- Find the Accessories menu (Start -> All Programs -> Accessories).
Start the Calculator accessory program:
- Minimize the window by clicking on its minimize (
) button,
restore the window by clicking the appropriate button on the task bar.
- Name the commands listed on the Calculator program's menu bar.
- What are the choices under the View option? What happens when you switch between settings?
- Minimize the window by clicking on its minimize (
-
Start the Notepad accessory program:
- Switch back and forth between Notepad and Calculator.
- Maximize the window using the maximize button, and then restore it.
- Move or resize the windows so that both are programs are side by side.
- Use Notepad to type a few lines about yourself.
- Save the file to disk.
- Make some changes to the file and save it again with another name. (Make sure you understand the difference between Save and Save As...)
If you are using a Macintosh computer, the instructions for using the text editor, TextEdit, are here
For this course, you will need to become familiar with two different Web browsers. One browser you will use is Internet Explorer, which is probably already installed on your computer, if you are using a PC. The default browser on a Mac is Safari. The second browser is Firefox. If you don't have Firefox installed on your computer, you can get a free download of Firefox here.
- Use Firefox to go to the course home page, http://userhome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/irudowsky/CORC1312.htm.
- Now open Internet Explorer and look at the same page. Note the differences in the way the page is displayed.
The location of the Brooklyn College CIS department web site is
But the location is rather long, so rather than type it manually, we will use the mouse to copy text:
- Position the mouse on the left side of the "http://..."
- Hold down the left button on the mouse.
- With the left button in a down position, sweep the cursor over the whole line from left to right. You should see the line become highlighted as you move the mouse over it.
- When you reach the end of the line, let go of the left mouse button and press <CTRL>-C (Control and C buttons at the same time)
- Open a new Notepad window.
- Position the cursor in the Notepad window and press <CTRL>-V. A copy of the location of the course Web page should appear.
- Now try to do the same thing in the Web browser. Now click in the field (white area) near the top of the window that is used for typing in the location of a Web page and use <CTRL>-V to paste in the location of the CIS dept web site.
- If you don't have a personal email account, go to hotmail.com or gmail.com and set up an email id.
- All students are given a Brooklyn College e-mail account. If you want to forward your BC e-mail to your personal e-mail account, you may do so through the Brooklyn College portal. Once you have logged on to the portal, click on the My Info tab. Then, add your personal email address to the WebCentral Personal Info channel.
- Send a message to a friend (try sending a message to the person sitting next to you in the lab.)
- Read your incoming mail. You may have mail from a classmate.
- Reply to an email message. (You may have to ask a friend to send you a message so that you can reply.)
- Learn how to use your email account to email a file as an attachment. (Look for the paper clip icon.) Make sure that you can email a file as an attachment by sending a file to yourself or to a friend.
Do you have a MySpace page or a Facebook page? Do you view or post to YouTube or twitter friends and family? These social networking sites are often referred to as parts of Web 2.0. Brooklyn College actively participates in Web 2.0 activities. The Brooklyn College Library has a MySpace page and the College has a presence on Facebook. The College also offers a blog on the College's, portal called BC Announcements, which can be accessed using a RSS feed. More information about RSS is given at this site. The College's twitter feed is at bklyncollege411. The CIS department has it's own Facebook page