Basic Computer Skills, Lesson 1: Devices and Computer Log On

Northstar Digital Literacy Standards Vocabulary

This lesson aligns with the following standard/s. This lesson focuses on the following digital literacy terms.

1. Distinguish between different types of devices. desktop computer

2. Identify specific computer hardware. laptop
3. Log on to and shut down a computer. monitor
5. Identify types of mice: mouse and touchpad. mouse
18. Turn computer monitor on and off.
system unit
tablet

Technology Concepts
Important lesson background and teaching tips for instructors

In this lesson, learners will be introduced to different types of computers and their parts. They will practice how to turn on
and log on to a computer, as well as log off and shut off a computer properly. At the end of the lesson, learners should be able
to recognize common computer parts and their purpose, and identify specific computer parts on different devices.
Teaching Tips:
● Be sure to teach the difference between shutting down a computer and putting it to sleep.

Teacher Prep Guide

Follow these steps to prepare for teaching this lesson

General Prep ❏ Confirm steps to log on to a computer in your lab.

❏ Prepare to project the Reference A for Warm-up.
❏ Prepare to project Reference B for Model & Explain 1/2.
❏ Prepare to project Reference C for Pair Explore.

Model & Explain 2 ❏ Copy Handout A for each learner (half sheet).

Task ❏ Copy Handout B (3 pages) for each learner.

Vocabulary Work ❏ Copy Handout C for each learner.

Basic Computer Skills, Lesson 1 © 2022 Literacy Minnesota www.digitalliteracyassessment.org 1

 Warm Up
Find out what learners know and prime them for the work ahead.

Pair/Small Group Work:

➔ Ask learners to take out their cell phones.

➔ As a class, have learners identify different parts of their phones and their purpose.
➔ Write the following questions on the board:
◆ How do you turn on the power to your phone? (side button)
◆ How do you get into your phone? (password?, touch ID?)
◆ How do you tell your phone what to do? (touch the screen)
◆ How do you make your battery full again? (charging port)
◆ How do you go back to your home screen? (home button)
➔ Have learners turn and talk and then share out answers.

Pair/Small Group Work:

➔ List three devices on board (desktop, laptop, tablet.)

➔ Project Reference A.
➔ Write the sentence frames below on the board:
◆ I have used a ______.
◆ I have never used a ______.
➔ Give learners time to state the sentences to a partner regarding prior device use.

We will Learn…
Sharing learner friendly objectives helps set goals for today’s learning.

List objectives on board or project. Read through them together to set goals for today’s learning.

We will learn to:

log on and shut off a computer using the correct buttons and process.

see differences between different types of computers/devices.

recognize common parts of different computers and their purposes.

become more familiar with the computer on which we are working.

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MODEL & EXPLAIN 1
Teacher models and explains (thinks aloud) to complete a digital literacy task while learners observe. To help learners focus on the
demonstration, learners should not work on their own computers at this time.

Getting On and Off a Computer

➔ Project and model for learners how to turn on and log on to a computer.
➔ Say to learners:
➔ “When I want to turn on my computer. The first thing I need to do is press the power button.”
◆ Project Reference B to show a large image of a ‘power button’.
➔ Model and explain additional steps needed in your computer lab to log on to the computers using lesson
vocabulary. These steps will vary for each unique lab.
◆ power button
◆ monitor
◆ mouse/touchpad
◆ log on
◆ username
◆ keyboard
➔ Show learners how to log out and shut down the computer (not to sleep!) using the following vocabulary.
◆ mouse/touchpad
◆ log out
◆ power button

DO IT TOGETHER 1
Teacher asks the class to restate the steps to complete the digital literacy skill modeled. This time, the teacher prompts with questions to
learners.

➔ Begin with your computer off.

➔ Ask learners the following questions, and follow their directions to turn on, log on, and shut down your
computer:
◆ “How do I turn on my computer? What do I do first, next, then, last?”
◆ “On your phone, do you have a security step? Does my computer have a security step or log on
required?”
◆ “How do you shut down a computer when you are finished?”

MODEL & EXPLAIN 2

Teacher models and explains (thinks aloud) to complete a digital literacy task while learners observe. To help learners focus on the
demonstration, learners should not work on their own computers at this time.

Parts of the Computer

➔ Give learners Handout A.
➔ Project Reference B to show different computer parts and/or point out parts authentically in lab.
➔ Point to the different parts of a desktop computer or tablet in the lab, name the parts and their purpose.
➔ Learners will fill out Handout A as the parts are named and explained.
➔ Here is the list of computer parts (Reference B) and their purposes:
1. The power button turns on a computer.
2. The mouse/touchpad moves the cursor.

Basic Computer Skills, Lesson 1 3

 3. The home button brings you to the home screen of a tablet or phone.
4. The keyboard is a place to type on the computer.
5. The monitor/screen shows information from a desktop or laptop.
6. The system unit is the brain of the computer.
7. The touch screen is a place to see and click on a tablet or phone.
8. The charging port plugs in to charge the battery of the computer.

DO IT TOGETHER 2
Teacher asks the class to restate the steps to complete the digital literacy skill modeled. This time, the teacher prompts with questions to
learners.

➔ Write these sentence frames on the board:

◆ That is a _______. It’s part of a _______ (desktop, laptop, tablet). I use it to __________.
➔ Project one computer part at a time from Reference B, and ask learners to complete the sentence frames:
◆ “What is the name of this part?”
◆ “What does it do?”
● Lead the class in one of two ways listed below:
○ One learner at a time stands up and completes the sentence frame with the correct information.
○ (Or) Divide the class in half. One learner from each team stands at the same time. Whoever can
correctly complete the sentence frame first, gets a team point.

PAIR EXPLORE
Teacher has modeled the skills, and skills have been practiced together. Now, allow learners time to explore these skills with a partner without
step-by-step guidance from the teacher. *Refer to the “How to Facilitate Pair Explore” for teacher support.

➔ Project Reference C.
➔ Have pairs turn on, log on, log off, and shut down their computers.

Task
Learners practice skills by completing an authentic task/s.

➔ Give learners Handout B (all three pages) .

➔ Learners label each computer part for all three devices.
➔ When finished, learners check answers with a partner.
➔ Check answers together as a class.

Vocabulary Work
Learners practice vocabulary presented within the lesson.

➔ Give pairs Handout C.

➔ Learners match computer parts with their picture, and match the pictures to their definitions.
➔ Check answers together as a class.

Basic Computer Skills, Lesson 1 4

Wrap-Up
A final check in with learners. An opportunity to review, reflect, or check for understanding.

➔ Copy the statements on the board, and have learners state to class or partner which computers they prefer
to use and why.
◆ I use a ______ at school. (desktop, laptop, tablet)
◆ I like to use a ______ because ______.
◆ I do not like to use a ______ because ______.

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 Reference A

Basic Computer Skills, Lesson 1 6

 Reference B (page 1)

Basic Computer Skills, Lesson 1 7

 Reference B (page 2)

Reference B (page 3)

Basic Computer Skills, Lesson 1 8

Basic Computer Skills, Lesson 1 9
 Reference B (page 4)

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 Reference C

Directions: Complete the steps with a partner.

1. Turn on computer.

2. Log on to computer (if necessary).

3. Log out of computer (if necessary).

4. Shut down computer.

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 Handout A
Directions: Write the name of the computer part next to the picture.
Computer Computer
Part Name Part Name

✂------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Directions: Write the name of the computer part next to the picture.
Computer Computer
Part Name Part Name

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 Handout A (ANSWERS)

Computer Computer
Part Name Part Name

power button monitor

mouse system unit

home button touch screen

keyboard charging port

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 Handout B (page 1)

Desktop Computer
Directions: Label the desktop computer’s parts with the vocabulary from the box below.
Definitions are also given to help you.

Computer Part Definition

monitor shows information from the computer

keyboard a place to type on a computer

mouse moves the cursor

power button turns on a computer

system unit the brain of the computer

monitor power button turns on and off the monitor

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 Handout B (page 2)
Laptop Computer

Directions: Label the desktop computer’s parts with the vocabulary from the box below.
Definitions are also given to help you.

Computer Part Definition

screen shows information from the computer

keyboard a place to type on a computer

touchpad a place to move the cursor

power button turns on a computer

charging port a place to plug in the computer to charge the battery

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 Handout B (page 3)
Tablet or Smart Phone
Directions: Label the desktop computer’s parts with the vocabulary from the box below.
Definitions are also given to help you.
Computer Part Definition

touchscreen a place to see and click

keyboard a place to type on a computer

home button goes to home screen

power button turns on a tablet or a phone

charging port a place to plug in the charger

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 Handout C

Directions: Draw a line from the computer part to the matching picture. Then, draw
a line from the picture to the description.

Charging Port/ the brain of the computer

Power Port

Monitor/Screen/ a place to plug in computer/

Touch Screen a place to plug in laptop to
charge

System Unit brings user to home screen

Mouse/Touchpad shows information from

desktop or laptop/ a place to
move cursor on tablet

Home Button allows movement of cursor/

a place to move cursor on
laptop

Keyboard allows computer to turn on

Power Button a place to type on computer

Basic Computer Skills, Lesson 1 17

 Handout C (ANSWERS)

Directions: Draw a line from the computer part to the corresponding picture and
then from the picture to the corresponding description.

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