Return to Skills Assessment/Training

Computing Services Student Lab Assistant
Evaluation 3
Login and Operating System Knowledge/Learning Checklist

Last Updated November 9, 2000

Since researchers at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (XPARC) developed the mouse and the graphical user interface (GUI) to control applications and operating systems (OS), Apple and Microsoft have leap-frogged each other in providing a more-easy-to-use computer system. By filling out the following chart, you will be able to see how much Windows 95/98 is based on what Apple designed into its early Mac OS's released between 1984 and 1995, as well as what Apple borrowed from Windows 95 and Windows 98 and put into its more recent releases of the Mac OS. There is no doubt Windows 2000 and Mac OS X (OS ten) will have many similar features. Whether you work in the print/audio/video publishing industries which are predominantly Mac or whether you work in a totally- or predominantly-Windows environment in another field, this will help you be proficient regardless of what you run across, especially as you work at Union as a student lab assistant.

Get a copy of the "Login and OS" sheet from Robin or Elvis or John David. Fill in all boxes with a brief description of how to begin/complete each task for both Windows and Mac. If you do not understand what is being requested in a specific box, ask Robin or Elvis or John David. It is fine to ask other SLAs as you are filling in this table. However, the purpose is to KNOW how to perform these tasks, not just to have 100% correct answers.

If you need to research answers, places to look include the following. Of course, if you want to read more than the items below, that would be great!
bulletNew Student Computing Manual
bulletIn Windows 98, on the Start menu, under Help, under Contents
bulletIf you are new to Windows 98; Tips for Macintosh Users (Note: you may be able to use this in reverse to learn about the Mac)
bulletExploring Windows 98
bulletIn Mac OS Finder (similar to the main Windows 98 screen), on the Help menu, under Mac Help
bulletBasics
bulletDisks
bulletFiles and Programs
bulletSelecting a printer
bulletShortcuts and Tips - Keyboard shortcuts, Contextual menus