Mastering the Desktop: Mouse skills, keyboard shortcuts, and managing your digital life.
Desktop Skills & Digital Literacy
Hardware vs Software
Hardware
The physical parts of the computer you can touch.
Monitor
Mouse
CPU
Software
The programs and code that run on the computer.
Windows
Teams
Games
The 3 Types
Input
Sends data INTO the computer.
Keyboard, Mouse, Mic
Output
Sends data OUT to you.
Monitor, Printer, Speakers
Storage
Keeps files safe.
Hard Drive, USB, Cloud
Mouse Mastery
Left Click
Select / OK
Right Click
Options Menu
Double Click
Open File/App
Drag & Drop
Move Files
Keyboard Ninja
Use Ctrl (Control) + a letter to speed up your work.
Ctrl + C
Copy
Ctrl + V
Paste
Ctrl + X
Cut (Move)
Ctrl + Z
Undo (Oops!)
Ctrl + S
Save Work
Win + L
Lock Screen
Files & OneDrive
What is OneDrive?
It's The Cloud. Files saved here follow you to any computer (or iPad!).
Organisation Tips
- Create a Folder for "Computing".
- Give files sensible names (e.g.,
HardwareTask.docxnotDoc1.docx). - Don't save to "Desktop" - use OneDrive!
Teams on Desktop
How to handle assignments on a PC.
- Find it: Go to the Assignments tab on the left.
- Open it: Click the document under "My work". It opens inside Teams or Word.
- Do it: Type your answers. It saves automatically!
- Close it: Click "Close" at the top right.
- Submit: Click the purple Turn In button to finish.