Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary 1

Term: 3^rd Term

Week: 5

Class: Senior Secondary School 1

Age: 16 years

Duration: 40 minutes of 2 periods each

Date:       

Subject:      Computer Studies and ICT

Topic:-       Basic computer operations

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to

1. Define computer operation
2. Describe the booting process
3. List the types of booting
4. Start up a computer
5. Identify the components of the Windows desktop

.INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers, demonstration, videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Videos, loud speaker, pictures, Data Processing for senior Secondary Education by Hiit Plc, WAPB Computer Studies for Senior Secondary I by Adekunle et al, On-line Materials.

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES

PERIOD 1-2

NOTE

COMPUTER OPERATION

Computer Operation simply describes the way a computer works i.e  from the moment the computer is powered on until the time it is made ready for the user to work with. This process involves three simple stages.

The first stage is when the computer is powered on, the next stage is the booting process and the final stage is the display of the windows desktop environment when the computer is made ready for use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BOOTING PROCESS

Booting or Booting up is the process by which the computer, when turned on, carries out a self check to ensure its basic components ( the installed or attached software and hardware) required to function are okay, and then loads the operating system into it’s memory to create an environment that makes the computer ready for use. This process is described as A boot sequence.

Note the booting operation is performed automatically immediately the computer is switched on or powered on

TYPES OF BOOTING

There are basically two types of booting

1. Cold Booting
2. Warm Booting
   1. Cold Booting: This is the process of starting the computer after it has been switched off by pressing the power button.
   2. Warm Booting: This is the process of restarting the computer without switching it off. This could be due to operating system crash, power fluctuation, system freeze, memory conflicts, etc.

Note that when the system automatically restarts itself while still running, it

Could lead to damage or the loss of some files, data, documents, etc., that were not yet saved nor properly stored into the system.

Starting Up a Computer

1. Switch on the main power supply to the computer system.
2. Press the “ON” button on the system unit, then the monitor,           followed by the printer if available.
3. Once this is done, an image appears on the screen and the           booting process automatically starts.
4. On boot up, the computer will beep once or twice and starts           its self-check and bootstrap procedures.
5. On complete loading, the space to enter the user name or           password appears on the screen. This only occurs if the system                   is passed word (requires some secret codes to open it).
6. Entering the correct password enables the user to log in and           access or open any program needed to work with.

COMPONENTS OF THE WINDOWS DESKTOP

The main components of windows that appear on the screen after the booting are:

1. Icons
2. Taskbar
3. Background

1. Icons: These are small pictures or symbols that represent programs, applications, files or devices available on the computer. When clicked or double-clicked, users can access the programs, files or devices the icons represent.

Some icons displayed on the computer screen are:

i. Start Button

ii. My Computer

iii. Recycle Bin

iv. Dialogue Box

1. Start Button: This menu option is found specifically on the taskbar. It is basically used to begin the operation of application packages and access other important features available to the user.
2. My Computer: When this icon is selected, it displays all the storage devices available on the computer from which users can gain access into the document they contain. For example, it can display drive C, drive D, Removable Disk (Flash Drive), CD drive, etc.
3. Recycle Bin: This icon is used to store deleted files. When files are deleted from the computer, they are kept in the recycle bin just in case the user may want to retrieve and use them.
4. Dialogue Box: This is a box that pops up when the mouse pointer is placed on any item or icon on the desktop. It gives the user a brief description of the item or icon to be selected.

Note that the dialogue box is temporal and disappears once the user has entered the requested information.

2. Taskbar This bar is usually found at the bottom of the bottom of the desktop screen and contains the Start menu, icons that serve as shortcuts to programs and icons representing applications that are currently active or in Use.

Note that the taskbar can also be placed at the top of the screen or on either side of it as desired by the user.

3. Background: This is the environment or user-interface by which the User can access all the resources available on the computer, It can be plain or have wallpapers pictures on which the icons and menus are displayed.

EVALUATION:    1. Define computer operation

2. Explain the meaning of booting
3. How do we start up a computer?
4. Describe some components of the window desktop

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher commends the students positively