Computer Navigation
Senior 1 · ICT
Computer Navigation
Lesson 3 of 5
18 min
Let's begin
Mugisha has Calculator, a web page and his notes open at the same time. Each one sits in its own rectangle on the screen. These rectangles are called windows, and they gave Microsoft Windows its name. Knowing how to move, resize and switch between them lets you work on several things at once.
A window is a rectangular area of the screen in which a program, a folder or a message is shown. Many windows can be open at the same time.
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| Title bar | The strip along the top. It shows the name of the program or the open file. Drag it to move the window. |
| Control buttons | At the right end of the title bar: Minimize (–) hides the window on the taskbar; Maximize (□) makes it fill the screen, and then becomes Restore Down (two small squares), which returns it to its earlier size; Close (X) closes it. |
| Menu bar or ribbon | Words such as File, Edit and View, or tabs of buttons, that give the program's commands. |
| Toolbar | A row of buttons for common commands. |
| Work area | The main part, where the document, picture or folder contents appear. |
| Scroll bars | At the right and bottom edges; drag them to see parts that do not fit. |
| Status bar | A strip at the bottom giving information, such as the number of items in a folder. |
| Borders | The edges; drag a border or a corner to resize the window. |
| To do this | With the mouse | With the keyboard |
|---|---|---|
| Switch between open windows | Click the program's button on the taskbar | Hold Alt and press Tab until the one you want is chosen |
| Place two windows side by side | Drag a title bar to the left or right edge of the screen | Windows key + left arrow or right arrow |
| Show the desktop | Minimize every window | Windows key + D |
| Close the active window | Click X | Alt + F4 |
Accessories are small programs that come with Windows. Find them by typing their names in Start search.
| Accessory | Use |
|---|---|
| Notepad | Typing plain text, with no formatting |
| Paint | Drawing and simple picture editing |
| Calculator | Standard and scientific calculations, and converting units |
| Snipping Tool | Taking a picture of all or part of the screen (a screenshot). Shortcut: Windows key + Shift + S |
| Sticky Notes | Short reminders on the desktop |
| Sound Recorder (Voice Recorder in Windows 10) | Recording speech with the microphone |
Older versions of Windows also had WordPad, a simple word processor. It is no longer included from Windows 11 version 24H2.
Mugisha must work out the cost of 36 exercise books at 350 Frw each and keep the answer in his notes.
Tip
Minus hides, square fills, X closes. Hold Alt and tap Tab to jump between windows.
A window fills the whole screen and you want it smaller again. Which button do you click?
Solution: Restore Down (the button with two small squares, where Maximize was).
What is the difference between minimising and closing a window?
Solution: Minimising hides the window on the taskbar; the program keeps running and you can click its button to bring it back. Closing ends the program (it asks you to save first if needed).
You try to click in your document, but nothing happens because a box asking "Save changes?" is open. What kind of window is it, and what must you do?
Solution: A dialog box. You must answer it (for example Save, Don't Save or Cancel) before you can return to the program.
Which accessory would you use to (a) take a picture of an error message on the screen, (b) draw a simple map of your village?
Solution: (a) Snipping Tool; (b) Paint.
Remember
Sources and credits
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
