Computer Skills

Introduction

In order to be successful in most of MSJC's Programming, Internet Authoring, Networking, or Computer Application (CAPP) classes, students are advised that they must already possess certain basic computer skills before enrolling in these classes. Otherwise, students should first enroll in and complete the CSIS 101 Introduction to Computers and Data Processing course before enrolling in any of the other MSJC CSIS or CAPP classes.

Minimum Computer Skills

The basic computer skills that students should be capable of accomplishing without assistance from their instructor are the following:

  1. Be able to type at least 30 words per minute. [Test]
  2. Know the difference between a forward slash / and a backslash \ [View]
  3. Be able to locate the function keys on your keyboard. [View]
  4. Be able to use a mouse to select objects from a computer’s GUI, including an understanding of how to select items contiguously and non-contiguously, and when to use a double-click, a right-click, and a drag and drop procedure.
  5. Know how to use MSJC web-based email to send and receive emails.
  6. Know how to locate your speaker control and be able to adjust the volume on their computer.
  7. Be able to play, pause, stop, and rewind a video file using a computer-based media player.
  8. Know how to use a Web browser to locate a specified Web address.
  9. Be able to save a file from a computer application like MS Word or MS Notepad and retrieve the file at a later date.
  10. Know how to use a "Save as" or "Open file" dialog box to navigate to a specified file-storage location for saving or opening files.
  11. Know the difference between temporary memory-storage and permanent file-storage.
  12. Know how to use common permanent file-storage options like a hard drive, a flash drive, a CD/DVD ROM drive.
  13. Be able to identify the manufacturer, type, and version of their computer’s operating system.
  14. Be able to identify how much free space is available on a permanent storage device.
  15. Be able to identify how much RAM is installed on their computer.
  16. Be able to determine if your computer can play audio or not.
  17. Be able to login into a computer-based system using a standard logon screen.
  18. Be able to log-off a computer-based system.
  19. Know where to find the USB port on their computer.
  20. Be able to print to an available printer.
  21. Be able to find and run an application which is installed on your computer.
  22. Be able to locate the menu bar and toolbar of an application.
  23. Be able to create and name a new folder in a specified file-storage location.
  24. Be able to delete a computer file.
  25. Be able to copy and move a computer file from one location to another within a single permanent file-storage device or between permanent file-storage devices.
  26. Be able to identify the version and brand name of the Web browser you are using.
  27. Be able to unzip a zipped file to a specified file-storage location.
  28. Be able to zip a group of files and/or folders into a single zip file.
  29. Be able to identify the manufacturer, type, and version of their computer’s operating system.