Embedded Files
Here’s the deal...
Here’s the deal...
You are not digitally literate if you do not understand how to create, use, store, retrieve, and share files!
Introduction
Introduction
Digital literacy isn’t just about knowing apps
To be digitally literate, you have to know how to manage your stuff. And in the digital world, all your stuff lives in files.
Think of a file as a digital container.
Every photo you take: file.
Every essay you write: file.
Every app you launch on your phone: file.
Folders are more like backpacks or boxes.
Folders help you group all those "containers" (files) so you can find things later and stay organized.
And the cloud? Well, that’s like having a box you can open from anywhere, as long as you have a connection to the internet.
In this class, you will submit image files of your handwritten notes.
This may be the first time you are interacting with files when type matters!
Most phones store images in HEIC format, but you need to submit your notes in JPEG format. Have an iPhone? Click here. My fellow Android users, JPEG should be the default, but just in case, here's a resource.
Files
Files
What’s a file? A file is a container that stores information on your computer.
Files are identified by a short extension following a period at the end of their name. (Although this is sometimes hidden from the user)
For example:
abc.jpg → photograph
abc.docx → Word doc
abc.exe → program
abc.mp3 → audio file
abc.png → image
abc.csv → comma-separated text file
Some extensions are hidden by default. Knowing them is vital in the digital world.
Image from: https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/file
Hands-On Activity
Hands-On Activity
Let's take a look at some files on your computer: Click here to download a collection of sample files, and then navigate to your downloads folder to look at it.
(You just downloaded SampleFiles_v02.zip - ZIP is a compressed file format allowing you to group files and reduce their size to share and transport them more easily)
Zip Files are like Mary Poppins' Magic bag!
To unzip:
Windows → right-click → Extract All
Mac → double-click
Explore! (demonstration in the video on this page)
What files are inside?
What opens them?
How big are they?
Folders
Folders
Folders are simple! They hold files (and even other folders, called subfolders).
When working with computers, it is essential to know where your files are and what their names are. This takes a bit of effort and organization. Don't trust the computer to organize for you! Be conscious and specific about where you save and store your data. Your future self will thank you!
This is how you should visualize files and folders on your computer.
Everything in the digital world is hierarchical. We will revisit this concept repeatedly throughout the semester.
Activity: Organize the files you unzipped into folders. Could you make folders that make sense for your classes, hobbies, or projects?
Notebook ACTIVITY
Notebook ACTIVITY
Before you do anything, guess how many files you might have in your downloads folder!
Now, open your Downloads folder and in your notebook, answer these questions:
How many files are in there? Were you close?
Can you see the file extensions? If not, click here to learn how to turn them on so you can identify the file types. List at least five extensions you spot.
How many files have names like "document(1)" or "unnamed" that you have no memory of downloading?
Now take five minutes and actually clean up this folder! Create at least one folder and move something into it.
When you are finished:
In one sentence, describe the state of your Downloads folder before vs. after.
Now is a good time to start defining the Unit's terms in your notebook!
Some may require you to do a bit of online searching. Remember: jot down where you find your information.
Why does any of this Matter?
Why does any of this Matter?
This is one of those pages that sounds basic but isn't. Every semester, students lose work, miss submissions, or send the wrong file because no one ever taught them how to actually manage files.
Understanding files and folders is the foundation on which everything is built. Get this right, and managing your digital life all gets easier. These aren't just school skills — you'll use them every day for the rest of your life.
Remember... Organized > Unorganized
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