General Computer Information

World Almanac for Kids - Resources for homework, reports, and projects in a fun format from a trusted source. Covers a wide range of topics, including Technology (The Rise of Technology, Technology as We Know It, Life in the Digital Age, and Mobile Applications in Everyday Life); written for students in 4th - 8th grade. If you're using this resource at home, you'll have to enter your library card barcode to begin.

Birth of the Internet VIDEO INTERACTIVE - This interactive timeline explores the development of the internet from the 1960s through the early 2000s, with text, images, and video. High school and up (National Science Foundation). See also History of the Web (World Wide Web Foundation; non-profit organization) and, for more details, A Brief History of the Internet (Internet Society; non-profit organization). For the history of computers, see Computer History Timeline and related links, below.

Code.org: Learn Code - A library of online tutorials and activities that teach computer coding. Each resource includes a brief description, and lists the device(s) required and appropriate age group. Searchable by age, topic, device, language and more; for all ages, pre-reader through grade 9 and up, in over 45 languages (Code.org; non-profit organization). Latino STEM's Online Learning includes features activities using Computer Aided Design and Scratch (2020, Latino STEM Alliance; non-profit organization). Scratch INTERACTIVE is a free program you can use to create your own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art. You can also share your creations on the website. 'Scratch is designed especially for young people ages 8 to 16, but people of all ages create and share with Scratch. Younger children may want to try ScratchJr NEW, a simplified version of Scratch designed for ages 5 to 7.' Includes tours and video tutorials (MIT Media Lab). The tutorial Scratch: Programming for Budding Computer Scientists [Link opens a PDF] provides additional instruction for older students (2007; by David J. Malan, Harvard University). All You Need is Code (ages 5+) links to online courses and tools to help you learn how to write code (European Coding Initiative, European Commission et al.). See also TEENZONE: Tech links.

Computational Fairy Tales - Computer science concepts as told through fairy tales. Includes over 70 stories written for a variety of audiences, from those with absolutely no programming experience to those with significant computer science backgrounds (By Jeremy Kubica, University of Washington). Computer Science Unplugged & Computer Science Unplugged: At Home is 'a collection of fun and engaging activities that enable children to explore fundamental ideas in Computer Science, without having to use a computer;' primarily for ages 5 - 12. For related materials, see CS Unplugged: Computer Science Without a Computer (University of Canterbury, NZ).

Computer History Timeline - A history of the development of computers, from 1939 to 2015, with pictures; you can browse by year or by category. There's also a related collection of online exhibits, plus This Day in Computer History, and computer advertising brochures for good historical pictures from the 1950s to the 1980s. (Computer History Museum). For more on computer history, see Computer History FAQ (San Diego Computer Museum). For more on computer history, see The National Museum of Computing (UK). For the history of the internet and World Wide Web, see Birth of the Internet and related links, above.

Computer Science: A Guide to Web Resources [NOTE: Most of these resources are freely available; however, some are available only to the University at Albany community] - For advanced students, this site offers links on a variety of online resources relating to computer science, including dictionaries, journals, programming languages, and much more (2022, State University of NY). See also Computer Science Education links.

Crash Course: Computer Science VIDEO - An online video series explaining the math and science that make computers work. (2017 - 2018; produced in collaboration with PBS Digital Studios and hosted on YouTube, site includes advertisements)

Dictionary of computer-related terms - See Tech Terms NEW (2023, by Per Christensson and Brian Pickle), and Computer Dictionary and related links.

Pew Research Internet Project - Studies on the impact of the internet on families, communities, work and home, daily life, education, health care, and civic and political life. High school and up. (Pew Charitable Trusts)

Useful Websites: Computers & Technology - Our selection of the best websites on computers, the internet, software, security, and home electronics. (South Plainfield Public Library)

How to Use Hardware and Software

Universal Class - Free online non-credit courses for your personal enrichment, accessible 24/7 via the Internet! Computer courses include computer basics, Windows 7 through 10, Microsoft Office 2007 through 2013, Mac OS, social media, Quickbooks & Quicken, Adobe software, PC repair, HTML, CSS, SQL, javascript, and much more! You will have up to 6 months to finish each course, and each course has a real instructor you can communicate with by email! [PLEASE NOTE: To sign up for classes, you'll need to register on the site and choose a username & password for your account.]

Brainfuse HelpNow: On demand, anytime, anywhere eLearning for all ages and levels! Brainfuse HelpNow's Skill Surfer NEW! includes a section on Computers and Technology, with Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced lessons in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, as well as tutorials on Google Tools, plus practice tests for C++ Certification, Java Certification, SQL Certification, and AP® Computer Science. Enter your full 14-digit library card barcode number to access the site, then click on the Login button to sign up for your personal account. See also Job Training & Education Opportunities for links to free online Skillsoft courses at SkillUp NJ, including information technology training.

For many additional computer tutorials and how-to sites, see our
Useful Websites: COMPUTERS & TECHNOLOGY page.

Coding, Programming, and other Computer Science topics - See Code.org: Learn Code and Computational Fairy Tales, above.

GCF Learn Free Online Tutorials VIDEO - Self-paced tech tutorials covering computer basics, Internet basics, e-mail skills, and social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), as well as Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access) versions through 2016 & Office 365, and Windows, versions 98 through 10. (Goodwill Community Foundation)

Keyboard Skills: Dance Mat Typing INTERACTIVE - It's easier to use a computer if you know how to type. This site offers a fun way to learn touch typing. Each lesson builds on previous lessons, introducing new letters as you progress; grades 1 - 6 (British Broadcasting Corporation). Typing Club VIDEO INTERACTIVE offers free interactive typing lessons suitable for middle school and up (site includes advertisements). High school students, see also Good Typing & related links.

Programming, Coding, and other Computer Science topics - See Code.org: Learn Code and Computational Fairy Tales, above.

How to Use the Web

For many additional computer tutorials and how-to sites, see our
Useful Websites: COMPUTERS & TECHNOLOGY page.

Cyber Savvy Youth - Quizzes & advice for youth on protecting yourself and your information in the online world; different resources for elementary, middle school, high school and up (2019 - 2023, New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs). Cyber Academy NEW VIDEO INTERACTIVE is a video series on Internet safety, for kids age 7-10; includes interactive quizzes (2021 - 2023, Trend Micro; videos hosted on YouTube). Play Cybersecurity Circus INTERACTIVE and related games to test your cybersecurity smarts; high school and up (2015 - 2021, Texas A&M). See Social Media Test Drive, below, and Computers and Technology: Protecting Yourself & Your Family for links to many additional resources. Cyberbullying: What Kids Can Do and What Teens Can Do suggests things you can do to keep yourself and the kids you know safe from bullying. See also What is Cyberbullying (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services). See also Privacy and Social Media, below

Evaluating Websites: Digital Media Literacy VIDEO INTERACTIVE - Tips to help you judge the content you see online, with related info about advertising, clickbait, social media, photo manipulation, and more (GCF LearnFree). MediaWise: Is This Legit? VIDEO offers fact-checking videos to help young people figure what's real and what's not online (Poynter Institute; hosted on YouTube). Deepfakes and the New AI VIDEO explains how manipulated ('deep fake') videos work, and outlines the development of deepfake detection methods (2020, Scientific American). What's Wrong with Wikipedia? (Harvard University) gives a brief overview of some problems related to using Wikipedia. Wikipedia's own About Wikipedia page explains how the site works and its current policies and guidelines, including limited restrictions on some pages, and standards Wikipedia uses for labelling Good Articles NEW. Crash Course's video on Using Wikipedia VIDEO offers helpful advice on how you can use Wikipedia to 'help get a birds-eye view of content, better evaluate information with lateral reading, and find trustworthy primary sources' (hosted on YouTube; site includes advertisements). See also Fact Check, Fake News, and evaluating print sources.

Facebook & Social Media - See Privacy, below.

Internet Ethics - Explores privacy, big data, social media, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and other issues; choose Articles or Cases from the menu to start (Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University). Digital Compass INTERACTIVE teaches students the fundamentals of digital citizenship through a choose-your-own-path interactive game, designed for grades 6 - 8. NOTE: Digital Compass will be retired on June 30, 2024. Students can watch related interactive videos on Digital Connections NEW. (Common Sense Education).

Media Smarts Educational Games - A collection of online computer games that introduce kids to key ideas in media and digital literacy, such as marketing, privacy, online predators, fact-checking, and more; ages 5 and up (MediaSmarts, Canada). See also Cyber Savvy Youthz, Privacy, and Social Media, below.

Passwords for Kids NEW VIDEO INTERACTIVE - Explains why and how to create strong passwords, for kids age 7-10; includes interactive quiz (2021, Trend Micro; video hosted on YouTube). How to pick the perfect password & Simple Tricks to Remember Seriously Secure Passwords explain best practices for storing and creating passwords; for older students (2021 - 2022, PC Magazine). See also Passwords and related links.

Privacy Tips for Teens [Link opens a PDF] - Quick tips to help you use the internet more safely and securely (stopthinkconnect.org; National Cyber Security Alliance and Anti-Phishing Working Group). Manage Your Privacy Settings offers direct links to update your privacy settings on popular devices & online services (including email, social media, e-commerce, music & video streaming, and much more), or to read about your platforms' privacy policies (2022, Stay Safe Online, National CyberSecurity Alliance). See also Media Smarts, Passwords, and Cyber Savvy Youthz, above, Social Media, below, and TEENZONE: Tech - Cyber Safety & Cyber Privacy links.

Social Media Test Drive UPDATED LINK INTERACTIVE - A simulated social media environment where you can practice and prepare for real-life experiences in the digital world. Through modules that focus on realistic dilemmas and scenarios, students practice how to respond to situations they will encounter when they become social media users; for middle school students (Common Sense Education). See also Privacy and Media Smarts, above.

Wikipedia - See Evaluating Websites, above.

Web Directories

These South Plainfield Public Library web directories have links to great sites for kids and teens:
HOMEWORK LINKS, KIDSTUFF: Homework Help & KIDSTUFF: Fun Stuff, and TEEN ZONE