THE FAMILY TREE IN COMPUTING

TEACHING A CHILD COMPUTER TREE IN THE WORLD OF COMPUTING

The family is an integral part of the society, every born human being belongs to one family or another at one time or the other, no one is isolated in this world, “excluding Adam and Eve” who came directly from God through creation. As you try to teach a child about the family tree of the computer system, it would be very important to know that every family has a member or various members in the family. Each family makes up a community where people live together and interact. That is why I am considering this in the world of computing.

Lets take a family of the computer called Input family. The input family is known as input device, others may call it input unit, some other people may easily refer to it as input machine. Which ever name you are free or familiar with call it, ‘trust me’ it is always ready to perform its function as a member of the input family.

The responsibility of the input family is premised on creating an area where you (the computer user) can send various things into the computer system to create a sensible information.

There are various members of the input family, they are known by how they function. I love to start with the most ‘prominent one’ because as long as the computer operation is concern no other device can perform its activity and it is one of the main parts of the computer system, if it is absent the computer operation will not proceed further, it is no other than keyboard! You’re welcome Mr. Keyboard!

As earlier narrated the keyboard is prominent because without it being present in the computer connection, the computer will not function. (you can read more in the previous blog! WHAT IS A COMPUTER TO A CHILD? And HOW TO TEACH A COMPUTER PARTS!)

The basic function of the keyboard is that it is use for typing. You can use it to type numbers : 1, 20, 300, 4000..., You also type letters: A, B, C, D... Create words, sentences, complex paragraph.... You can also type symbols to enhance your numbers and letters : !@#$%^&* ...  You can also have the opportunity to combine the forms together to create a logical meaning with what you type.

Apart from the typing tasks and responsibilities the keyboard helps the computer user to give commands to the computer system through the use of special keys like the function keys, when you need help in an interface, press the key F1! Then help will come running. You can use the keyboard to move around the computer environment; this task is carried out by the moving keys, which is also referred to as Navigation keys. Example are Home keys, End keys, PageUp keys... There are other special effects activities carried out by the keyboard, this can be referred to as the shortcut activities. Where an activity that would require opening various dialogue boxes and window can be done, by just pressing combined keys to give a command. For example to save a document or file, simply press ‘control key’ and keypad ‘S’ together at once... (Control + S)

When the operation of the keyboard is properly mastered it would give the computer user the opportunity to extensively use the computer system, without relying any other member of the input family.

However no matter the amount of the professionalism you may have in the use of the keyboard, there are certain things it cannot do for you in the course of operating the computer system, that is the reason you need another member of the input family called the computer mouse.

The computer mouse as member of the input family functions as a clicking component this member of the input family has been designed to spot item (icon), with pressing capabilities on the item (icon) through a button on the computer mouse; its work is done!

The computer mouse as a member of the input family can perform numerous task apart from clicking, some include the following:

You can use it to drag icon(s) from one position to the other.

You can use it to highlight or select texts, files, folders, images or anything that has properties.

You can use it to find out more about the files, folders or any item, when you display it properties.

When you attain the mastery of the computer mouse, you will discover it has two sides: the right and the left side, which can perform various functions. The left side of the computer mouse allows for highlighting, selecting, clicking and dragging of items. While the right side of the computer mouse allows for right-clicking of items to display the properties of selected files, folders...

There is another aspect of the computer mouse now with new innovation of the computer mouse; the scroll lock, this is responsible for easy moving up and down of the window or page you are presently working on.

The utility of the computer mouse can overlap with the functionality of the computer keyboard; can you remember certain roles played by members of the family, where a particular member develops an inability to perform certain thing, because the other member can, he/she does it like it should have been done by the wounded member. When certain keys on the keyboard refuse to work, because they are bad, then the on-screen keyboard is activated and controlled through the help of the computer mouse. On the other hand too the computer keyboard can help perform some task perform by the computer mouse, when it is not connected to the computer system or it is bad.

The input family has extended family members, like the scanner, whose ability comes to play, when the computer user is faced with certain item(s) that cannot be typed or checked into the computer, then the scanner send such information into the computer system through the process of scanning.

The list is endless, there are other members as well that can enhance the operation of the computer system.

Watch out for the next blog! The other outstanding family tree in the computer system.

Main while let your child or you have a go at this ICT Quizzes!

Suitable for kids Ages 5-7, Year 1-3 and KS1

ICT Quizzes
1. The computer Keyboard is the part of the computer use for _______
A. Typing
B. Scanning
C. Printing

2. Can the Keyboard perform activities done by the computer Mouse?
A. NO
B. YES

3. An input device is use for _______
A. Displaying Information
B. Sending Data into PC
C. Shunning Information

4. ____ is not an input device    
A. Scanner
B. Printer
C. Light Pen

5. The input device using for clicking is _____
A. Scanner
B. Mouse
C. Microphone

6. Magnetic Ink ________    
A. Red
B. Road
C. Reader

7. Bar ______ Reader            
A. Cold
B. Cool
C.Code

___ is used in the supermarket and mall
Bar Code Reader
Bad Code Reader
Bull Code Reader

___ is used to verify cheques
Manner Ink Reader
Magnetic Ink Reader
Mile Ink Reader

___ is used to mark examination script
Optical Character Reader
Open Character Reader
OK Character Reader

TEACHING A CHILD PARTS OF THE COMPUTER

TEACHING A CHILD PARTS OF THE COMPUTER

Children learn fast and retain facts for a longer period when they are happy while teaching them; it is therefore very important you attain this fit, thereby creating an atmosphere for giving these young minds the best, in the course of their personal development.

In the previous blog I tried to demystified ‘how you could teach a to define a computer’ leading such a child to a point where He/She can express broader idea of computer definition. As I take another look into another area of computing for young minds, I want to look into ‘teaching a child the computer parts’

With the knowledge of computer as an electronic machine that works with data to produce results (information), the computer has no ability to do this without the needed parts, these parts must be connected together in a logical sense to make the computer function.

I have always taught children that the parts of computer can be seen in broad area:

Firstly, the parts that makes the computer what it is! That is to say that a computer is nothing without these parts coming together.

And, secondly, other parts that enhances the operation of the computer system.

Haven established this then, children must be taught to be able to distinctively differentiate the various parts that makes up the computer system, and its ability to function and display the needed result. Then let me take them one after the other:

THE COMPUTER MAIN PARTS
An average child could pick the computer system or any other computer related device up and start operating it like a computer professional would, but may not be able to identify the main parts. A child should be taught that the computer is made of 3 main parts. A computer is non-existence until this 3 main parts are assembled and connected together to form a single unit. These three main parts are: KEYBOARD, MONITOR & SYSTEM UNIT.

These parts cease to be called their individual names, once they have been connected together, their individual names will now be collectively called COMPUTER! At this point it becomes clear to note that when each part is alone and not connected, it cannot function, it is functionless and useless. It functionality becomes clear when assembled together with other 2’ computer main parts. ‘You cannot substitute any other parts to make a computer system, apart from the 3 main parts: Keyboard, Monitor & system unit.

When connected together therefore, the keyboard would be able to perform its function as an input device. The keyboard which is the entry point of data into the computer environment, possesses the ability to send data into the computer, then the system unit, picks it up and access whatever is entered into the computer, carry out the required processes and when it done the monitor, makes it self available by displaying the result for the user to see. An individual part of the computer without the other cannot do this alone.

It gets to a point the main parts of the computer becomes tired, develop set back or inadequate to perform the result expected by a computer user in the process of operating the computer, then the other parts which are not computer main parts comes to functionality. This then lead us to the second aspect of the parts of the computer-other computer parts.

OTHER PARTS OF THE COMPUTER
The other parts of the computer can also be called computer peripheral, you can also referred to it as computer accessories. The other parts of the computer can be described as those parts that are not computer main parts (keyboard, Monitor & System unit), but help and enhances the work of the computer. The other parts of the computer would come in to help the main parts of the computer’s operation. You would understand better as we consider the deficiency of each computer main parts and they would give an SOS’ call for other parts of the computer for help.

Take the keyboard, when a particular keypad on the keyboard refuses to obey the punching or pressing command’ for instance maybe you want to press letter ‘A’ and you can’t see it. Doing this may get a computer user frustrated,(When a keypad is not responding to a pressing signal) it appears the A’ keypad is bad! Here is the part I call the SOS time, do not pick up any worry! Access the On-Screen keyboard. This can be properly used by the computer mouse. When the On-Screen keyboard is displayed on the screen of the monitor, you can now press letter ‘A’ through the use of the computer mouse.

The computer mouse supports various activities of the keyboard. The computer keyboard and mouse belong to the same family’ (watch out for computer family) Their function can overlap’ the computer mouse can perform some functions of the computer keyboard.

There are various computer accessories in the world of computer today, as the trend in computing technology continues more and more innovation would be discovered, but to stay on this subject, young minds should exposed to basic computer accessories like the printer, projector, plotter, speaker they all support the activities and task of the computer system.

Exposing young minds to computer parts is very important. There are so many computer accessories they would come across in the process of time. In the world of ICT the knowledge a person receives today lays a foundation for tomorrow’s understanding. Children are not excluded from this in any way.

Watch out in the next blog as we explore, teaching children family tree in the world of computer.

Let your child have a goal at this ICT quizzes

LEVEL 1
(Suitable for KS1, ages 5-7, year 1-3)
1. The computer has___ parts
A. One       B. Two     C. Many

The computer has ____ main parts
A. 2    B. 3        C. 5

Each part of the computer performs ___
Special jobs   B. Statue jobs   C. State jobs

Some parts of the computer are ___ and ___
Inside and outside
Pin side and pound side
Min side and Max side

Some computer parts are attached by ___
Weird     B. Wire         C. Where

Some other computer parts can be connected without wires they are___
Wireless   B. Wire last     C. Wire loss

The parts we can touch are ___
Had what   B. Hardware    C. Hard cost

The program that tells the computer what to do is ___
Softer       B. Soft        C. Software

The hardware need ___ to tell it what to do
Sorter      B. Software     C. Shopper

The keyboard is an ___ device
Input       B. In part      C. Impact

___ can be connected to the computer
Power      B. Printer      C. Proton