The absolute beginner's guide to learning basic computer skills Computing Fundamentals, Introduction to Computers gets you up to speed on basic computing skills, showing you everything you need to know to conquer entry-level computing courses. Written by a Microsoft Office Master Instructor, this useful guide walks you step-by-step through the most important concepts and skills you need to be proficient on the computer, using nontechnical, easy-to-understand language. You'll start at the very beginning, getting acquainted with the actual, physical machine, then progress through the most common software at your own pace. You'll learn how to navigate Windows 8.1, how to access and get around on the Internet, and how to stay connected with email. Clear instruction guides you through Microsoft Office 2013, helping you create documents in Word, spreadsheets in Excel, and presentations in PowerPoint. You'll even learn how to keep your information secure with special guidance on security and privacy. Maybe you're preparing for a compulsory computing course, brushing up for a new job, or just curious about how a computer can make your life easier. If you're an absolute beginner, this is your complete guide to learning the essential skills you need: Understand the basics of how your computer works Learn your way around Windows 8.1 Create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations Send email, surf the Web, and keep your data secure With clear explanations and step-by-step instruction, Computing Fundamentals, Introduction to Computers will have you up and running in no time.

Introduction to Computing is a comprehensive text designed for the CS0 (Intro to CS) course at the college level. It may also be used as a primary text for the Advanced Placement Computer Science course at the high school level.

This timely new text provides an accessible introduction to teaching Computing, and computer programming. Specifically designed for non-specialists who need to develop new skills in Computing in order to meet the new curriculum requirements, it offers a useful guide to the subject, alongside worked examples of good practice. Packed full of practical advice, the book examines different approaches to introducing children from age 5 to Computing, and describes a wide range of tried and tested projects that have been proven to work in schools. Including case studies and a glossary of key terms, it covers: The key concepts in Computing and computational thinking Using personal learning networks, social media and the 'wiki curriculum' to develop higher thinking skills and desirable learner characteristics Links to the curriculum at Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 Practical ways to develop children’s Computing skills alongside creative writing, art and music Gaming and computer science Featuring a companion website www.literacyfromscratch.org.uk with extensive support materials, examples of pupils’ work, links to software and downloadable lesson plans, this is an essential text for all teachers and trainees who are responsible for the new Computing curriculum.

An Active Learning Approach to Teaching the Main Ideas in Computing Explorations in Computing: An Introduction to Computer Science and Python Programming teaches computer science students how to use programming skills to explore fundamental concepts and computational approaches to solving problems. Tbook gives beginning students an introduction to

Introduction to Computing Systems: From bits & gates to C & beyond, now in its second edition, is designed to give students a better understanding of computing early in their college careers in order to give them a stronger foundation for later courses. The book is in two parts: (a) the underlying structure of a computer, and (b) programming in a high level language and programming methodology. To understand the computer, the authors introduce the LC-3 and provide the LC-3 Simulator to give students hands-on access for testing what they learn. To develop their understanding of programming and programming methodology, they use the C programming language. The book takes a "motivated" bottom-up approach, where the students first get exposed to the big picture and then start at the bottom and build their knowledge bottom-up. Within each smaller unit, the same motivated bottom-up approach is followed. Every step of the way, students learn new things, building on what they already know. The authors feel that this approach encourages deeper understanding and downplays the need for memorizing. Students develop a greater breadth of understanding, since they see how the various parts of the computer fit together.

Created to help scientists and engineers write computer code, this practical book addresses the important tools and techniques that are necessary for scientific computing, but which are not yet commonplace in science and engineering curricula. This book contains chapters summarizing the most important topics that computational researchers need to know about. It leverages the viewpoints of passionate experts involved with scientific computing courses around the globe and aims to be a starting point for new computational scientists and a reference for the experienced. Each contributed chapter focuses on a specific tool or skill, providing the content needed to provide a working knowledge of the topic in about one day. While many individual books on specific computing topics exist, none is explicitly focused on getting technical professionals and students up and running immediately across a variety of computational areas.

A practical guide to using modern software effectively in quantitative research in the social and natural sciences. This book offers a practical guide to the computational methods at the heart of most modern quantitative research. It will be essential reading for research assistants needing hands-on experience; students entering PhD programs in business, economics, and other social or natural sciences; and those seeking quantitative jobs in industry. No background in computer science is assumed; a learner need only have a computer with access to the Internet. Using the example as its principal pedagogical device, the book offers tried-and-true prototypes that illustrate many important computational tasks required in quantitative research. The best way to use the book is to read it at the computer keyboard and learn by doing. The book begins by introducing basic skills: how to use the operating system, how to organize data, and how to complete simple programming tasks. For its demonstrations, the book uses a UNIX-based operating system and a set of free software tools: the scripting language Python for programming tasks; the database management system SQLite; and the freely available R for statistical computing and graphics. The book goes on to describe particular tasks: analyzing data, implementing commonly used numerical and simulation methods, and creating extensions to Python to reduce cycle time. Finally, the book describes the use of LaTeX, a document markup language and preparation system.