Computer Studies Notes

KCSE Computer Studies Notes, Schemes, Lesson Plans, Practical Session and Syllabus

I normally use these notes to teach in my classes. Well researched with plenty of questions to test at the end of the lesson. They are revisited over and over again to get rid of errors and other challenges. As a teacher, I recommend them, having taught computer studies for over 12 years and still continuing. ~ Maurice Nyamoti

FORM ONE (1) Computer Studies Notes

Topic 1: Introduction to Computers

Sub-Topic

Definition of a computer.
Parts of a computer.

Lesson Notes

Sub-Topic

Development of Computers

Lesson Notes

Sub - Topic

Areas where computers are used

Lesson Plan

Sub-Topic
Classification of computers

Physical Size, Functionality, Purpose

Lesson Notes

Sub - Topic

Definition of a Computer laboratory
Safety precautions and practices in a computer laboratory (Behaviour, Handling of materials and equipment, Fire, Cabling, Stable power supply, Burglar proofing, Ventilation, Lab layout, Dust/damp control, Lighting, Standard furniture)

Lesson Notes

Sub - Topic

Hands-on skills (Start-up, restarting and shut-down (Booting), Keyboard layout, Practical Keyboard and mouse skills)

LESSON NOTES

TOPIC 2: COMPUTER SYSTEMS

Sub - Topics

Description of computer systems
Functional organization of the elements of a computer System. (Hardware, Software, Live-ware)
Input devices e.g. Keying devices, Pointing devices

lesson notes

Sub - Topics

Scanning devices, Speech recognition devices, Other digital devices
Classification of scanning devices (optical and magnetic scanners) OMR, OCR, OBR AND MICR
Digitizers, Digital camera, Touch Screen, IWB-Interactive WhiteBoard, Microfilm

LESSON NOTES

Sub - Topics

Central Processing Unit (CPU) (Control Unit, Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU), Memory, Processors [Types, clock speeds)

lesson notes

Free Simplified Longhorn Computer Studies Form 1

longhorn_notes-computer_studies_form_one_term_1.pdf
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longhorn_notes-computer_studies_form_one_term_2.pdf
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longhorn_notes-computer_studies_form_one_term_3.pdf
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Sub - Topics
Output Devices

Soft Copy (VDU (crt, lcd, flat panel, sound output, light emitting diode))
Hard Copy (Printers (impact, non impact), plotters)

LESSON NOTES

Secondary/Auxiliary Storage Devices and Media
> Fixed-e.g. Hard disk, > Removable- e.g. (floppy disks, tape, optical disks (CD-R, WORM, CD-RW, DVDs) > zip disks

LESSON NOTES

Power and Interface Cables (Power Cable, Parallel Cable, Serial Cable)
Basic Computer Setup and Cabling (Connecting basic computer components, Connecting other computer peripherals)

lesson notes

Computer Software (Classification of software (Purpose -a) System software (i) firmware ii) networking software iii) operating system iv) utilities b) Application software Acquisition a) standard software b) user developed (in-house) Criteria for selecting a Computer System (Specifications) Hardware Considerations, Software Considerations)

lesson notes

TOPIC 3: operating system

Definition of an operating system, Functions of an operating system (Job scheduling, Resource Control, Input/Output handling, Memory Management, Error handling, Interrupt handling), Types of Operating Systems (Number of users i) single user, ii) multi user (Number of tasks i) single tasking ii) multi tasking) Interface (i) Command line, ii) menu driven interface, iii) Graphical User Interface (GUI), Organization of Information using an Operating System (Files, Directories/folders, Storage media, File management using an Operating system (Description of files, Types of files (i) system files, ii) application files), Functions of files (i) storage of data, ii) organization of information(Creating files, Manipulating files -(i) viewing files and directories, ii) organization of information, iii) creating files/directories, iv) opening, v) editing, vi) renaming, vii) finding/searching, viii) sorting, ix) copying, x) moving, xi) deleting), Disk Management using an Operating system (Formatting, Partitioning, De-fragmentation, Disk Diagnostics/Disk Compression, Back up), Devices under Operating System Control (Processor, Memory (Ram), Storage devices, Input/Output devices and ports, Communication devices and ports), Installation and Configuration of an Operating system (Trouble shooting)

Lesson notes

FORM 2 Computer Studies Notes

Topic 4: Word Processors

ALL FORM 2 NOTES

FULL MICROSOFT WORD NOTES (.DOC)

Sub-Topics

Definition and purpose of a Word- processor (Letter preparation, Reports, Newsletters). Using a Word processing package (Getting started, Screen layout, Running the programme: i) creating a document, ii) saving, iii) retrieving, iv) closing, v) exiting)

lesson notes

Sub-Topics
Editing and formatting a document (Editing a document, Block Options - i) selecting, ii) moving, iii) copying, iv) deleting, v) inserting and type over). Find and Replace (i) search/find, ii) replace). Proof-Reading (i) spelling and grammar checking, ii) thesaurus, iii) auto-correct, iv) undo and redo)

lesson notes

Sub-Topics
Formatting a document (a) Text formatting (i) bolding, ii) italicizing, iii) underlining, iv) fonts, v) drop caps, vi) change case, vii) superscript / sub-subscript) b) Paragraph Formatting (i) alignment, ii) indenting, iii) spacing, iv) section breaks, v) bullets and numbering)

CHECK NOTES ...

Sub-Topics
c) Page Formatting (Layout - i) columns, ii) headers/footers), Setup (i) margins, ii) orientations, iii) paper size, iv) tabs)

Sub-Topics
Creating and Editing a Table (Create a table - i) rows, ii) columns (enter data, Editing Tables)(i) resizing rows/columns, ii) inserting rows/columns, iii) deleting rows/columns, iv) merging rows/columns, v) splitting rows/columns). Formatting tables (i) borders, ii) shading). Table conversions (i) converting text to table, ii) converting tables to text, iii) importing). Arithmetic calculations i) perform calculation ii) insert formulae, Sorting)

Sub-Topics
Sorting Creating and updating a mail merge document (Creating main document 1) form letters) - ii) labels, iii) envelopes. Create/import data source - i) editing, ii) saving (Merging fields, Main and data source to i) printer or (ii) new window or, iii) fax or, iv) e-mail) Updating merged document.

Sub-Topics
Printing a document (printer setup, print preview, print option - Printer selection, Orientation) Page and copies, Printing

Sub-Topics
Inserting Graphics (Types of graphics - i) drawing, ii) pictures, ii) charts), Inserting (i) importing, ii) drawing - Editing graphical objects (i) updating, ii) resizing, iii) enhance)