5.1 Understanding the Structure of the Operating System (10 to 15 Hours)

Teach operating system structure using the following steps.

1. Review the previous lesson (Setting Up the Workstation).
2. Explore the operating system software environment.
3. Provide instruction on navigating the desktop, start menu, system tray, side bar (enabling and disabling), notification area, and task bar.
4. Provide instruction on system dialog boxes and controls including
   • using multitabbed dialog boxes;
   • identifying and moving between dialog box controls;
   • using combo boxes, checklists, edit boxes, and radio buttons; and
   • using a screen reader to read the entire dialog box, if applicable.
5. Explore documents, files, folders, directories, and paths including
   • reading through tree views and list views;
   • locating removable storage, local disk drives, and CD-ROM drive; and
   • safely removing devices.
6. Provide instructions on program windows and their structure including
   • knowing the difference between program windows and dialog boxes;
   • using status and scroll bars;
   • minimizing, maximizing, moving, and restoring windows;
   • switching between applications; and
   • accessing the components of a program window using the keyboard.
7. Provide instruction on keyboard commands for operating system functions.
8. Provide instruction on getting help online and in the operating system.

5.2 Performance Objectives and Measurements

Measure the following during operating system structure training.

1. The consumer can easily move between the desktop, start menu, and running applications — Yes or No.
2. The consumer can minimize and maximize applications, and open and close windows — Yes or No.
3. The consumer can use operating-system keyboard commands to access and exit the menu bar and tool bars — Yes or No.
4. The consumer can open default folders and locate documents, libraries, etc. — Yes or No.
5. The consumer can locate and explore computer contents as well as files saved on external storage devices, CDs, and flash drives — Yes or No.
6. The consumer can navigate through tree views, list boxes, check boxes, dialog boxes, and combo boxes — Yes or No.

5.3 Operating System Options, Features, and Maintenance (10 to 12 Hours)

Teach operating system options, features, and maintenance using the following steps.

1. Review the previous lesson (Understanding the Structure of the Operating System).
2. Explore the control panel, including
   • viewing the device manager,
   • establishing a wireless network connection, and
   • establishing a LAN broadband connection (automatically detect settings).
3. Provide instruction on using system tools including
   • Disk Cleanup,
   • Disk Defragmenter, and
   • System Restore, which is used to undo system changes.
4. Provide instruction on working with files including
   • creating a new folder;
   • moving files into a new folder using cut and paste;
   • deleting unwanted files and folders; and
   • copying files from removable storage to a folder on the local disk (C: drive), and vice versa.
5. Provide instruction on burning a CD.
6. Provide instruction on setting up the firewall and setting security options.
7. Provide instruction on operating system and user file backup.
8. Provide instruction on getting help online and in the operating system.

5.4 Performance Objectives and Measurements

Measure the following during operating system options, features, and maintenance training.

1. The consumer can locate the control panel — Yes or No.
2. The consumer can open folders and files on the C: drive — Yes or No.
3. The consumer can use cut and paste to move files from removable storage — Yes or No.
4. The consumer can perform basic system maintenance, such as disk cleanup and disk defragmentation — Yes or No.
5. The consumer can use system restore — Yes or No.