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Week 5Mission Control

Keep your accounts and messages safe.

Digital Literacy Level 2 · Week 5

Tonight you fix a sheet, secure an account and check a message.

Illustrative West Virginia learning scenario
Fictional people and setting
Week 5Mission Control

Start with what you know.

When has a message or a call made you stop and wonder, is this real? What made you wonder?

Share one example. Passing is welcome.

Week 5Mission Control

Tonight's goals

By the end of tonight, you can:

  1. Part 1 · Excel: Show meaning without color alone.
  2. Part 2 · Edge: Secure a new account.
  3. Part 3 · Practice Mail: Check a suspicious message a safer way.

These three skills are on your post-test.

Week 5Mission Control

How tonight works.

  1. 1
    Watch the step on the big screen.
  2. 2
    Do the same step on your computer.
  3. 3
    Check You should see. Not the same? Raise your hand.

The colored box at the top of every slide names the program you are in, like Working in: Microsoft Excel.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgeBefore we start · Step 1 of 5

Find the taskbar

  1. Look at the bottom of your screen. The long dark bar there is the taskbar.

You should see: the taskbar, with a round Edge icon on it.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgeBefore we start · Step 2 of 5

Open Microsoft Edge

  1. Click the round blue-green Edge icon on the taskbar.

You should see: a window with a long address bar at the top. This is Microsoft Edge.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgeBefore we start · Step 3 of 5

Go to the course website

  1. Click the long address bar at the top of Edge.
  2. Type vublessons.com and press Enter.

You should see: the VUB Learning page with course cards.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgeBefore we start · Step 4 of 5

Open the course

  1. On the Digital Literacy — Level 2 card, click Open course.

You should see: a page that lists the weeks of the course.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgeBefore we start · Step 5 of 5

Open your Week 5 worksheet

  1. Roll the mouse wheel toward you until you see Week 5.
  2. Click Worksheet in the Week 5 row.

You should see: a page titled Week 5 · Worksheet. Leave it open. You will come back to it.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 of 3

Now working in: Microsoft Excel

Excel works with lists in a grid of boxes called cells. Tonight you color some cells, then make sure the sheet still works without the colors.

You will make: a sign-in sheet with green and red cells and the words Complete and Not yet.

Goal 1: Show meaning without color alone

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Why it matters

Do not let color do all the work.

  1. 1
    Some people cannot tell red from green. A black-and-white printer shows both as gray.
  2. 2
    Add words next to the color, such as Complete and Not yet. Now the sheet works for everyone.
  3. 3
    The same goes for charts: add labels or patterns to the bars, so the meaning does not depend on color alone.
Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Watch

Watch: instructions that do not rely on color

Watch for: the idea that meaning should not depend on color alone.

0:13 long. It stops by itself.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 1 of 19

Open Excel

  1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard. (Or click Start at the bottom left.)
  2. Type Excel and press Enter.

You should see: the Excel start screen, with a Blank workbook tile.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 2 of 19

Start a blank workbook

  1. Click Blank workbook.

You should see: a grid of empty boxes called cells. The cell A1 has a green border.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Know your screen

Find your way around Excel

  1. The Home tab: the buttons we need are here.
  2. Fill Color: paints the inside of a cell.
  3. A cell: one box in the sheet, where a column and a row meet.
Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 3 of 19

Type the headings

  1. Click cell A1. Type Name and press Tab.
  2. Type Done? and press Enter.

You should see: Name in A1 and Done? in B1.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 4 of 19

Type the four names

  1. Type each name below in column A. Press Enter after each one.

You should see: four names under Name: Ana, Ben, Cal and Dee.

Type these names:

Ana

Ben

Cal

Dee

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 5 of 19

Check your sheet

  1. Look at your sheet. Find the heading row and four names.

You should see: a heading row and four names, with nothing in column B yet.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 6 of 19

Select the two done cells

  1. Click cell B2. Hold the left mouse button down and drag to B3. Let go.

You should see: a green border around B2 and B3, beside Ana and Ben. B2 stays white.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 7 of 19

Open the Fill Color list

  1. On the Home tab, click the small arrow next to Fill Color.

You should see: a list of colors under the button. The big block at the top is Theme Colors. Below it is one row named Standard Colors.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 8 of 19

Choose green

  1. Look at the single row under Standard Colors, below the big block. Click its green square: the sixth from the left.

You should see: B2 and B3 turn green.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 9 of 19

Select the two not-done cells

  1. Click cell B4. Hold the left mouse button down and drag to B5. Let go.

You should see: a green border around B4 and B5, beside Cal and Dee. B4 stays white.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 10 of 19

Open the Fill Color list again

  1. Click the small arrow next to Fill Color.

You should see: the list of colors.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 11 of 19

Choose red

  1. In the single Standard Colors row, click the red square: the second from the left.

You should see: B4 and B5 turn red.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 12 of 19

Look at your colors

  1. Click any empty cell, such as D1. Look at the Done? column.

You should see: two green cells and two red cells. No words yet.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 13 of 19

Add the words

  1. Click cell B2. Type each word below. Press Enter after each one.

You should see: a word in each colored cell. The colors stay.

Type these words:

Complete

Complete

Not yet

Not yet

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 14 of 19

Read the sheet without color

  1. Read down the Done? column. Ignore the colors.

You should see: Ana Complete, Ben Complete, Cal Not yet, Dee Not yet. The words say it all.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 15 of 19

Save: open the File menu

  1. Click File at the top left.

You should see: a menu with Save As in the list on the left.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 16 of 19

Open the Save As box

  1. Click Save As, then click Browse.

You should see: a box titled Save As.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 17 of 19

Choose Documents

  1. On the left side of the box, click Documents.

You should see: the top of the box ends in Documents.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 18 of 19

Name the file

  1. Click in the File name box. Press Ctrl and A together to shade the old name.
  2. Type Sign-in sheet

You should see: Sign-in sheet in the File name box.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Step 19 of 19

Save the file

  1. Click Save.

You should see: Sign-in sheet at the very top of the Excel window.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft ExcelPart 1 · Check

A chart shows two stores as blue and orange bars. In gray they look alike. What fixes it?

Choose an answer, then explain your reason.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 of 3

Now working in: Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge shows web pages. Tonight we use a practice sign-up page for a made-up reading club. Nothing you type there is saved or sent.

You will make: a practice account with a long password and two-step verification turned on.

Goal 2: Secure a new account

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Why it matters

Two locks are better than one.

  1. 1
    A long password is stronger than a short one. Four words in a row is long and easy to remember.
  2. 2
    Use it on one site only. If one site loses your password, a reused one opens your other accounts too.
  3. 3
    Two-step verification is a second lock: after your password, the site sends a code to your phone.
Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Step 1 of 17

Find Part 2 on your worksheet

  1. Click the Week 5 · Worksheet tab at the top of Edge.
  2. Roll the mouse wheel toward you until you see Part 2.

You should see: the heading Part 2 of 3 and a gold button named Open the practice sign-up page.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Step 2 of 17

Open the practice sign-up page

  1. Click the gold button Open the practice sign-up page.

You should see: a new tab named Riverbend Reading Club · Practice sign-up.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Know your screen

Find your way around the page

  1. Email: your made-up email goes here.
  2. Password: the page checks it when you click the button.
  3. Create account: asks the page to check both.
Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Step 3 of 17

Click the Email box

  1. Click the Email box.

You should see: a blinking line in the Email box.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Step 4 of 17

Type a made-up email

  1. Type learner@example.com

You should see: learner@example.com in the Email box.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Step 5 of 17

Click the Password box

  1. Click the Password box.

You should see: a blinking line in the Password box.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Step 6 of 17

Type a short password

  1. Type Maple9

You should see: Maple9 in the Password box.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Step 7 of 17

Click Create account

  1. Click Create account.

You should see: a red message under the button. The page says no.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Step 8 of 17

Read the reason

  1. Read the red message under the button.

You should see: the words too short and a number of characters.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Step 9 of 17

Shade the short password

  1. Click in the Password box. Press Ctrl and A together to shade it.

You should see: the short password shaded.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Step 10 of 17

Type the practice passphrase

  1. Type the practice passphrase below.
  2. It is for this practice page only. Never use it for a real account.

You should see: four words with spaces between them in the Password box.

Type this practice passphrase:

kettle orbit meadow quilt

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Step 11 of 17

Click Create account again

  1. Click Create account.

You should see: a new heading, Turn on two-step verification. A green note says the password was accepted.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Step 12 of 17

Read the reminder

  1. Read the green note at the top.

You should see: the words this one site only.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Step 13 of 17

Choose a text code

  1. Click Text me a code.

You should see: a page named Check your phone, with a drawing of a phone.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Step 14 of 17

Find the code on the phone

  1. Look at the drawing of the phone. Find the six-digit code.

You should see: the code 482913 on the phone.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Step 15 of 17

Type the code

  1. Click the Code box.
  2. Type 482913

You should see: 482913 in the Code box.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Step 16 of 17

Click Verify

  1. Click Verify.

You should see: a green box that says Two-step verification is on.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Step 17 of 17

Read what you turned on

  1. Read the green box.

You should see: Two-step verification is on.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Check

A friend uses her long email password for her new bank login. What is wrong with that?

Choose an answer, then explain your reason.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 2 · Check

What does two-step verification add to your password?

Choose an answer, then explain your reason.

Week 5Working in: Practice MailPart 3 of 3

Now working in: Practice Mail

Practice Mail is a practice email program in Edge. Tonight it holds one made-up message that tries to rush you.

You will make: a list of the warning signs in the message, and a safer way to check it.

Goal 3: Check a suspicious message a safer way

Week 5Working in: Practice MailPart 3 · Why it matters

Pressure is a warning sign.

  1. 1
    Words like act now and stops today try to make you hurry. Hurrying is how people get tricked.
  2. 2
    A link can say one thing and go somewhere else. Point at it, without clicking, and read the real address.
  3. 3
    Check through a route you already trust: a number on a letter or card you already have, or a website you saved. Never the message’s own link or number.
Week 5Working in: Practice MailPart 3 · Watch

Watch: recognize the pressure

Watch for: the urgent words, and why urgency is a reason to slow down.

0:43 long. It stops by itself.

Week 5Working in: Practice MailPart 3 · Watch

Watch: check a safer way

Watch for: checking through a website or number you found yourself, not the message’s own.

0:32 long. It stops by itself.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 3 · Step 1 of 13

Find Part 3 on your worksheet

  1. Click the Week 5 · Worksheet tab at the top of Edge.
  2. Roll the mouse wheel toward you until you see Part 3.

You should see: the heading Part 3 of 3 and a gold button named Open Practice Mail.

Week 5Working in: Practice MailPart 3 · Step 2 of 13

Open Practice Mail

  1. Click the gold button Open Practice Mail.

You should see: a new tab named Practice Mail with one message in the Inbox.

Week 5Working in: Practice MailPart 3 · Step 3 of 13

Open the message

  1. Click the message from Maple Valley Health Plan.

You should see: the message open, with a From line and a Subject line.

Week 5Working in: Practice MailPart 3 · Know your screen

Find your way around the message

  1. From: who the message says it is from.
  2. The blue link: words you can click.
  3. The phone number in the message.
  4. Report this message: warns your email program.
Week 5Working in: Practice MailPart 3 · Step 4 of 13

Find the rush words in the subject

  1. Read the Subject line. Find ACT NOW and stops today.

You should see: two rush phrases in the subject.

Week 5Working in: Practice MailPart 3 · Step 5 of 13

Find the rush words in the message

  1. Read the message. Find act now, stops today and within 1 hour.

You should see: three rush phrases in the message.

Week 5Working in: Practice MailPart 3 · Step 6 of 13

Read the From line

  1. Read the From line.

You should see: the name Maple Valley Health Plan. Anyone can type that name, so it proves nothing by itself.

Week 5Working in: Practice MailPart 3 · Step 7 of 13

Point at the link

  1. Move the mouse pointer onto the blue link. Do not click it.

You should see: a line at the bottom left of Edge that shows the real address.

Week 5Working in: Practice MailPart 3 · Step 8 of 13

Read where it really goes

  1. Read the address at the bottom left of Edge.

You should see: maple-valley-confirm.example.net/login. It is not maplevalleyhealth.example.com.

Week 5Working in: Practice MailPart 3 · Step 9 of 13

Find the phone number in the message

  1. Find the phone number near the bottom of the message.

You should see: 304-555-0199.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 3 · Step 10 of 13

Find the number on your letter

  1. Click the Week 5 · Worksheet tab. Find the box named A letter you already have.

You should see: 304-555-0188 under Member Services.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 3 · Step 11 of 13

Compare the numbers

  1. Look at the last four digits of both numbers.

You should see: 304-555-0199 is not 304-555-0188. The numbers are different.

Week 5Working in: Practice MailPart 3 · Step 12 of 13

Report the message

  1. Click the Practice Mail tab. Click Report this message.

You should see: the button changes to Reported.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgePart 3 · Step 13 of 13

Write your safer route

  1. Click the Week 5 · Worksheet tab. In Part 3, click the box and write what you would do instead.

You should see: a sentence in the box that uses the number on your letter.

Your safer route (worksheet, Part 3):

Instead of using the message, I would:

Week 5Working in: Practice MailPart 3 · Check

An email says: pay in 30 minutes or lose power. What is the safest first move?

Choose an answer, then explain your reason.

Week 5Working in: Practice MailPart 3 · Check

A caller wants the code just texted to you, right now. What do you do?

Choose an answer, then explain your reason.

Week 5Working in: Microsoft EdgeWrap-up

Fill in your result page

  1. Turn to the last page of your worksheet, My result.
  2. Fill in every box.

You should see: every box on the My result page filled in.

Boxes to fill in:

Words I added to my sheet

My rule for a password

Two-step verification

Pressure words

Where the link went

My trusted route

One habit

Week 5Mission ControlWrap-up

Show your instructor.

  1. your Excel sign-in sheet with the words Complete and Not yet
  2. the practice sign-up page saying Two-step verification is on
  3. your reported Practice Mail message
  4. your My result page, every box filled in
Week 5Mission ControlWrap-up

I can…

  • Show meaning without color alone.
  • Secure a new account.
  • Check a suspicious message a safer way.

Check each box on your worksheet that you can do now.

Week 5Mission ControlWrap-up

Take it home.

Pick one account that matters, such as your email. Give it a long password you use nowhere else, and turn on two-step verification. Next time a message or caller rushes you, stop and check through a number or website you already trust.

Week 5Mission Control

Mission complete.

You made a sheet that works without color, secured a practice account and checked a message the safer way.