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UPDATE (5/20/26 @ 7:30am AZ time):
The GCU Library's updated version of LopeCat, the library’s online catalog, is live! For more details on what has changed, visit the What's New Guide .
Computer Skills: Computer Basics
PrepStep Computer Skills Tutorials
PrepSTEP is an online suite of resources to help you build basic skills with computers.
- Read prep books.
- Take tutorials for skills in using:
- Computer basics.
- Start and stop practice tests and tutorials and pick up where you left off.
You must create a personal account to use PrepSTEP.
- Access PrepSTEP using the link on this page. You will need to log in with your GCU username and password.
- Click "Sign In/Register" at the top.
- Click "Register".
- Fill out the form and register for a free account using an email and password of your choice. Please note that you do not need to include your Student ID# or Course Section #.
- Click Home or choose a center from the Centers menu on the navigation bar to begin using the resources.
To begin a practice test or tutorial:
- Click on the category you need.
- Choose the test or skill you need to work on.
- Choose the resource you need. You can begin a practice test or read a test book.
To continue a test or exam:
- Log in by clicking "Sign In/Register".
- If you are already logged in, click on your name and choose "My Center".
- Find the test or tutorial you wish to continue and click on the title.
- You can also delete your progress by clicking the trash can icon next to the title.
Additional GCU Computer Skills Help
- GCU Technical Support This link opens in a new windowVisit the support website for how-to guides. Click 'Need Help?' to access chat help options.
Helpful Tutorials & Shortcuts
Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of keys that trigger a computer to perform an action. You need to hit all the keys in a combo together to trigger the action. Some very common and useful ones are:
- Ctrl C on PC or Command C on Mac to copy highlighted text or a selected item to the clipboard. The clipboard is a temporary holding place for copied information. It can only hold one thing at a time.
- Ctrl V or Command V to paste the information in the clipboard to wherever the cursor is.
- Ctrl A or Command A to highlight an entire document or area of text.
- Ctrl Z or Command Z to undo the last action you took.
- Alt Tab or Command Tab to switch between open programs or windows.
- Ctrl F or Command F opens a search box in most programs to locate text on the page.
- Microsoft Windows Keyboard Shortcuts This link opens in a new windowA complete list of default shortcuts in Windows.
- Mac Keyboard Shortcuts This link opens in a new windowA full list of default shortcuts for Macs.
- Windows Basics This link opens in a new windowA text based tutorial for using Windows computers.
- Mac Basics This link opens in a new windowA text based tutorial for using a Mac.
- Mouse Tutorial This link opens in a new windowAn interactive guide to using a mouse.
- Typing Tutorial This link opens in a new windowAn interactive typing tutorial.
Recommended YouTube Videos
This playlist has videos to walk you through the buttons on a computer, the parts of a computer, and how to navigate the desktop of a PC or a Mac.
