Module 1: Computers & Operating Systems

It's time for you to begin your adventure by checking your current level of knowledge and skills as a digital navigator. Take this assessment by following the link below and find out what you already know and what you would like to know more!

Module 1: Pre-Assessment

• A computer is an electronic device that stores, retrieves, and processes data.
• All computers have hardware and software. Hardware is any part of your computer that has a physical structure, such as the keyboard or mouse. Software is a set of instructions, data or programs used to operate the hardware.
• Desktop computers are commonly used at work, home, and school. They are designed to be placed on a desk.
• Laptop computers (laptops) are battery-powered and portable.
• Tablet computers (tablets) are handheld computers. Tablets use a touch-sensitive screen for typing and navigation instead of a keyboard and mouse.
• Smartphones, wearables (i.e. Apple Watch), game consoles, TVs, grocery scanners, and ATMs are all variations of computers.

Video credits: GCF Global

• An operating system (OS) is the most important software that runs on a computer. It manages the computer’s memory and processes, including all of its software and hardware.
• Operating systems are generally preloaded on any new computer, but it’s possible to upgrade/change operating systems if needed.
• The most common operating systems for PCs are the following three:
• Microsoft Windows is the most popular OS in the world. The most common/recent versions are Windows 11 (2024), Windows Server 2022 (2022), Windows 10 (2015), Windows 8 (2012), etc.
• macOS is for Apple’s Macintosh computers (Macs). The most common/recent versions are Sonoma (2023), Ventura (2022), Monterey (2021), Big Sur (2020), Catalina (2019), Mojave (2018), etc.
• Linux is a family of open-source operating systems and can be modified/distributed by anyone around the world. It is free, and there are many versions you can choose from.  You can visit Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Fedora websites to learn more about Linux.

Video credits: GCF Global

• Hardware is any element of a computer that's physical. This includes things like monitors, keyboards, microchips, hard drives, CD-ROMs, printers, video cards, etc. Without any hardware, a computer would not function and software would have nothing to run on.
• Software is a collection of programs, procedures, instrucitons, and documentation that perform specific tasks on a computer system. It is anything that tells hardware what to do and how to do it, including computer programs and apps on your phone. Common examples are operating systems, video games, photo editors, web browsers (i.e. Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.).
• While hardware and software are two different components of a computer, they complement each other to function! For example, if you're using a Chromebook, the hardware would be the physical device itself and the software is Chrome OS and other apps. Without hardware, there would be just a bunch of programs and instructions without any platforms where they can be real, and without software, your phones or laptops will be just dead, metal pieces.
• It is important to understand the differences between hardware and software so that you can find the source of any technical problem accurately and deal with it accordingly.

Video credits: GCF Global

Video credits: Windows

Windows 11 Basics

• Microsoft Windows is an operating system designed by Microsoft. It is the most commonly used operating system in the world and it comes preloaded on most new computers these days. 
• As a typical operating system, Windows allows computers to complete any everyday task on your computer such as editing photos or browsing the Internet.
• One important thing to keep in mind is that Windows gives you access to productivity software such as calendars and Microsoft Office suite (i.e. Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.).
• There have been many versions of Windows released but the most recent ones are Windows 11 (released in 2021) and Windows 10(released in 2015). If you would like to know more about specific features and enhancements of Windows 11, please refer to this official Microsoft website page about Windows 11. There is also a useful page about the similarities and differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11. Identifying each characteristic of two different versions will help you to navigate through computers more efficiently.
• These learning resources on the official Microsoft website will help you to learn useful tips, tricks, and tools to use Windows most effectively. There are articles and tutorials in each category of organizing, connecting, accessing, being productive, protecting, and relaxing.