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Subject Guide: Computer Literacy

Technology

We are surrounded by by computers and technology. More than ever it has become necessary for students to have a basic working knowledge of computers, their parts and components, the language of technology (do you know the difference between hardware and software? Do you know the names of various keyboard symbols? Do you know what an operating system is? Filetypes?), and its practical uses. 

If you feel you don’t have a basic knowledge of computers or word processors, or if you need a refresher, we can help you get started. Here are some great “first steps” toward your future as a competent computer user. 

Word Processors

Google Drive provides free GoogleDocs software to anyone with a @gmail.com account. We highly recommend using GoogleDocs. It is possible to allow a TA, librarian, or instructor to see your work (share it) in GoogleDocs and help you if you get stuck.

  • GoogleDocs (free), Microsoft Word, and Mac Pages are all great word processors.
  • Only upload PDFs to Populi. Populi destroys .docx files, please always print/export/save to PDF from your word processor
Tutorials
Tutorial for Microsoft Word

This tutorial is for Microsoft Office Suite. If you have a Mac, you can download a version of Office Suite that works on your Mac. Another option is to do further study and familiarize yourself with the applications already available on your Mac – but in my experience, most educational institutions use Microsoft Office. Either way, this link has some good basic knowledge to help you get started.

    Using a Template
    This university uses Turabian Style. For longer book reports and research papers the Turabian Template should be used. This is as simple as downloading the template and opening it with your word processor. You can type directly in the Template. If you are using GoogleDocs just drag and drop the Template from your desktop into your online Google folder. 

    Please see the Turabian Style guide for more information on citations.

    Inserting a Footnote

    Footnote superscripts go after the period of a sentence.  

    If you are using the Turabian Template, you can cut and paste any example superscript to a new location and it will start a new footnote there.

    Google Docs – Top menu has “Insert -> Footnote”

    Mac Pages  – Top menu has “Insert -> Footnote” 

    Microsoft Word in Windows –  References tab, select Insert Footnote (for more Microsoft info see here)