Basics of Computer Notes
Subject Overview
Basics of Computer builds foundational digital literacy in the Microsoft Office Suite — Word, Excel and PowerPoint — that every student needs before moving into design-specific software like CAD and Photoshop later in the program. You'll cover document creation and formatting in Word, spreadsheets and data computation in Excel, and chart creation and presentation design in PowerPoint. This is a 2-credit core practical paper across 4 units, assessed through a practical examination on the modules covered.
Subject at a glance
4
Units
30
Topics
2
Credits
4
Infographics
Unit-wise Syllabus
4 units — open any unit for detailed topic-wise notes, diagrams and important exam questions
- Working with documents
- formatting pages and margins
- creating tables
- spell checks
- editing
- find/search/replace commands
- importing and exporting files
Page layout
Margins, orientation, size
Formatting
Fonts, paragraphs, styles
Tables
Insert, merge, format
Review
Spell check, find and replace
Import and export
PDF and other formats
Study guide
This unit covers MS Word: working with documents, formatting pages and margins, tables, spell check, editing, find and replace and importing and exporting files. Create a portfolio cover page and a resume to practise.
- Introduction to spreadsheets
- menus and toolbars
- computing data
- formatting spreadsheets
- sorting
- filtering
- validation
- consolidation
- subtotals
Sort
Order rows by a column
Filter
Show only matching rows
Validation
Restrict what can be typed
Subtotals
Totals by group
Consolidation
Combine data from several sheets
Study guide
You learn Excel basics: spreadsheets, menus and toolbars, formulas, formatting, sorting, filtering, validation, consolidation and subtotals. Build a simple fabric costing sheet.
- Creating and formatting charts
- labels and scaling
- error checking
- formula auditing
- opening a new presentation
- selecting presentation layouts
Column or bar
Comparing categories
Sales by product
Line
Trends over time
Monthly production
Pie
Parts of a whole
Fibre mix in a collection
Scatter
Relationship between two values
Price vs quality
Study guide
You study charts (creation, formatting, labels, scaling), error checking and formula auditing, and start PowerPoint with layouts. Present data with charts to see the benefit.
- Formatting a presentation
- style
- colour and gradient fills
- arranging objects
- slide backgrounds and layouts
- adding graphics/pictures/movies
- animation and transition effects
- audio and video
- 1Choose a layout and theme
- 2Add content
Text, pictures, video
- 3Format
Colours, gradient fills, backgrounds
- 4Add animations and transitions
Keep them subtle
- 5Rehearse the slide show
Study guide
You learn to build full presentations: formatting, style, colour and gradient fills, backgrounds, layouts, graphics, pictures, movies, animation, transitions, audio and video. Create a mood board presentation as practice.
Why Basics of Computer Matters
Office skills are needed for costing sheets, presentations to clients and buyers and portfolio documentation throughout your career.
How to Prepare for Basics of Computer
- Create real documents: a resume, a costing sheet and a portfolio deck.
- Learn Excel formulas for costing and quantities.
- Learn keyboard shortcuts for speed.
Basics of Computer: Frequently Asked Questions
Why do textile students learn Excel?
Excel is used for costing, production planning and order tracking in textile and garment businesses.