HOW TO USE THIS MODULE

Welcome to the Module “Operating a Personal Computer”. This module contains training materials and activities
for you to complete.

The unit of competency “Operate a Personal Computer” contains the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for
PC Operations course required to obtain the National Certificate (NC) level II.

You are required to go through a series of learning activities in order to complete each of the learning outcomes of
the module. In some learning outcome there are Information Sheets and Operation Sheets. Follow these activities
on your own and answer the Self-Check at the end of each learning activity.

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask your teacher for assistance.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

You have already some basic knowledge and skills covered in this module because you have been working for
some time; and already completed training in this area.

If you can demonstrate competence to your teacher in a particular skill, talk to your teacher so you don’t have to
undergo the same training again. If you have a qualification or Certificate of Competency from previous trainings
show it to him/her. If the skills you acquired are consistent with and relevant to this module, they become part of the
evidence. You can present these for RPL. If you are not sure about your competence skills, discuss this with your
teacher.

After completing this module, ask your teacher to assess your competence. Result of your assessment will be
recorded in your competency profile. All the learning activities are designed for you to complete at your own pace.

In this module, you will find the activities for you to complete and relevant information sheets for each learning
outcome. Each learning outcome may have more than one learning activity.

This module is prepared to help you achieve the required competency. This will be the source of information that
will enable you to acquire the knowledge and skills in Operating a Personal Computer independently at your own
pace with minimum supervision from your teacher.

TECHNICAL TERMS

Computer is an electronic device that accepts, processes, stores, and outputs data at high speeds
according to programmed instructions.

Debugging is the process of finding and correcting error or defects in software code.
Desktop is the entire screen on Windows XP which functions like a neat desk or working table where
one may work on the different programs such as calculators, paint, wordpad and more.
GUI (Graphical User Interface) is the user graphical representations of files, folder commands and
programs.
Icons are small pictures found on the desktop; symbols representing programs, applications or files.
Multimedia is a program that allows you to present data in more than one medium such as combining
text, graphics, animation, audio and video.
 Program/Course: PC OPERATIONS NC II

Unit of Competency: OPERATE A PERSONAL COMPUTER

Module Title: Operating a Personal Computer

Learning Outcome 1: Familiarize the user with the computer system

Assessment Criteria

1. The history of the computers is discussed

2. Importance and uses of the computers are explained
3. Computers are classified according to size, power and purpose

References:

1. Microsoft Philippines, Manual/handbook.

2. Minhas, Davinder Singh, 2005. Computers.

3. Penaflorida, Arlene R., et. al. 2006. Operating System, Word Processing
and Creating Presentations.

4. Tokunbo Osilaja, The Computer Knowledge Book (Beginner’s Module), 2004.

5. Kenneth [Link], Information Technology: Concepts and Issues, 2 nd Edition.

6. BATS Baseline Access and Training and Supports, Introduction to Computers, 2000.

7. Information Resources Technology Support, Windows XP Basics, California State

University, BakersField.

8. Chua Chooi See, A Step By Step Guide: Microsoft Office 97 for Beginners, 1999.

9. Innovative Training Works, Inc., Partners In Learning. Volume I. Quick References.

LEARNING EXPERIENCES/ACTIVITIES

Learning Outcome 1: Familiarize the user with the computer system

 Read Information Sheet 1.1 discussing the Try to create Timeline without looking at the
History of the Computers and answer the Information Sheet 1.1
Self-Check 1.1
 Familiarize yourself in the Information Sheet Prepare a concept map of the uses of computers
1.2 discussing the Uses and Importance of and how computers affect our lives.
Computers and
answer Self-Check 1.2
 Learn and categorize thedifferent types of
computer with their size, power and Try to arrange the pictures of
purpose. computers according to their
Answer Self-Check 1.3 classification

General Direction: Write your answer on a separate sheets of papers that you have to prepare ( like
for ex. Yellowpaper intermediate paper , bond paper of any size or any extra leaves of your old
notebook and staple them and it will serve as your answer sheets. You can select any of the above
mentioned paper available) to be used to all the given tasks on this module
 INFORMATION SHEET 1.1

HISTORY OF COMPUTERS

Computers can be found inside your household appliances, the VCR, the
automobile, planes, trains, powerplants, water purification plants, calculators,
and even inside a few toys. These embedded computers are very small that they
affect our lives each day.

When the first computers called personal computers came on the scene in the late 1970s,
the name really meant “not a business computer.” Businesses did not see any relevance in their
use, but they didn’t want anything to do with them and their revolution. It took some visionary
people at three companies—IBM, Microsoft, and Apple Computer—to see that a personal
computer you or I could really control—a truly personal computer—was exactly what business
had been waiting for.

What is a computer?
A computer is an electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in
its own memory. These instructions tell the machine what to do. Most computers that sit on a
desktop are called "PCs," or personal computers. The computer is capable of accepting data
(input), processing data arithmetically and logically, producing output from the processing, and
storing the results for future use.

HISTORY OF COMPUTERS

1950s
The first transistors were patented in 1948. Transistors did the same function as vacuum
tubes but were smaller and more efficient. Transistors enabled computers to be smaller, used less
electricity, and generated less heat; however, computers continued to use vacuum tubes until the
late 1950s. In 1952, IBM’s Selective Sequence Electronic Calculator was 25 by 40 feet in size
and still used vacuum tubes. This computer produced the moon position tables which was later
used in 1969 by the Apollo flight to the moon.

1600s
As early as the 1640's mechanical calculators are manufactured for sale. Records consist
of earlier machines, but Blaise Pascal invented the first commercial calculator, a hand powered
adding machine. Although attempts to multiply mechanically were made by Gottfried Liebnitz in
the 1670s the first true multiplying calculator appeared in Germany shortly before the American
Revolution.

The integrated circuit or silicon chip was invented in 1958 and 1959 by two independent
researchers. A single chip could contain the electronic circuitry of an entire computer, which
created another revolution in computer design. In addition, research at the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States led to the creation of even smaller
computers.

1970s
In 1975, the Xerox Alto was the first prototype computer to use a graphical user interface
(GUI), by which symbols for computer functions are provided instead of the user having to type
complete commands and also the first computer to use a mouse as an input device. Even though
this system was never released to the public, it greatly influenced the development of Microsoft®
Windows® and Apple Macintosh operating systems.

The MITS Altair, the first computer to be called a personal computer, also debuted in
1975. This was sold mainly as a kit computer: a user had to assemble it before it could be used.
The computer used the Intel 8080 microprocessor chip, and even though it came with limited
input and output devices (there was no keyboard or monitor), the computer was an immediate
success among hobbyists and computer enthusiasts. In later years, Tandy Corporation (the parent
company of Radio Shack) introduced its first personal computer in 1977. It was a success because
it included a keyboard and a display (a CRT screen).
 1980s
In 1801 a Frenchman, Joseph-Marie Jacquard built a loom that wove by reading
punched holes stored on small sheets of hardwood. These plates are then inserted into the loom
which reads (retrieves) the pattern and creates(process) the weave. Powered by water, this
"machine" came 140 years before the development of the modern computer.

In 1820 Charles Babbage began his lifelong quest for a programmable machine.
Although Babbage was a poor communicator and record-keeper, his difference engine is
sufficiently developed by 1842 that Ada Lovelace used it to mechanically translate a
short written work. She is generally regarded as the first programmer.

Twelve years later George Boole, while professor of Mathematics at Cork

University, wrote An Investigation of the Laws of Thought(1854), He is generally
recognized as the father of computer science. Lovelace

The census is tabulated on punch cards similar to the ones used 90 years earlier
to create weaves. Developed by Herman Hollerith of MIT, the system uses electric power(non-
mechanical). The Hollerith Tabulating Company is a forerunner of today's IBM.

Prior to the introduction of Hollerith's machine the first printing calculator was
introduced. In 1892 William Burroughs, a sickly ex-teller, introduced a commercially successful
printing calculator. Although hand-powered, Burroughs quickly introduced an electronic model.

1990s

In 1935, Konrad Zuse, a German construction engineer, built a mechanical calculator to

handle the math involved in his profession. Shortly after completion, Zuse starts on a
programmable electronic device which he completes in 1938.

John Vincent Atanasoff began working on a digital computer in 1936. A graduate

student, Clifford (John) Berry assists. The "ABC" was designed to solve linear equations
common in physics. It displayed some early features of later computers including
electronic calculations.

The Enigma, a complex mechanical encoder was used by the Germans and they
believed it to be unbreakable. That same year George Steblitz created his Model
K(itchen), a conglomeration of otherwise useless and leftover material, to solve complex
calculations. Steblitz used a teletype machine at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire
to transmit a problem to his Complex Number Calculator in New York and received the
results which became the first example of a network.
In 1943, the development began on the Electronic Numerical Integrator And
Computer (ENIAC) in earnest at Penn State. It was designed by John Mauchly and J.
Presper Eckert of the Moore School, John von Neumann and others in 1944. It used a paper
tape to store instructions which was used a variety of relays and mechanical switches to perform
various calculations. They had no memory function, so they had to be reset by hand for each
different program.
UNIVAC, delivered in 1951 to the Census Bureau, resulted in a tremendous financial
loss to its manufacturer, Remington-Rand. The next year Grace Hopper, now an employee of that
company proposed "reuseable software" - code segments that could be extracted and assembled
according to instructions in a "higher level language." The concept of compiling was born.

IBM introduced the 701 the following year which was the first commercially successful
computer. In 1956 FORTRAN was introduced where two additional languages, LISP and
COBOL are added.

In 1969 Bell Labs, unhappy with the direction of the MIT project left and developed its
own operating system, UNIX. One of the many precursors to today's Internet, ARPANet, was
quietly launched. Alan Keys, who will later become a designer for Apple, proposed the "personal
computer."

In 1975 the first personal computer was marketed in kit form. The Altair features 256
bytes of memory. Bill Gates, with others, wrote a BASIC compiler for the machine. The next
year Apple began to market PC's, also in kit form which included a monitor and keyboard. In
1976, Queen Elizabeth II goes on-line with the first royal email message.

During the next few years the personal computer exploded on the American scene.
Microsoft, Apple and many smaller PC related companies formed by 1977 began selling PC's.
Nowadays, companies strive to reduce the size and price of PC's while increasing their capacity.
Lastly, IBM released its first PC which used software called DOS (disk operating system) to
control the computer in 1981.

2000s

It is now the early years of the new millennium, and computers and Internet access are
available to billions of people all over the world. Web services such as instant messaging allowed
people all over the world to be able to have real-time conversations with one another. Other web
applications enabled people to conduct nearly all of their daily business and personal tasks from
their desktop. You can even shop or purchase just about anything you want, you can read a
newspaper or listen to live radio broadcasts from scores of different countries, you can manage all
of your personal or business finances, or even plan and book your next vacation—all from your
computer.

New technologies such as the personal digital assistant (PDA) and the tablet computer
make it easy to take your computer with you and still have access to the Internet wherever you
go. Satellite and cellular telephone technology have improved so much that people in remote
areas can still place calls to friends, family, and colleagues anywhere in the world.

With more people on the Internet, more information is at risk, and security has become
an issue of even greater importance Computer viruses can spread worldwide in just hours, costing
businesses and governments a great deal of time and money in lost files and recovery efforts.
Thus software and hardware companies are coming up with new security software and patches on
a regular basis.

SELF-CHECK 1.1

HISTORY OF COMPUTERS

Directions: Create a timeline on the history of computers by filling out the needed
information on the blanks opposite the date. Copy and answer using your answer sheet.

2000

Microsoft released the Windows 3.0 operating System.

Develop UNIVAC, ENIAC, IBM, Bill Gates

1980s

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Altair, Microsoft® Windows® Apple Macintosh

1960s

IBM started producing its first transistorized

Computer; Apollo flight to the moon

INFORMATION SHEET 1.2

 USES AND IMPORTANCE OF COMPUTERS

Today’s Use of Computers

A. Personal and home uses

o Computers Allow people with disabilities to do normal activities
like shopping online, playing games with other people and
work from home

B. Business Uses
o Computers allow companies to keep quicker and easier large
amounts of information at hand like databases, ordering and
tracking resources and meetings from different locations

C. Educational Uses
o The Internet allows access to hundreds of
online research materials, colleagues to
correspond quickly about ongoing research
and combine graphics, animation, and audio
with a reading program to reach students of
all ages and learning styles.

D. Communication Uses
o Computers allow people across the world to communicate easily
by empowering the former to share documents and collaborate on
projects like giving a presentation or attending a training course.

E. Farm Uses
o Computers allow the creation of a spreadsheet model to determine
the optimum amount of fertilizer to add to maximize profits and
the tracking of animals to know which one produce
the most milk and use that information
when determining which animals to breed.

F. Transportation Uses
o Computers allow pilots to receive a lot of practice without costs. In
this case, simulators can vary from massive airline trainers used by
airplane
manufacturers to Microsoft Flight Simulator.

SELF-CHECK 1.2

USES AND IMPORTANCE OF COMPUTERS

Directions: Explain briefly the use of computers in the different areas presented in the
concept map. Copy and Answer using your answer sheet.

Business
Personal
Farm

Uses of Computers

Transportation
Communication Education
INFORMATION SHEET 1.3

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS
 Computers are available in different shapes, sizes and weights, that is why they perform
different sorts of jobs from one [Link] vary in size and shape that is why a computer
used in a hospital is different from that used in a home.

1. Super computer

The super computer is the biggest in size and the most expensive in price for it can
process trillions of instructions in seconds. For this reason, this computer is not used as a PC in a
home or in a [Link] agencies use this type of computer for their different
calculations and heavy jobs. On the other hand, different industries also use this huge computer
for designing their products.

Meanwhile, in most of the Hollywood’s movies, computers like these used for animation
purposes. This kind of computer is also helpful for forecasting weather reports worldwide.

2. Mainframes

Another giant computer after the super computer is the Mainframe which can also
process millions of instruction per second and capable of accessing billions of data. This
computer is commonly used in big hospitals, air line reservation companies, and other huge
companies because of its capability of retrieving data on a huge basis.

This is too expensive for a person who wants a computer for his home. This kind of
computer can cost up to thousands of dollars.

3. Minicomputer

This computer offers less than mainframe in work

and performance. Examples are the computers which are
mostly preferred by the small type of business, personals,
and colleges.

4. Personal computers

Almost all computer users are familiar with the personal computers. They normally know
what the personal computer is and its functions. This is the computer mostly preferred by the
home users. These computers are lesser in cost and smaller in size compared to aforementioned
computers, small in size. They are also called PCs in short for Personal computers.

This computer is small in size and can easily be

arranged to fit in your single bedroom with its all
accommodation. Today this is thought to be the most
popular computer.

5. Notebook/Handheld computers
 Having a small size and low weight the notebook is easy to carry anywhere. This is easy
to carry around and preferred by students and business people to meet their assignments and other
necessary tasks since they can easily be carried inside one’s bag.

This computer can store the same amount of data

having a memory of the same size as that of a personal
computer. One can say that it is the replacement of personal
desktop computer

SELF-CHECK 1.3

CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTERS

Directions: Group the pictures according to size, power and purpose by filling its
corresponding letter in the table below. Copy and answer using your answer sheet.

A B
C D E

F G H I

Supercomputer Microcomputer Mainframe Minicomputer