Global

Computer basics for New users: Hardware, software and files

A ready-made course you customise for your organisation, with a live session deck and two surveys. You only add the 12 details that are specific to your organisation.

See the live deckSee the full outline
Try the coursePreview the survey
Length
35 min
Lessons
6 lessons
Frequency
At onboarding, when a role gets its first work device
Last reviewed
21 Oct 2026
Mouse, keyboard and shortcuts, and grey areas: lost files, frozen screens, tempting downloads
What would you do?

You saved a file this morning and cannot find it

Try it: this is one of 19 interactive activities in the course.

What's included

Three pieces that work together

Copy once, get everything. Learners prepare on their own, you answer questions live, and the surveys tell you what stuck.

Self-paced course

Short lessons with real workplace scenarios, not walls of text.

  • 6 lessons, about 35 minutes
  • Tabs, process, scenario, sorting activity and quizzes

Live session deck

An AhaSlides presentation to run after the course, in person or online.

  • 10 slides
  • Quiz, poll, scale, open-ended slides
  • A closing slide for your contacts

Two surveys

Find out what landed, and whether people use it on the job.

  • Post-course feedback, about 2 minutes
  • 30-day check-in
  • Anonymous by default
  • Results feed your next refresher

Learning objectives

At the end of this course, learners can

Each objective and the lesson that covers it.

IDObjectiveSourceWhere it's covered
TO 189.0Achieve ≥ 80% on the final assessmentnoneWhole course
SO 189.1Name the main parts of a computer and say what each doesBest practiceWhole course
SO 189.2Tell hardware from software and say what an operating system doesBest practiceWhole course
SO 189.3Save, name, find and organise files, and tell local storage from cloud storage + your infoBest practice; organisation's storage rulesWhole course
SO 189.4Use the mouse, keyboard and shortcuts to work faster, and recover calmly from common slipsBest practice; organisation's shortcut guideWhole course
SO 189.5Set up a work device safely, install updates at a sensible time and know who to ask + your infoOrganisation's IT policy ; ICDL Computer and Online Essentials and EU DigComp 2.2 (voluntary frameworks; skill domains only)Whole course

Your part: what a template can't do for you

  • Your workplace details: fill in the 12 highlighted fields so the course describes your own policies, contacts and locations.
  • Records: record completion in your own LMS or record system.

Course outline

6 lessons, about 35 minutes

Minutes per lesson are an estimate, shared out by page count.

ContentInteractiveVideoYou customise
1

Why computer basics matter: the parts of a computer, hardware and software

3 pages

8 min
Before you beginNoteList
An invented storyTextImage
Parts and jobsTabsSorting activityKey factQuiz
2

Operating systems and apps: what runs your device

2 pages

5 min
What an operating system doesAccordionYour info
Programs and appsFlashcardsTextMatching quiz
3

Files, folders and storage: save it, name it, find it

3 pages

8 min
Save, name, findProcess
Where do files live?TabsNote
Name it wellTableSorting activityQuiz
4

Mouse, keyboard and shortcuts, and grey areas: lost files, frozen screens, tempting downloads

3 pages

7 min
Work fasterTabsYour infoChecklist
ScenarioScenario
ScenarioScenarioMatching quiz
5

Your work device: setup, updates and who to ask

2 pages

5 min
Set up safelyProcessChecklist
Updates and helpProcessYour infoYour infoYour infoYour infoNoteQuiz
6

Final assessment

1 page

2 min
PracticeQuizKey factNoteButtonYour info

Live deck and surveys

10 slides to run live, two surveys to close the loop

Pink slides are interactive. Both surveys are anonymous; pink questions are written for this course.

ContentTitle, agenda
PollWhich computer task would you most like to do faster?
QuizWhich of these is hardware? (A monitor ✔)
QuizWhat does an operating system do? (Runs the device and lets programs use it ✔)
Content · customiseCustomise: where files live here: {{APPROVED_STORAGE_LOCATIONS}}, our systems {{OPERATING_SYSTEMS_IN_USE}}
QuizYou cannot find a file you saved this morning. First step? (Search by name, then check recent and download folders ✔)
ScaleHow confident are you finding a file you saved last week?
Open-endedOne thing on my computer I am not sure about
Q&AAsk the trainer anything
Content · customiseClosing {{IT_HELPDESK_CONTACT}}, {{COURSE_URL}}, {{SURVEY_1_URL}}, {{SURVEY_2_URL}}
Post-course feedback: 11 questions, about 2 min
  1. Overall rating 5 stars
  2. Relevant, realistic, right length, helpful activities agree/disagree grid
  3. What was most useful? multi-select
  4. Confidence before this course, and now 1-5 scale
  5. Which of these tasks can you now do on your own? multiple choice
  6. Which task would you still like help with? short text
  7. How confident are you telling hardware from software? 1-5 scale
  8. I would ask for help with a computer task without feeling embarrassed. 1-5 scale
  9. One thing we should change or add open text
  10. Would you recommend this course? NPS
30-day check-in
  1. Have you used what you learned since the course? multiple choice
  2. How confident are you today? Compare with day 1 1-5 scale
  3. Do you know where to find the IT helpdesk and ticket route? yes / no / not sure
  4. A moment where the training helped, or where you weren't sure open text
  5. Which topics should the next refresher focus on? ranking

Results show whether people use the training on the job, not just whether they finished it.

Make it yours

12 fields to fill in, and you're ready

Everything else is done. These are the details only your organisation knows; each one is highlighted inside the course.

  • Operating systems in use{{OPERATING_SYSTEMS_IN_USE}}
  • Approved storage locations{{APPROVED_STORAGE_LOCATIONS}}
  • Shortcut guide link{{SHORTCUT_GUIDE_LINK}}
  • Update policy{{UPDATE_POLICY}}
  • Approved software list{{APPROVED_SOFTWARE_LIST}}
  • It policy link{{IT_POLICY_LINK}}
Show all 12 fields
  • It helpdesk contact{{IT_HELPDESK_CONTACT}}
  • Support ticket route{{SUPPORT_TICKET_ROUTE}}
  • LMS or record system{{LMS_OR_RECORD_SYSTEM}}
  • Course URL{{COURSE_URL}}
  • Survey 1 URL{{SURVEY_1_URL}}
  • Survey 2 URL{{SURVEY_2_URL}}

FAQ

Common questions

Can I run computer basics for New users: Hardware, software and files training online?

Yes. The course is self-paced and online, and the live deck lets you add a live session in the room or online.

How often is this training needed?

At onboarding, when a role gets its first work device, or before a rollout of new laptops or tablets.

Who needs this training?

New starters, returners and staff with little computer experience, including frontline roles getting a first work device; run by L&D and IT onboarding teams.

What records should I keep?

Record completion in your own LMS or record system, so you can show who finished the course and when.

Can I edit the content?

Yes, everything. Change the wording, swap scenarios for ones from your workplace, add your logo, or remove parts that don't apply.

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Last reviewed: 21 October 2026Templates are a starting point, not legal advice.

Ready to run it?

Open the live deck to see how the session runs alongside the course and both surveys.

See the live deck