Meet Your Computer
✓ CompletedYou don't need to be an IT expert to become a VA.
You do need to recognize the basic parts of your computer and understand the everyday words people use for them. When a client says "check your taskbar" or "restart your browser," you should know what they mean.
That's what this lesson is for. Let's start from zero.
"Ano ba ang browser?" "Pareho lang ba ang Google at Chrome?" Normal lang magtanong ng ganyan. Walang nakakahiya sa pagsisimula sa umpisa.
Laptop or Desktop?
A laptop has everything built into one device: the screen, keyboard, trackpad, camera, microphone and battery. You can carry it and use it without plugging it in until the battery runs low.
A desktop computer has separate pieces: a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, and a box or all-in-one screen that holds the computer itself. It needs to stay plugged in.
Either one works for VA tasks. This course works for both.
Windows or Mac?
Most computers run either Windows (made by Microsoft) or macOS (on Apple's Mac computers). They look a little different and some buttons have different names, but they do the same basic jobs.
Whenever the steps are different, the lessons show both.
The Parts You Can Touch
This is the hardware: the physical parts of the computer. You don't need to know how they work inside. You only need to recognize them and know what they're for.
| Part | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Screen (display or monitor) | Shows everything: windows, text, pictures. |
| Keyboard | Typing text and pressing shortcuts. |
| Mouse or trackpad | Moving the pointer on the screen, clicking and selecting. A trackpad is the flat touch area on a laptop. |
| Webcam | The small camera, usually above the screen, used for video calls. |
| Microphone | Picks up your voice for calls and recordings. |
| Speakers or headphones | Let you hear sound. A headset combines headphones and a microphone. |
| Power button and charger | Turn the computer on and keep the battery charged. |
| Ports | The openings on the side or back where you plug things in, such as a USB flash drive, charger, headset or extra monitor. |
Different computers have different ports. If a cable doesn't fit, the port is probably a different type. Never force it.
The Parts You See on Screen
Everything you see and use on the screen is software. Here is a simple way to picture how it fits together, from the biggest thing to the smallest:
- ComputerThe whole deviceYour laptop or desktop.
- Operating systemThe main system that runs everythingWindows or macOS. It starts when you turn the computer on.
- ApplicationsThe programs you open to do thingsA web browser, Zoom, a document or spreadsheet program. Also called apps or programs.
- FilesThe individual things you create, receive or saveA document, a photo, a spreadsheet, a PDF.
- FoldersWhere files are kept and organizedLike physical folders holding papers.
You'll spend most of your working day inside applications, working with files, and keeping those files in the right folders. Lessons 3 and 4 cover files and folders in detail.
Everyday Screen Words
These words come up constantly, in lessons, in client instructions, and in help articles:
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Desktop | The main screen you see when no program is covering it. |
| Icon | A small picture that stands for a program, file or folder. |
| Window | The box a program or folder opens in. You can have many open at once. |
| Taskbar (Windows) / Dock (Mac) | The strip, usually at the bottom of the screen, showing your open and pinned programs. |
| Start menu (Windows) / Launchpad or Spotlight (Mac) | Where you find and open programs you don't see on the screen. |
| Settings (Windows) / System Settings (Mac) | Where you change how your computer works: Wi-Fi, sound, display, updates. |
| Notifications | Small messages that pop up in a corner of the screen to tell you something happened. |
You don't need to memorize this table. These words will become natural as you use them in the next lessons.
Starting and Stopping Your Computer
These four actions sound simple, but people mix them up. Each one does something different:
| Action | What happens, and when to use it |
|---|---|
| Lock | Hides the screen. Everything stays open, and you need your password or PIN to get back in. Use it any time you step away, even for a minute. |
| Sleep | Pauses the computer to save power. Your open work is kept. Closing a laptop's lid usually puts it to sleep. Use it for short breaks or when moving your laptop. |
| Restart | Closes everything, turns off, and turns on again. Use it after updates, or when the computer is slow or acting strangely. |
| Shut down | Closes everything and turns the computer off completely. Use it at the end of the day, or before a long trip. |
Holding down the power button for several seconds forces the computer off. Only do this if the computer is completely frozen and nothing else works, because it doesn't give your programs a chance to save.
What's This?
Read each description and choose what it describes. You'll see an explanation right away.
The main system that starts when you turn the computer on and runs everything else.
A web browser, Zoom, and a spreadsheet program are all examples of…
A client sends you one photo called product-front.jpg. What is it?
The strip along the bottom of the screen that shows your open programs.
Your screen is too dim and you want to change the brightness. Where would you look?
Your computer has been on for days and is running slowly. You've saved your work. What's a good first step?
Your computer has two sides: the hardware you can touch, and the software you see on the screen.
Remember:
- Computer → operating system → applications → files → folders.
- Windows and Mac use different names for some things, but they do the same basic jobs.
- Lock your screen when you step away. Restart when things get slow. Save before you restart or shut down.
- You don't need to memorize every word today. They'll become natural as you use them.