PVA Academy · Beginner VA Journey · Stage 2: Build Your Foundation

Computer & Laptop Basics

The everyday computer skills VA work depends on: using your mouse, keyboard and windows, handling files and folders, downloading and uploading, using a browser, and knowing what to do when something goes wrong.

FreeSelf-PacedNo Login8 Lessons + Final Challenge

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About this course

Using a computer for VA work

Almost every VA task happens on a computer. Before you can learn email, Google Workspace, or any specialized VA skill, you need to be comfortable with the computer itself.

This course is for you if you are new to computers, you mostly use a phone, or you use a computer but often get stuck with files, downloads, or problems you don't know how to fix.

It works for both Windows laptops and Macs, and for desktop computers too. Where the steps differ, the lessons show both.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

recognize the main parts of a laptop or desktop computer and the everyday words for them
control your computer with the mouse, keyboard and windows, including right-clicking and switching between programs
create, name, find, copy, move and organize files and folders
download and upload files, open ZIP files, and know where your files are stored
use a web browser with tabs, web addresses and bookmarks
take a screenshot and use the most common keyboard shortcuts
work through a computer problem calmly, step by step, instead of panicking
keep your computer and accounts safe with simple everyday habits

This course teaches the computer itself. Email, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets and sharing files with other people are covered in the next course, Internet, Email & Google Workspace.

The PVA Beginner VA Journey

You are in Stage 2: Build Your Foundation

Stage 2 makes you ready to learn and work online. It has two courses, taken in this order:

Computer & Laptop Basics (this course): the computer itself.
Internet, Email & Google Workspace: working online with email and Google tools.

You don't need to finish VA Foundations first, but it gives you the bigger picture of VA work if you are completely new.

1. EXPLORE
Understand the VA world
What VA work is, what it can look like, and where to start.
2. BUILD YOUR FOUNDATIONYou are here
Become ready to learn and work
3. LEARN TO WORK
Learn how work is actually done
Communication, professionalism, instructions, and client work.
4. FIND YOUR DIRECTION
Choose work worth learning
Explore skills and possible VA directions.
5. PRACTICE & PROVE
Build functional skill and evidence
Practice realistic tasks and create proof of what you can do.
6. ENTER THE MARKET
Present yourself and begin working
Prepare your profile, apply for work, and start entering the market.

Optional practice

These separate PVA modules are useful alongside this stage. They are not part of this course:

Document Basics: Practice creating, formatting and saving simple documents.
Spreadsheet Basics: Practice rows, columns, cells and simple spreadsheet tasks.

Course map

8 lessons + Final Challenge