TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS

Keyboard Layout

Student will correctly identify the location of regions and special keys on the standard desktop keyboard. Discuss the function of each key, but do not dwell on it too long. The function of each key will begin to make sense only when actually used in subsequent lessons.

** Students must know the layout of the keyboard before they can use the computer.

1. Alpha-Numeric Keys – Left hand side of keyboard starting with the space bar.

a.      Space Bar – add a space to text or check a check box

b.      ALT key – move the focus to the Menu Bar

c.      Win key – Open the Start Menu

d.      CTL key – Used with other keys to execute a shortcut

e.      Shift key – Capitalize a letter, also used with other keystrokes to highlight text

f.        Caps Lock key – All alpha keystrokes following will be capitals

g.      Tab – Add 5 spaces to text or move through options in a “dialogue box”

h.     ~ (Tilde) – Often used to indicate missing letters

i.        Esc – Back out of a menu

2. Alpha-Numeric Keys – Right hand side of keyboard starting with the space bar.

a.      Space Bar – add a space to text or check a check box

b.      Alt key – Move the focus to the Menu Bar

c.      Win key – Open the Start Menu

d.      Menu key – Open a formatting menu, similar to a right click on the mouse

e.      Ctrl key – Used with other keys to execute a shortcut

f.        Shift – Capitalize a letter, also used with other keystrokes to highlight text.

g.      Enter – Start a new line or execute options in a dialogue box

h.     Back Slash – Used to separate directories in a DOS command

i.        Backspace – Erase one character to the left of the cursor

3. Alpha-Numeric Keys

a.      Alpha keys (a, b, c, …, and punctuation)

b.      Number keys (1, 2, 3, …)

c.      Shift Number keys (!, @, #, ...)

4.      “6-Pak” Keys – The six keys above the arrow keys

a.      Insert – Change from insert mode (default) to type over mode

b.      Delete – Delete one character at a time to the right of the cursor

c.      Home – Move the cursor to the beginning of the current line

d.      End – Move the cursor to the end of the current line

e.      Page Up – Move the cursor to the top of the current screen

f.        Page Down – Move the cursor to the end of the current screen

5.      Cursor Keys (Arrow keys)

6. Numeric Keypad

a)     Number Keys

b)     +, -, *, / (Add, subtract, multiply and divide)

c)      Enter

d)     Num Lock – If Num Lock light is off, the 2, 4, 6, and 8 keys act as arrow keys         1

7.      Function Keypad (F1 – F12) – Special function keys

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