Computer Lessons for Kids

Why is it good to learn how computers work?

Now computers.   Computers have:

• parts to receive input
• parts to give output
• parts to do work
• parts to remember things while the power is on (short term memory)
• parts to remember things when the power is off (long term memory)

What is kind of surprising is how much effort is spent getting input and giving output, and how little is actually spent on doing work!   By work I mean heavy duty arithmetic or searching through long lists for a certain item.  So now, the parts of the computer.

                       

Inside this head,  and inside many other heads,  there are two kinds of knowledge; the memory work kind of knowledge and the logical kind of knowledge.   People who have their computer knowledge on the memory work side often have problems installing new programs,  using someone else's computer or adapting to new operating systems like Windows 95 and many other computer related difficulties.
Things that should live on the memory work side of the brain are such things as "What is the capital of New York state?" and "Who was the King of England in 1675".   There is no way that knowledge on thelogical side can help you with these.   For instance,  logically speaking,  New York City,  a very major place,  just has to be the capital of New York state,  however it's not.   Albany is.   You just have to memorize that.   And logic is not going to help you with the king question either,  I mean,  what's logical about kings anyway?
However,  can you imagine the state we would be in if you had to memorize the answer to all the mathematical questions? "Okay,  students,  is there anyone here who hasn't memorized the answer to 457 + 7,985 - 598 ?" You can't memorize them all,  but you can learn the logic behind them so you can figure them out.   Then you can't be tricked!
It is important that you learn how to figure out things about computers because there are just too many things to be done with them to try to memorize it all.   Any ways,  as anyone who has studied hard for a test the next day knows,  it's always the stuff you didn't memorize that they ask!
So,  lets get started on putting your computer knowledge firmly on the 'logical' side of your brain.
 

You are pretty familiar with your TV, maybe too familiar!   The TV is mostly an output machine or device.   This means that the stuff, be it information or junk, flows from the TV out to you.   It also has some input controls so that you can give it some input.   These are the volume control, the on off switch and the channel changer, which lives under the couch.So output is the flow of information to you and input is the flow from you to the device.

Computers simplified 

For beginner computer users, the computer aisles at an electronics store can be quite a mystery, not to mention overwhelming. However, computers really aren't that mysterious. All types of computers consist of two basic parts:

                              

• Hardware is any part of your computer that has a physical structure, such as the computer monitor or keyboard.

• Software is any set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do. It is what guides the hardware and tells it how to accomplish each task. Some examples of software include web browsers, games, and word processors such as Microsoft Word.

What are the different types of computers?

When most people hear the word "computer," they think of a personal computer such as a desktop or laptopcomputer. However, computers come in many shapes and sizes, and they perform many different functions in our daily lives. When you withdraw cash from an ATM, scan groceries at the store, or use a calculator, you're using a type of computer.

Desktop computers

Laptop computers 

Servers                     

A server is a computer that "serves up" information to other computers on a network. Many businesses have file servers that employees can use to store and share files. A server can look like a regular desktop computer, or it can be much larger.

Servers also play an important role in making the Internet work: They are where webpages are stored. When you use your browser to click a link, aweb server delivers the page you requested.

Other types of computers

Today, there are many everyday devices that are basically specialized computers, even though we don't always think of them as computers. Here are a few common examples:

• Tablet computers: These use a touch-sensitive screen for typing and navigation. Because they don't require a keyboard or mouse, tablet computers are even more portable than laptops. The iPad is an example of a tablet computer.
• Mobile phones: Many mobile phones can do a lot of things computers can do, such as browsing the Internet and playing games. These phones are often called smartphones.
• Game consoles: A game console is a specialized kind of computer that is used for playing video games. Although they are not as fully featured as desktop computers, many newer consoles, such as the Nintendo Wii, allow you to perform nongaming tasks like browsing the Web.
• TVs: Many TVs now include applications (or apps) that let you access various types of online content. For example, you can view your Facebook news feed or watch streaming movies on Netflix