock key is not used in many applications, but in Microsoft Excel, you can select the
Scroll Lock key to move the window instead of the selected cell.
• In some programs, you can use the Pause Key to stop a game to step away for a moment or freeze
data on a screen.
• The Microsoft Windows key is used to open the Start Menu. The Microsoft Context key is
basically the same as a right click. It will display the current context menu.
Athens-Clarke County Library
Page 3
Instructor: Karen Douglas
Mouse and Keyboard Skills
What are Some Popular Keyboard Shortcuts?
Keyboard Key(s)
Function
Ctrl + C
Copy Selected Item
Ctrl + V
Paste Selected Item
Ctrl + X
Cut Selected Item
Home
This will take you to the beginning of the current line.
Ctrl + Home
This will take you to the beginning of your document, page or section.
Tab
This will take you to the next field (or cell) to the right
Shift + Tab
This will take you back to the previous field (or cell ) to the left
End
This will take you to the end of the current line.
Ctrl + End
This will take you to the end of the document, page or section.
Escape Key
Use this key to cancel a command or to quit
F1
In most Microsoft programs, this will pull up the Help Window.
One click + Enter Key
Acts as a double-click
Moves one object or character to the right
Moves one object or character to the left
Moves one object or line up
Moves one object or line down
Ctrl + click
Selects non-contiguous objects
Shift + click
Selects contiguous objects
Ctrl + Alt+ Delete
This is a way to log-off, shut down or access your task manager
Alt +F4 key
Use these two keystrokes to exit a frozen program
What Are the Different Types of Mice?
• The traditional mouse uses an rubber ball to reference it’s x and y
coordinates, and it does require a mouse pad.
• The optical mouse uses a tiny camera to take thousands of pictures every
second. It does not require a mouse pad, and because of no moving parts,
it is less likely to have failure.
• The wireless mouse is cord free and most use a radio signal to
communicate with your computer.
How Should I Hold the Mouse?
• Keep your arm straight without moving your wrist. Only move your
arm and elbow, not your wrist. This will help to prevent carpal tunnel.
Cradle the mouse by allowing your thumb to rest on the side while
your pinkie and ring finger rest on the other side. Place your index
finger on the left button and your middle finger on the right button.
• Always leave the mouse on the mouse pad. If you run off the edge of
the mouse pad, carefully, lift the mouse back to the center of the pad
Figure 1
and continue.
Athens-Clarke County Library
Page 4
Instructor: Karen Douglas
Mouse and Keyboard Skills
How Do I use the Mouse?
• The Primary Mouse Button is typically the left mouse button and the secondary mouse
button is typically the right mouse button. You will use the primary (left) mouse button most
often. Whenever you are instructed to “click,” you will use your primary mouse button.
• Point means you move the mouse across a flat surface until the mouse pointer
rests on the
item of choice on the desktop. It will appear as an arrow (pointer) for you to use to point.
• Click means you press and release the primary (left) mouse button. You must point to an item
before you click. Be careful not to move the mouse while you are clicking.
• Right-click means you press and release the secondary (right) mouse button. You will point to
an object on the screen prior to right-clicking. Whenever you right-click an object,
a context-sensitive, or basically a shortcut, menu will display. The use of shortcut menus speeds
up your work and adds flexibility to your interface with the computer. You will not use the
secondary mouse button as often as the primary mouse button.
• Double-click means you quickly press and release the primary mouse button twice without
moving the mouse. You must point to an item before you double-click. If you have problems
double-clicking, click once on the item (it should be highlighted) now press the Enter button.
This will accomplish a double-click.
• Drag means you point to an item, hold down the primary (left) mouse button, move the item to
the desired location on the screen, and then release the mouse button.
• Right-drag means you point to an item, hold down the secondary (right) mouse button, move
the item to the desired location, and then release the mouse button. It will usually prompt you
for the next step such as “move or copy object here”.
• The Scrolling Wheel allows you to quickly scroll vertically on your page. Every mouse does
not have a scrolling wheel, however, it is an efficient and convenient way to scroll up and down
on your page without having to move your mouse on the mouse pad.
Secondary mouse
Primary mouse
button
Mouse pad
button
Primary mouse
Scrolling
button
Wheel
Mouse
Figure 2
Athens-Clarke County Library
Page 5
Instructor: Karen Douglas
Mouse and Keyboard Skills
Why Does the Pointer Change Its Shape?
The I-beam appears when you are in any area that permits typing new text
or editing existing text. It is also called the typing cursor.
The cross-hair appears when you have the ability to change or move a
window or graphic.
The double arrow indicates you have the ability to resize a window or
graphic.
The arrow indicates you have the ability to select and/or move an icon
or object. You will always have an arrow when pointing to any toolbar or
menu.
The hand indicates you have the ability to click on or select an object or
link. A link will take you to another web site on the Web.
When you see an hourglass, your computer is performing an action.
Please be patient and wait until the hourglass disappears.
How Do I Select Text to Change the Font, Color or Size?
• Once your text is selected, now proceed to change the font, color or size.
Remember that the text must be selected in order to make a change.
Let’s Practice Using the Mouse and Keyboard
• By using your mouse, double click on the mouse tutorial folder on your desktop. Now double click
on the Mouse 2000 icon.
• At the beginning of this tutorial, you will use the “Enter” button for several screens, then follow the
directions for using the mouse.
• Once you have finished, you may complete the tutorial again for more practice, or try opening
Microsoft Word and enter some text. After you have entered that text, try to cut and paste it
somewhere else on the page. Change the font size, color and style. Then use your mouse to insert a
picture from the clip art and move that picture to different areas on your document.
How Can I Get More Practice on My Own?
• The Educational Technology Center (ETC) has the “Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing”
program. This is a wonderful way to learn how to type while using a computer. This is
available on all the computers in the Educational Technology Center at the
Athens-Clarke County Library.
• If you want to continue practicing using the mouse at home, go to this Web site for a free
mouse tutorial. http://www.ckls.org/~crippel/computerlab/tutorials/mouse/page1.html
Athens-Clarke County Library
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Instructor: Karen Douglas
Mouse and Keyboard Skills
The following is a list of a few of the many computer books available here in the library.
• Biow, Lisa. How To Use Computers. Emeryville: Macmillan Computer
See what is
Publishing USA, 1997.
available here
Call Number: NONFIC 004.1 Biow
in our
• Gilster, Ron. PC Hardware: a Beginner’s Guide. New York: Osborne/
Educational
McGraw-Hill, 2001.
Technology Center
Call Number: NONFIC 621.3916 Gilster
•
•
Hoggatt, Jack. Century 21 Computer Keyboarding. Cincinnati: South-
Word Processing
Western Educational Publishing, 2002.
• Tutorials
Call Number: NONFIC 652.3 Hoggatt
• Database Applications
• Kraynak, Joe. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Computer Terms.
• Graphics Applications
Indianapolis: Alpha Books, 1994.
Call Number: NONFIC 004.03 Kraynak
• Spreadsheet Applications
• Thompson, Robert Bruce. PC Hardware in a Nutshell: a desktop quick
• Presentation Applications
reference. Cambridge: O’Reilly and Associates Incorporated, 2000.
• Internet
Call Number: NONFIC 621.3916 Thompson
• Special ADA Programs
• Torbet, Gordon, Editor, et all. 1,001 Computer Hints & Tips. Emeryville:
•
Macmillan Computer Publishing USA, 1997.
Scanners
Call Number: NONFIC 004 One
• CD and DVD Burners
Have you visited the Athens Regional
Library’s web page?
• Visit our web page at:
http://www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us/
• Click on Internet Resources.
• The section for Computers will be
found in the upper right corner.
• You will find many different resources
such as tutorials, internet safety and
links to several different Internet
Service Providers.
• Also, you may visit our Educational
Technology Lab for most of your
computer needs.
