Plan and Prepare for Task to be Undertaken in Performing Computer Operation
By George P. Lumayag
Before you boot up any operating system, like OS XP, Win 7, Win 10, and higher version, you shall remember always the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) procedures, such as: You should know where the fire extinguisher is located and familiarize on how to use it; You should keep food and drinks out of your workspace; You should keep your workspace clean and free of clutter; and You should not touch areas in printers that are hot or that use high voltage. The most important in PC operations are good outputs and accurate information. You cannot create a website if your system has no operating system. You cannot produce good documents and accurate information if your desktop or computer has no Office application, like Microsoft Office Word and others. You cannot publish things online if you have no knowledge in online applications, like the use of Google Doc and others. And, you cannot fully operate your computer if it is infected with a virus or programs. In order for you to operate the computer, you need to select the appropriate hardware and software which are compatible to each other. Like for example, you cannot install Windows 10 in a Pentium I PC, therefore, you follow the appropriate information pertaining to the system requirements in installing the Windows Operating System. And, you are encouraged to use a licensed Windows Operating System and Microsoft Office if you want to operate the personal computer.
Have you used a computer system with installed Windows 2007? Did you also operate a computer with installed Windows 10 operating system? Can you now distinguish the input data into Windows 10 programs and its office applications?
In utilizing Microsoft Word, did you try to exercise typing the statement, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog?” Now, what about if you need to produce computer generated results? Like for example, you need to secure a list of purchases with corresponding sub-totals and overall total of purchases. Is utilizing the Microsoft Office Excel appropriate on such activity? And had you tried to save your document or file in any of the storage devices?
Moreover, when it comes to the accuracy of information in utilizing the Microsoft Office Application, is using MS Excel application accurate in computing the percentage? You will know the answer if you continue reading this article.
Have you tried using the computer to accomplish the required activities in the Teacher-Made Learner's Home Task Template or individualized module? Or have you tried to encode the document using the computer? This particular topic: “Plan and prepare for task to be undertaken in performing computer operation.”: guides you to operate the system unit, like the desktop Personal Computer or laptop. But since, we are in the period of CoVid Pandemic, you shall have to learn these things at home.
Computer operation: The user is able to use the computer set with installed Windows like for example, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 7, Windows 10 and higher version. And, he is able to input data in the appropriate office applications, like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and other applications. Then, he is able to save and print encoded documents.
Well, there are few steps in operating the computer. First, you plug-in the power cords of the system unit, monitor, and printer into the Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) or directly to the wall outlet. Second, plug-in the USB data cord of the printer. Third, switch on the power buttons of the system unit, monitor, and printer. Fourth, log-in the user’s password if the computer is protected with a password. Fifth, open any of the Microsoft Office applications. If you are using the Mac PC or MacBook laptop, justly select any of the office applications, example Office 365 or Open office. Have you experienced these things?
Operating System: It is a program installed in the computer to let the machine work in accordance with the industry standard. One example for this is the Windows 10 operating system. It is installed in the resident drive C:/. This program is appropriately designed to accept other compatible office applications and drivers.
Mostly, the computer operating system installed in the public school is under the DepEd Computerization Program (DCP) and DepEd availed the Microsoft products. That is why the school has Windows PC with Microsoft Office Applications like MS Word, MS Excel, MS Power Point, MS Access Database and other needed applications for educational and research purposes. Take note that the computer system has system specifications for you to consider before installing an application because it has compatibility requirements. Have you tried to install the appropriate Microsoft Office applications into the computer? That is an advanced essential competency in PC operations. Well, this time, you shall only familiarize on how to input appropriate data into the computer.
Microsoft Office Applications: These office applications are compatible only to Windows PC. These applications are used so that users can input data into the computer and produce accurate outputs for users to save the documents or files into the storage devices. Examples of these are MS Word and MS Excel.
To enter the data into the computer using appropriate program/application in accordance with company procedures is part of this article for you to actualize. But since we are in the period of CoVid 2019 Pandemic, you have an option to just stay at home and utilize only available resources that you have. You are provided with this opinionated article justly to guide you in learning the competency.
These are the procedures for you to enter the data into the computer using Microsoft Office Word.
How do you feel working with the use of the compute? Just in case if you don’t have the computer, what shall you do to actualize this kind of activity?
Input Data: These are the data stored in the computer files using Office Applications, like Microsoft Office Word, Microsoft Office Excel, Microsoft Office Power Point and others. Other input data would be downloaded from the internet and other media storage devices.
To continue the activity, you shall distinguish the process of storing input data into the computer and into the storage media according to requirements.
Input data shall be categorized as original, copied, modified or adopted. Adopted documents are mostly journals downloaded from the internet of different sites like educational websites, government websites, company websites, organization websites, technology websites, personal websites and others.
Storage Media: These are the electronic storage devices like Drive C:, Local Disk Drive, external drive, flash drive, Compact Disc, DVD, Memory Card, SIM Card and others. These are capable of storing .doc, .xls, .ppt., .png, .jpeg, . psd., .html and other files.
Mostly, the computer or laptop is partitioned into two or three drives like Drive C:/, Drive D:/, and Drive E:/. If you have also the DVD writer, it will be added as another drive, like Drive F:/, likewise, if you have also an external Disk Drive, it will also be added as Drive G:/. These are called storage media.
Accuracy of Information: This is precisely the product of input data into the computer. It is the accurate information generated by the program installed in the system wherein the result is automatically computed by the computer program. One example for this is the auto-generated result of the MS Excel 2007 application.
This is one of examples of the input data in relation to accuracy of information.
If you are conscious of accurate results when it comes to the computation of the percentage, you need to input the frequency and the number of cases but be aware of the corresponding columns to be used in the computation of percentage when you use the Insert Function (fx). In this application, you need to type the formula (=D6/G6*100) then press Enter key. Then, drag it down to the last record and don’t forget to save the data by pressing together Control + S keys or justly click the MS Office button, click Save as icon, select the directory, type the filename, and click Save.
Ergonomic Guidelines: These are the set of guidelines for users to do the following: to maintain neutral work posture, to organize a normal work area, to check the computer screen position, to manage the workstation furniture and equipment, to prefer a glare-free screen, and to manage computer use time. (Browse link here for Ergonomic Guidelines)
In computer operation, you should consider important tips on how to perform work within ergonomic guidelines. You should maintain your neutral work posture whenever you use a computer. You must perform good upper body posture (shoulder back but relaxed-not slumping forward over the keyboard); your back is supported by a chair (sitting back in a chair with back > 90 degrees and well supported; the chair seat should not compress behind the knees; your feet should firmly step down on a surface for support (floor/footrest); your head should be balanced on your neck (not tilted back or too far forwards); your knees should have at an angle >90 degrees (i.e., angle behind the knees should be open); don’t sit with your legs tucked under the chair; and your wrist should be neutral. References: