Computing - Resources
Computing - ResourcesThere are a number of alternative sources of computer instruction available elsewhere. If you have yet to purchase a computer, access is available locally and the U3A website provides basic purchasing advice
Much useful software may be downloaded from the internet. A selection of links to free downloadable software recommended by the Computing Group is provided.
Basic Computer Skills Made Simple, Jackie Sherman, Made Simple Books, 2001, £9.99
The Made Simple books all have a similar task based format: one topic per page, each with an introduction to the topic and a summary of the basic steps necessary to carry out a task. This book covers file handling (Windows Explorer), wordprocessing (Word), spreadsheets (Excel), presentations (Powerpoint), and the Internet and Email. Recommended by U3A.
Learning to Use Your Computer, Angela Bessant, Heinemann, 2002, £12.99
In a more narrative style than the one above, gives examples to work through. Covers Windows Explorer, Word, Excel and the Internet, with useful summary tables to help carry out tasks. However, there are a number of important omissions and less topics are covered than the one above. There is no index.
How to Become a Silver Surfer, Emma Aldridge, Age Concern, Second Edition 2003, £5.99
Much of this book is taken up with colour pictures of internet website screens, which are not terribly useful. Only 7 pages are devoted to e-mail.
There are many books in the Made Simple series which are of similar format to the one above. An example is:
Word 2000 Made Simple Business Edition, Keith Brindley, Made Simple Books, 2000, £11.99 (The business edition is well worth the extra £2 as a number of important topics are omitted from the basic £9.99 edition.)
If you wish to really get to grips with Microsoft Office, the following textbook is very comprehensive (400 pages!) and covers Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, Internet and Windows Explorer. It contains exercises and helpful summary tables, but no index. ECDL stands for is the European Computer Driving Licence, and courses can be attended at local colleges to achieve this qualification.
Learning to Pass ECDL Syllabus 4.0 Using Office 2000, Angela Bessant, Heinemann, 2004,
£18.99
The following textbooks cover digital imaging using Adobe Photoshop Elements:
Philip Andrews, Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0: A Visual Introduction to Digital Imaging, Focal Press, March 2003, £19.99
Philip Andrews, Advanced Photoshop Elements for Digital Photographers, Focal Press, February 2004, £19.99
Clarity Guides - a series of 8 side, folded A4 card guides which provide valuable help for a number of applications. Ideal to keep beside your computer!
Word 2000
Powerpoint 2000
Excel 97
Access 97
The U3A produces a number of excellent Mini Manuals which provide a useful introduction to the following topics:
Introduction to Windows 95 21pp
Word 97 22pp
Internet & Email 12pp
Introduction to Access 2000 9pp
Powerpoint 97 9pp
Front Page 2000 17pp
Photocopies of these manuals may be obtained by members