Computer & Technology Basics Course for Absolute
Beginners
Introduction to Computers
This course is designed for beginners who are new to using computers or for those who want to
fill in the gaps in their knowledge. Computers are all around us, from laptops to smartphones to
smartwatches, and they are changing the way we live our lives. In this course, we will cover a
variety of topics, and you can use the time codes in the description to skip to the topic you want
to learn about. This course was developed by GCF Global.org.
What is a Computer?
A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information or data. It sees data as ones
and zeros, but it knows how to combine them into more complex things, such as a photo, movie,
website, game, and more. Computers use a combination of hardware and software. Hardware
refers to any physical part of the computer, including internal components and external parts
like the monitor and keyboard. Software refers to any set of instructions that tells the hardware
what to do, such as a web browser, media player, or word processor.
Personal computers come in a few different styles, and the most common type uses the
Windows operating system. Macintosh computers feature the Mac OS operating system, while
Chromebooks run on Chrome OS. Smartphones and other mobile devices mostly use the iOS or
Android operating systems. There are many different types of computers out there, and each
one plays a part in our modern world.
Buttons and Ports
Every computer has its own set of buttons and ports. Some buttons are universal, like the power
button, which can be located on the front, back, behind the screen, or even on the inside when
Beginners
Introduction to Computers
This course is designed for beginners who are new to using computers or for those who want to
fill in the gaps in their knowledge. Computers are all around us, from laptops to smartphones to
smartwatches, and they are changing the way we live our lives. In this course, we will cover a
variety of topics, and you can use the time codes in the description to skip to the topic you want
to learn about. This course was developed by GCF Global.org.
What is a Computer?
A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information or data. It sees data as ones
and zeros, but it knows how to combine them into more complex things, such as a photo, movie,
website, game, and more. Computers use a combination of hardware and software. Hardware
refers to any physical part of the computer, including internal components and external parts
like the monitor and keyboard. Software refers to any set of instructions that tells the hardware
what to do, such as a web browser, media player, or word processor.
Personal computers come in a few different styles, and the most common type uses the
Windows operating system. Macintosh computers feature the Mac OS operating system, while
Chromebooks run on Chrome OS. Smartphones and other mobile devices mostly use the iOS or
Android operating systems. There are many different types of computers out there, and each
one plays a part in our modern world.
Buttons and Ports
Every computer has its own set of buttons and ports. Some buttons are universal, like the power
button, which can be located on the front, back, behind the screen, or even on the inside when
