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My Home Page

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In-Class Assignments

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Links to Great Sites!

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Free Time Activities

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Sites of the Month

Internet Safety
Internet Safety

Slide Shows/Photo Album
Slide Shows/Photo Album

Research Skills
Research Skills

Internet Glossary
Internet Glossary

Computer Terms
Computer Terms

My Puzzles
My Puzzles

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Teacher Links

Mrs. Armelli's Biography
Mrs. Armelli's Biography

Computer Terms Computer Terms

Application - a program designed to perform a certain job (word processing, databases, drawing, web browsers).

Binary - a number system that has just 2 digits. Computers are based on the binary system, which has just two numbers, 0 and 1.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) - the brains of the computer. performs all of the functions inside the computer.

Data - pieces of information, such as numbers, text, sound or pictures.

Desktop - the area you see on the screen when your computer is on.

Document - anything you write using a word processor.

Edit - make changes to a document.

Extension - A three letter suffix found at the end of a file name. Examples are .doc, .ppt, .jpg, .pdf.

Font - the way the letters look.

Hardware - parts of the computer that you can touch (disks, monitor, keyboard, printer).

Home row - where you place your fingers when you are keyboarding.

Input devices - something that puts data into a computer (computer, mouse, scanner).

Keyboard - the part of the computer with keys that lets you enter data into the computer (The QWERTY keyboard is the standard - the first six keys of the top row.)

Memory - where you store data and programs inside the computer.

Modem - a device that allows a computer to communicate over telephone or cable lines. Computer information is stored digitally, information sent over phone lines is sent in the form of analog waves. A modem changes these two forms. (short for modulator demodulator)

Monitor - shows you information on a screen.

Motherboard - the main circuit board in the system; contains the memory and computer chips.

Mouse - a tool that controls the movement of the pointer or cursor.

Operating System (OS) - the program that runs the computer. A computer must have an operating system to run. (Popular operating systems are Mac, Windows & Linux.)

Output devices - what you use to get information out of the computer.(screens, printers)

Pixel - a single dot in a picture (short for picture element).

Points - the way the fonts are measured.

Processes - what a computer does when it thinks.

RAM (random-access memory) - memory chips that store the data while the computer is turned on.

Resolution - how close the pixels are on the screen; the more pixels the clearer the image.

ROM (read-only memory) - you can not save the files here, you can only read them.

Software - a program with instructions that tells the computer what to do.

USB port: opening on the computer that you connect to so data can be moved from an input device such as a digital camera or flash drive.

Wallpaper - picture that is on the background of the desktop.

Word Processing - a computer program that helps you to write and create documents.

Word Wrap - when the cursor moves to the next line of text because there is no more room on the current line.

Questions or comments: mrsarmelli@yahoo.com                         
Updated 09/19/09







Learning With Technology!
All Saints of St. John Vianney
28702 Euclid Avenue
Wickliffe, Ohio 44092
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