Learning to use the desktop on a computer can be a challenge. When you begin teaching beginners how to use the computer desktop, find ways to relate the desktop of the computer to an actual desk or another tool that the student is familiar with using. The main goal of teaching beginners to use a computer is to help them feel at ease and give them a sense of reassurance that they won't destroy the computer.

Comparative Explanation

Using the desktop on a personal computer is similar to using the desktop of a physical desk in an office or classroom. The computer desktop contains everything you need to use the computer including icons for application software, as well as icons which you can click on to open files you need such as word processing documents, pictures and multimedia files.

Organization

Files on the desktop, as well as the entire computer, are organized in folders in much the same way folders are organized on a physical desk or in a filing cabinet. Moving files from one folder to another folder on the desktop or elsewhere on the hard drive of the computer is extremely easy and can be done with a few simple clicks of the mouse.

Relational Analogy

Relate the computer desktop to another scenario when you are teaching beginners how to use the computer. Use the analogy of a tool such as a circular saw. Compare learning how to use a circular saw with learning to use the computer by reminding that you had to be taught how to hold the circular saw to make the cut from a piece of wood. Learning how to use folders, icons and the mouse is merely learning how to use another type of tool.

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Learning how to use the Windows Desktop