Nikon d7000. How to use manual mode?

Hi I'm getting a Nikon d7000 soon and i don't know much about photography. When I put it on the setting M. How do I know what aperture, ISO, shutter priority. All that? I have no idea what they are.
And how do I shoot RAW?

Take a beginner's photography class. And you have no business shooting raw unless you are going to die things like modify white balance during post processing.

There's a viewfinder readout that indicates correct exposure. There are other ways too, but that's the easiest.

The manual should answer most of your questions.

If you don't understand aperture, ISO, and shutter speeds and their relationship to the lighting situation, then you shouldn't be shooting on Manual mode.

Using Manual mode means you understand how these different factors affect the image, as well as how changing one, affects the others. Do you drive your car in stick shift? Would you suggest a new driver do so, if he or she didn't understand what the different gears do to the engine and the car's performance on flat ground, up a hill, down a hill, towing a trailer, or accelerating on a highway?

The same goes for shooting Raw. Are you ready to spend hours behind the computer to take a Raw image before you have an image ready to print? Do you understand and have a command of photo editing and processing software?

As much as I admire your desire to learn (being a teacher, it makes my heart jump), I think you're asking the wrong question. If you are getting your first DSLR (just guessing here), then start off using the standard modes that the excellent D7000 has. Learn to shoot in Programmed, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, and even the preset modes you'll find on the dial. From there, note the settings the camera has made under various conditions. You'll find that most of the time that darn D7000 has given you a perfect exposure. That's what the designers and programmers of the D7000 designed it to do. When you have the experience and are ready to spread you wings - go ahead. But, you'll be going ahead from a foundation of experience and knowledge, not guessing.

I've shot for years, and have rarely shot in RAW or used manual. There are times when my clients or the situation have required that, but it's been rare.

You should take a look at this website, reading is the key http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/...orials.htm

While at it, you could put this one in your fav as well http://strobist.blogspot.com/

I use manual control most of the time, even with external flash.
I shoot RAW most of the time, it give me more room to work on the low light and highlight.

The only time I use automatic mode and jpeg is when I have thing to sell and need to take a snap shop of something, like old tires for example.

Have fun!

When you get your camera, plan on spending some serious time reading and studying the Owner's Manual that comes with it. Then watch this video:
http://www.nikondigitutor.com/eng/d7000/index.html Who better than Nikon to teach you to use your Nikon D7000?

These sites will also help you learn about photography:

http://www.digital-photography-school.com Tutorials for the beginner to the professional.

http://www.kamerasimulator.se/eng/?page_id=2 An interactive site that shows you what happens when you change aperture, ISO and shutter speed.

If you can, take an introductory class in photography.

If you are buying an advanced camera such as a D7000, you need to learn those basics of photography. You need to know about the exposure triangle, and how it behaves.

There's a concept called reciprocity that is required knowledge when "balancing" the exposure triangle (how aperture, shutter speed, and ISO relate to each other):

http://www.althephoto.com/concepts/reciprocity.php

Go to this website and watch all of the videos. It will explain it a lot easier than I can here:

http://www.adorama.com/.../AdoramaTV