Australian Flexible Learning Framework for the National Vocational Education and Training System 2000-2004.
General Overview
Purpose
Target audience
Elements of Skills
Underpinning ideas
Learning setting
The Interface
Activities
Activity 1: Identify Computer Hardware
Activity 2: Using the Mouse
Activity 3: Using the Keyboard
Activity 4: Identify the correct Software Applications
Activity 5: Communicate Electronically
Activity 6: Using a Word Processor
Activity 7: Using Electronic Mail (email)
Activity 8: Using the World Wide Web (Internet)
Activity 9: File Management
Activity 10: Virus Protection
Activity 11: Occupational Health and Safety
Computer based learning throughout Australia has increased significantly over the past few years. The increased use of computer technologies in industry and the demand for a more flexible approach to teaching and learning are the main driving force behind this evolution and will ensure its vital role will increase in the future.
This Interactive tool provides a range of activities that will help you assess
whether you have the very basic skills required for undertaking computer-based
learning. This resource is not intended to be a learning tool but it could be
assumed that by doing the activities you may acquire some necessary skills.
The target audience for this Skills Assessment for Computer-based Learning (SACL) is learners preparing to study all or part of a course that requires them to use a computer.
The ability to self-assess computer based learning skills will be particularly
valuable to learners, such as online students, trainees, on-the-job learning
participants and students undertaking studies that have components that require
the use of computers.
Identify Computer Hardware
Using the Mouse
Using the Keyboard
Identify Software Applications
Communicate Electronically
Using a Word Processor
Using Email
Use the Internet
Maintaining Files
Virus Protection
Occupational Health and Safety
The SACL tool takes an activity based approach in its method of evaluation. It is intended that these skills be of a very low level so as not to exclude learners approaching study at an AQF level 1.
It was also intended to be of a very generic nature to allow for the large range of computer hardware and software applications, now and in the future.
There may well be additional computer skill required by a particular course of study, which is not dealt with here. These skill requirements can be added to this tool or given as a supplement.
All activities can be customised – they can be adapted by the Training Organisation for different content and/or different delivery contexts.
Each activity is a discrete entity that can be completed alone, or in conjunction
with other activities.
To provide a relatively simple to use interface, there is a menu provided on the left hand side of the screen which will track which activities you have visited. The menu consists of all the activity options available and also a button (HOME) for returning to the main activity screen.
In the main activity area there is also a graphical interface, which will allow
you to navigate visually to the area of activity you wish. Using the graphical
interface will also track on the left menu activities you have visited.
The SACL Tool delivers a set of segregated activities for each of the skills that have been determined as essential by a number of Registered Training Organisations across Australia.
Because each activity is self-contained and independent of other activities,
you can compete the activities in any order you like.
In this activity, you will demonstrate:
· Your ability to identify various features and components of a computer system
The Identify Computer Hardware activity is a drag and drop feature that will establish if you know enough about the PC to be able to operate it successfully.
Of knowing the following devices:
1. Mouse
2. Keyboard
3. CPU
4. Monitor
5. Speakers
6. Microphone
7. Floppy drive
8. CD Rom
9. Printer
Task 1. What does the Mouse do?
Task 2. What does the Keyboard do?
Task 3. What is the CPU?
Task 4. What is the monitor used for?
Task 5. What sort of disks go in the CD Rom drive?
Task 6. What sort of disks go in the Floppy drive?
In this activity, you will demonstrate:
· The appropriate use of the left and right mouse buttons
Mouse Skills is a drag and drop activity to demonstrate use of the left and right mouse buttons.
Mouse Clicks is a test of skill in double clicking the left mouse button.
Demonstrate the following skills in using the mouse:
1. Opening an application
2. Highlighting a passage of text
3. Accessing to the shortcut menu
4. Drag and Drop
5. Selecting an icon
Choose the correct applications of a mouse for the task given
Task 1. A right mouse click will?
a. Make a selection
b. Move item to a new location
c. Access the shortcut menu
d. Open an application
Task 2. A left mouse click will?
a. Make a selection
b. Move item to a new location
c. Access the shortcut menu
d. Open an application
Task 3. A double mouse click will?
a. Make a selection
b. Move item to a new location
c. Access the shortcut menu
d. Open an application
Task 4. The term “Drag and Drop” refers to?
a. Making a selection
b. Moving an item to a new location
c. Accessing the shortcut menu
d. Opening an application
In this activity, you will demonstrate:
· The appropriate use and function of keys on the Keyboard
Keyboard Skills is a drag and drop activity to demonstrate use of the function keys.
Is a visual identification of certain keys.
· Turn on Caps Lock
· Turn on Numbers lock
· Enter the @ symbol
Demonstrate the following skills in using the Keyboard:
1. Deleting text using the delete key
2. Deleting text using the Back Space
3. Moving the cursor using the arrow keys
4. Using the Tab function correctly
5. Using Caps Lock correctly
6. Using Numbers Lock correctly
7. Enter symbols
Task 1. Deletes character to the right
a. Back Space
b. Arrow Keys
c. Delete
d. Tab
Task 2. Inserts a measured space
a. Back Space
b. Arrow keys
c. Delete
d. Tab
Task 3. Deletes a character to the left
a. Back Space
b. Arrow keys
c. Delete
d. Tab
Task 4. Moves the cursor in the direction indicated
a. Back Space
b. Arrow keys
c. Delete
d. Tab
Task 5. Cancels the current task
a. Shift Key + % key
b. Caps or C/Lock is lit
c. ESC
d. Num or N/lock is lit
Task 6. Key pad numbers are active
a. Shift Key + % key
b. Caps or C/Lock is lit
c. ESC
d. Num or N/lock is lit
Task 7. Symbol will be entered
a. Shift Key + % key
b. Caps or C/Lock is lit
c. ESC
d. Num or N/lock is lit
Task 8. Typing will be in uppercase
a. Shift Key + % key
b. Caps or C/Lock is lit
c. ESC
d. Num or N/lock is lit
In this activity, you will demonstrate:
· The appropriate Software application to use for a Task given
Application Selection is a drag and drop activity to demonstrate the appropriate choice of software applications for completing a given task.
Choose the correct software applications for the task given
Task 1. You need to research some information to complete a report
a. Email
b. Word Processor
c. Internet Browser
d. Spread Sheet
Task 2. You need to create a budget that will update as you enter data
a. Email
b. Word Processor
c. Internet Browser
d. Spread Sheet
Task 3. You need to ask your online course facilitator a question
a. Email
b. Word Processor
c. Internet Browser
d. Spread Sheet
Task 4. You are required to write a report
a. Email
b. Word Processor
c. Internet Browser
d. Spread Sheet
In this activity, you will demonstrate:
· Your ability to communicate effectively in an electronic environment with an understanding of Netiquette
Netiquette is a multiple-choice activity to demonstrate appropriate ways to communicate electronically.
Demonstrate adhering to the principles of Netiquette in the following:
1. Email
2. Chat rooms
Bulletin boards
Choose the correct answer
Task 1. In electronic communication, typing in all capitals means?
a. This message is very important
b. This message is easier to read
c. The person writing in capitals is shouting
d. Writing in capitals doesn't mean anything
Task 2. Before posting to a discussion group you should?
a. Find the Frequently asked Questions document (FAQ)
b. Read the FAQ
c. Read some of the existing postings
d. All of the above
Task 3. A Flame is?
a. A post or message that expresses a strong opinion or criticism
b. A person who breaks the rules of netiquette
c. A type of computer virus
d. A person who is very good at programming computers
Task 4. The golden rule of netiquette is?
a. Never flame a friend
b. Remember the human
c. Follow all the rules of netiquette
d. A smiley in every message
In this activity, you will demonstrate:
· Your ability to use and identify various features of a Generic Word Processing Application
This activity is a combination of “True False” and multiple choice questions.
This is a practical identification of common Icons used in Word Processing
applications.
· Bold Icon
· Italic Icon
· Colour of Font
· Save
· Increase Indent
· Help Menu
Of the following devices
1. Changing Fonts
2. Using Print options
3. Saving a document to a new location
4. Identify Icons used in Formatting a document
Answer the following questions
Task 1. You can change the style of Text that has been highlighted by?
a. Selecting the Italic Icon
b. Changing the Font option in the drop down box
c. Clicking on the Format Menu, Selecting Font and choosing a new Font
d. All of the above
Task 2. You can print part of a page by highlighting it and clicking on the
radio button in the Print options called Selection?
a. True
b. False
Task 3. What is the best way to find out where your document is going to print?
a. Walk over to the printer
b. Hold your mouse over the print icon
c. Click on the File menu, choose print and see which printer is selected
d. Both b and c
Task 4. If I wanted to save my document to a new location I could?
a. Click on the save Icon
b. Re-type the document
c. Click on the File menu, choose Save As and select new location
d. Copy and Paste the document into a new page and select the save Icon
In this activity, you will demonstrate:
· Your ability to communicate via Electronic mail (email)
· Attaching documents to an email
A multiple-choice activity designed to evaluate your knowledge of electronic mail.
A true or false activity designed to evaluate your knowledge of electronic mail.
A multiple-choice activity designed to evaluate your knowledge of attachments.
An Interactive practical demonstration designed to assess your skills in attaching a file to an email.
Demonstrate knowledge in electronic mail systems
1. ISP accounts
2. Web mail accounts (e.g. Hotmail, Yahoo)
3. Sending a file attachment
4. Opening and saving a file attachment
Choose the correct answer
Task 1. Which of the following is an Email address?
a. www.mailme.hotmail.com
b. http://www.mailme.hotmail.com
c. mailme@hotmail.com
d. All of the above
Task 2. Where would you normally get an Email address?
a. Your local Post Office
b. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP e.g. Bigpond, Optus)
c. Your local Government Authority (e.g. City Council)
d. Various web sites on the internet (e.g. Hotmail, Yahoo)
Task 3. Email is considered to be confidential
a. True
b. False
Task 4. You can send the same message to many people
c. True
d. False
Task 5. Email allows you to attach other computer files to a message.
a. True
b. False
Task 6. What types of files can be attached to an Email message?
a. Word-processing document file
b. Spreadsheet
c. Graphics file
d. Database file
e. Any of the above
Task 7. Are there any restrictions in relation to the file when sending it
as an Email attachment?
a. Can only send one file at a time
b. Size of the file
c. Type of file
d. All of the above
Task 8. When using the REPLY feature with an Email message that has an attachment
what components of the replied Email are sent to the recipient? (Choose all
that apply)
a. The original senders Email address
b. The original message content
c. The original attachment
d. The new message content you have used in your reply
e. All of the above
In this activity, you will demonstrate your ability to:
· Use the internet
· Use a web browser
· Use a search engine
A multiple-choice activity designed to evaluate your knowledge of the Internet.
A multiple-choice activity designed to determine your knowledge of Web Browser’s.
A practical identification of common Icons and features used to browse the
Internet.
· Q. You want to go back to the first page that is always displayed when
you start your Internet browser.
Icon: Home
· Q. You have just clicked on the back button by mistake which icon would
undo this action?
Icon: Forward
· Q. You clicked on the wrong link, which icon would you click to undo
this action?
Icon: Back
· Q. You know that a web page has been updated but it still shows the
old, information, which icon will update the page?
Icon: Refresh
· Q. Where do you type the www.address of a website?
Icon: Address Bar
· Q. If you are not sure how to use a feature of the browser you could
find out by using which icon?
Icon: Help menu
Is a multiple-choice activity to determine your knowledge of Search Engines.
Demonstrate your ability to enter a search and utilise the information provided.
Demonstrate skills in the following
· Internet concepts
· Web browser features
· Searching the internet
Choose the correct answer
Task 1. Which of the following are uses of the Internet?
a. Electronic storage facility
b. Electronic mailing system (e-mail)
c. Information sharing facility
d. Network of computers and computer networks
e. Electronic meeting place
f. All of the above
Task 2. Which of the following do you require to effectively use the Internet?
a. Appropriate computer hardware
b. Communication device eg. modem, satellite or cable connection etc
c. Communications software
d. A connection to the Internet e.g. through an Internet Service Provider (ISP),
an employer’s or other organisation’s Internet services
e. Web Browser
f. All of the above
Task 3. What is the role of an Internet Service Provider (ISP)?
a. An ISP provides an Internet ‘backbone’ connection to all telephone lines
b. An ISP has a printer connected to your power supply and phone line
c. An ISP allows you dial-in access (for a cost) to a connection on their computer
which is connected to the Internet ‘backbone’
d. All of the above
e. None of the above
Task 4. What best describes a Web Browser?
a. A computer that is connected to the Internet
b. A process of transferring files over a telecommunications link to your computer
c. Software that allows you to access information on the Internet e.g. Internet
Explorer or Netscape Navigator
d. A web-crawler or ‘spider’ that searches Web pages to capture Meta data
e. All of the above
Task 5. What can a Web Browser do?
a. Allows you to access Web pages and information across the Internet
b. Allows you to access programs you can use for searching the Internet e.g.
Search Engines
c. Allows you to print documents from the Internet (provided you have printer
access)
d. Allows you to go backwards and forwards between a history of Web pages
e. Allows you to store your favourite Web site address (es) for easy access
f. All of the above
Task 6. Please list the following steps in preferred sequence to allow you
to access a Web Browser and use a Search Engine.
a. Open a Web Browser e.g. Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator
b. Perform the search e.g. type in the required text string and click the search
button
c. Type in the required Search Engine Web address (or access from your bookmarks/favourites
or your default home page)
d. Dial in/Log on to your Internet Server Provider (where applicable) through
your computer
Task 7. What is a Search Engine?
a. A database of Web sites that loads when you click the ‘Print’ button of your
browser
b. Part of a modem that sends signals across your telephone line
c. A piece of hardware that is attached to your computer to speed it up
d. A program that searches for Web pages and other documents
e. All of the above
Task 8. Once I access a Search Engine, how do I learn to use it efficiently?
a. Type in some text and click the ‘Search’ button
b. Follow links to directory or category structures that are relevant to my
search
c. Access the Help files and Advanced Search features
d. Trial and error
e. All of the above
Task 9. Which of the following Web addresses will access a Search Engine?
a. www.au.yahoo.com
b. www.au.altavista.com
c. www.google.com
d. www.search.com
e. www.excite.com
f. www.hotbot.lycos.com
g. All of the above
In this activity, you will demonstrate your ability to:
· Start a new file
· Save and store data correctly
· Find data
Perform a practical demonstration of starting a new file.
A practical demonstration of renaming and saving an existing file to a new location.
A multiple-choice activity.
1. Renaming and saving an existing file to a new location
2. Starting a new file
3. Finding a specific File
Choose the correct answer
Task 1. Which of the following Icons would you use to locate a file?
a. My documents
b. Internet explorer
c. My Computer
d. Network Neighborhood
Task 2. To start a new letter using the menu you would?
a. Click on Insert then select New Letter
b. Click on View then select New Letter
c. Click on Edit then select Write a new Letter
d. Click on File then select New
Task 3. How would you save a File?
a. Click on the Save Icon
b. Click on the File menu and select Save
c. Click on the File menu and select new
d. Both a and b
Task 4. How would you find a particular file on your computer?
a. By double clicking on the My Computer Icon then selecting the drive where
the File exists
b. By a right mouse click on the My Computer Icon and selecting the Explore
Option in the Shortcut menu
c. By a right mouse click on the Start Button and selecting the Explore option
from the Shortcut menu
d. By clicking on the Start Button, choosing Find and selecting Find Files or
Folders
e. Any of the above
In this activity, you will demonstrate your ability to:
· Determine virus threats
· Determine methods of prevention
A True / False activity designed to evaluate your knowledge of virus threats and methods of prevention.
A practical demonstration designed to show your ability to check a file for a virus.
Demonstrate skills in
1. Checking files for virus
2. Maintaining virus definitions
3. Awareness of virus threats
Choose the correct answer
Task 1. You can catch a virus from a computer
a. True
b. False
Task 2. A virus can spread from computer to computer
a. True
b. False
Task 3. If you read an email that has a virus infected file attachment your
computer will get that virus
a. True
b. False
Task 4. If you open an email attachment that is infected with a virus your
computer will get that virus
a. True
b. False
Task 5. You should scan all files with a virus checker before opening them
a. True
b. False
Task 6. Virus checkers have free updates that are required to be maintained
regularly
a. True
b. False
Task 7. If you receive an email advising you about the harmful effects of a
particular virus, you should follow the advice given
a. True
b. False
In this activity, you will demonstrate your ability to:
· Evaluate your own needs
· Evaluate your surroundings
A multiple-choice activity designed to evaluate your knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety.
This activity contains an image map of a computer environment with issues that
need to be identified.
· Incorrect posture
· Incorrect chair
· Incorrect monitor adjustment
Demonstrate skills in
1. Taking regular breaks
2. Avoiding RSI injuries
3. Hazard identification
Choose all correct responses to the following questions
Task 1. List the things you should do to reduce risk of injury working or playing
on a computer.
a. Take regular breaks
b. Sit far away from your computer
c. Stretch and go for a short walks often
d. Ensure your working environment is safe
e. Look far away from the computer often
Task 2. The right chair should consist of
a. A back rest, adjustable in height and angle
b. Height adjustable
c. Include a foot rest
d. Five star castor base for stability
Task 3. The correct seating position should allow
a. The best view
b. Your thighs to be fully supported
c. Allow a two finger space behind the knee
d. Your feet to rest firmly on the floor
Task 4. Correct posture should include
a. Relaxed shoulders
b. Elbows by your side
c. Your forearms and hands are parallel to the floor
d. You are seated a comfortable distance from the keyboard
e. Your drink is nearby so you don’t have to get up
Task 5. The Monitor should
a. The top of the screen should be level with your eyes
b. Have a screen saver
c. Be 60 – 70cm away from your eyes
Task 6. For the best position, the keyboard should
a. Have an adjustable Keyboard height
b. Be placed 6 –7cm in from the edge of the desk to allow for the wrist to rest
for support
c. Enable you to move the keyboard keys to where they suit the individual
d. Assist to maintain recommended seating position
Task 7. The best document position is
a. A level position beside the screen
b. Directly below the screen above the keyboard
c. In a position where others cannot see it