| Home | Site TOC | Site Search | Technology |

JAWS Lesson: My Computer

Remember that all text in parenthesis is for teacher info or if the student has forgotten the keystroke. All text in bold is to help explain the concept to the student.

1. Start the computer. Tab to My Computer (remember you might have to use the JAWS command INS+F6 if JAWS has lost focus).
2. Open My Computer (Enter Key). To verify that you are now in the My Computer window press the JAWS command INS+T. You should hear JAWS read "My Computer, list view, 3 ½ floppy, one of ___". Where the space stands for the icons in the list view. Now press the ALT key, then V for the view menu, press the Enter key and use the down arrow to select list, then press the Enter key to choose list view.
   
   It is important at this time to review the attributes of a typical window. There is always a Title bar at the top of the window. Below that is the File menu bar, which contains different choices depending on the application. The My Computer File menu bar contains: File, Edit, View, and Help. These menus are pull down menus. Below that are graphic buttons representing the most commonly used items in the File, Edit, and View menus. Next, below the graphics you will find the Formatting menu bar which lists the current font , font size, and graphic buttons for formatting. Remember that all of the buttons present are available in the File, Edit, or View menus. The next element down is the list view or work space. This area displays all of the applications or devices available on the computer. The last element of a standard window is the Status bar, found at the bottom most part of the physical window. Remember that all windows do not automatically fill the entire monitor screen, sometimes it is necessary to "maximize" the window to fill the screen. The Status Menu contains information on the contents of the work space.
3. Now to read the possible devices and applications found in the My Computer window, use your down arrow to read. Two commonly found items will be Printers, and C:. Tell your teacher at least two more items found in the My Computer window. Be careful when you use the up arrow, the first choice in the list is always 3 ½ floppy and if you select this item the computer immediately tries to find a disk and if one is not present gives an error dialog box. To prevent this from happening you can insert a disk before using the arrows.
4. After you have told your teacher some of the items listed in the My Computer window, arrow to the C: drive. Open the C: drive (Enter Key). Once again press the ALT key, then the letter V for the View menu, select and choose list with your down arrow. You will hear JAWS read "C, list view, first item selected, one of ___". All computers will have different applications or programs available in the C: drive. This is the hard drive of your computer.
5. Use your up and down arrows to listen to some of the applications and programs found on your computer’s hard drive. See how many you recognize, and tell your teacher at least four choices. There should be plenty to choose from the list.
6. Now close the C: drive window (ALT+F4). Remember it is an application. This time use your arrows to select 3 ½ floppy, you might hear the floppy drive spin, then open the drive (Enter Key). You should hear JAWS read "A:, list view". If no files are on the disk it will stop there. This is an easy way to check what files on each of your disks.
7. Now close the A: drive window (ALT+F4). You should be returned to the My Computer window. Close the My Computer window (ALT+F4). You should now be back on the desktop, but remember that JAWS sometimes loses it’s focus. (INS+F6)
8. This is the end of the lesson.

by Sharon Nichols (nichols_s@tsbvi.edu) 

Agency Contact Information | Texas State Homepage | Texas State Wide Search

Please complete the comment form or send comments and suggestions to: Jim Allan (Webmaster-Jim Allan)