Discuss ways you can ensure that files/documents you've created can easily be found.

Many people create and save documents on computers every day. However, it's not unusual for files and documents to 'go missing', and the user can spend a lot of valuable time searching for these. Discuss ways to avoid losing files and documents no matter how long ago they were created.

The English language is quite complex. Some words sound the same, but are spelt differently and have different meanings. What about punctuation? Where do you put an apostrophe? Do you know the grammar rules? Discuss the good and bad points of checking work on a computer and how proofreading, spelling and grammar checks and the Thesaurus can be helpful.

A simple word-processed document can be greatly improved by adding blank line spaces between paragraphs, making the headings stand out, adding graphics, etc. What other methods can be used to further develop and improve the layout, and why bother with formatting anyway?

How do you add a row of figures? What is an =IF formula? Where can I find help if I don't know where to start? Discuss spreadsheet formulae, and how these can help produce information and statistics for your project. Give examples of search criteria and details of where these can be used in day-to-day work.

How easy are figures to understand? If you present a page of numbers for comparison, would an audience be aware of what these were for? There are several ways in which to present numbers: word processing (tables), spreadsheet or database programs. Discuss different methods and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

A database program is simply a computerised filing system. If you want to keep records of numbers and words, this is probably the best method to use. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a computerised database over a manual filing system and/or the use of a spreadsheet to store data.

The Internet has a wealth of information and is generally easy to access. The library, books, magazines, other people, etc, can also help with your research. But why is it important to plan your search criteria before starting, in particular research on the Internet? Discuss.

Why is it important to protect personal information on computer? Why can't you copy other people's work and put your own name at the bottom? What are the consequences of being caught doing either of the above? Discuss your understanding of the Data Protection Act and Copyright Law and how they affect you when working on your Key Skills portfolio. Include in your discussion ways in which to protect your data from "worms" and "viruses" on the World Wide Web.

There are many Search Engines, including Google, Ask Jeeves, Lycos, etc. Which Search Engines have you used? Discuss the best and most efficient Search Engines for you and talk about which methods you use to bookmark the websites it has found.

What is mail-merge? What are the benefits of using this method of deriving new information from data you've already input into different programs? Give examples of when you would use this.