The mouse is your hand inside the computer. Master it and everything else gets easier — so we practice it a lot this week.
Holding it
- Rest your palm gently on the mouse — no squeezing.
- Index finger rests on the left button, middle finger on the right button.
- Move the mouse by sliding it on the desk. The arrow on the screen (the "pointer") copies your movement.
- Running out of desk? Lift the mouse, place it back in the middle, and carry on. The pointer stays where it was.
The four moves
- Point — slide the mouse until the arrow sits on the thing you want.
- Single click — one gentle press of the left button. This selects or presses things (like touching a doorbell).
- Double click — two quick presses of the left button, without moving the mouse between them. This opens things. This is the hardest one — everyone needs practice, so don't worry.
- Right click — one press of the right button. This opens a small menu of extra choices. If a strange menu appears and you didn't want it, click somewhere empty and it goes away.
There is also drag: point at something, hold the left button down, slide the mouse, let go. Like picking something up and putting it down.
The golden reassurance
A stray click almost never causes harm — and nothing you do in practice can break the computer. If something unexpected opens, we simply close it. You will learn how, and it will happen to everyone in the class this week. That's normal.