Customize the Quick Access Toolbar in Office 2007

When using Microsoft Office 2007 with elementary students it is a good idea to customize the Quick Access Toolbar by adding commands that are commonly used. This will save your students from having to "click around" to find a command they need.

The Quick Access Toolbar is a customizable toolbar that contains a set of commands at the top of the program window. Follow the instructions to add frequently used commands such as:

• open (located on the Office Button menu)


• print (located on the Office Button menu)


• picture (located on the Insert tab)


• clip art (located on the Insert tab)


• word art (located on the Insert tab)


• spelling and grammar (located on the Review tab)

1. Right click on the command.


2. Select Add to Quick Access Toolbar from the menu.

TechnoChrista

http://www.technokids.com

Using Office 2007 with K-8 Students

Many teachers are starting the school year with new software in their computer labs. Over the summer, the technical support team has installed Microsoft Office 2007. Although the administration may be happy about the upgrade, many teachers are worried about the change.

Over the next few weeks, this blog will focus on how educators can make the most out of Microsoft Office 2007 software. Included in each entry will be ideas to customize the program, an introduction to new program features, and strategies for teaching in the classroom.

The good new is that Microsoft Office 2007 is easy to learn and fun to use. Microsoft has made improvements to their software that are going to make teachers and students very happy. In the past, the average computer user only used about ten percent of the program. This is because advanced features were hidden in dialog boxes that only "power users" would know how to access.

Not any more. Microsoft has traded in their toolbars, menus, and dialog boxes and replaced them with commands that are organized onto a ribbon. The ribbon contains tabs. Each tab contains commands that are logically placed into a group to make it easy to find. Since each command has a picture to illustrate the function, it is easy to guess its purpose.

When you first see the new Microsoft Office 2007 you may start to panic. It all looks so different. The File menu that used to contain save, open, close, and print options, has been replaced with the Microsoft Office button in the top left corner. It takes a bit of getting used to, but soon you will be able to find the print button without too much frustration. (Later I will give you instructions for customizing the Quick Access Toolbar to make this command even easier to find).

The ribbon is very much like toolbars in previous Microsoft Office versions. The trick is to understand how the tabs are organized so you can find what you need. For example, the Home tab has commonly used commands for working with text whereas the Insert tab has commands for placing objects into a document such as clip art, drawing objects, and picture files.

A good idea when introducing the newly designed Microsoft Office 2007 program environment to students is to have a scavenger hunt. This will help your students discover where commands are organized. Once they know where to look on the ribbon for commands, using Microsoft Office 2007 becomes simple.

Ask your students questions about the content of tabs such as "What tab on the ribbon would you use to add objects such as pictures or a table?" (answer: insert tab) or "What tab on the ribbon has commands for formatting text?' (answer: home tab). As well, have them focus on where to locate commands on a tab by studying the group. Ask questions such as "What group on the home tab has commands that change text alignment?" (answer: paragraph group) or "What group on the insert tab has commands to add a picture or clip art?" (answer: illustrations group).

Once your students are familiar with how commands are organized on the ribbon have them discover the location of commonly used functions. For example, they are likely to need to know how to format text, insert pictures, and add page numbers. Have your students look for these commands and when they find them, they should list the command name, group, and tab.

Looking around for commands can be frustrating. Instead, have fun with your students! Turn the frustration into an exciting scavenger hunt. This will help reduce the anxiety about learning the new software.

TechnoKids has created many technology projects for Microsoft Office 2007. To learn more visit http://www.technokids.com/news.shtml#August_2007

Has the Save Icon become Outdated?

This week my eight-year-old son was using the computer to write a story in Microsoft Word. When he was done he wanted to save his work. I told him to click the "Save" button. I let him know it was the tool that looked like a diskette. He looked at me puzzled. I decided to clarify my statement by informing him that it looked like a floppy diskette. Now he was truly confused. He said, "Mom, what is a floppy diskette?"

It was then that I realized, my eight year old son has never seen a floppy diskette. The new computer we just bought did not even come with a floppy diskette drive. The floppy diskette is obsolete.

This made me start to question the relevance of the floppy diskette as the Save icon. Most software program use a floppy diskette as the icon for the Save tool. However, has the Save icon become outdated?

Is using a floppy diskette to show Save like using a picture of a record to show Music? Kids today have never seen a record and many will never see a floppy diskette.

The image of a diskette has been used for so many years to show the Save feature of a software program, it is impossible to remember a time when it was not used. In fact, was it ever not used?

The image of a disk to represent Save has become outdated. But what image could possibly replace the diskette that has come to symbolize the Save feature in so many programs? At this time, I cannot think of a better alternative, but eventually one will need to be found.

TechnoChrista
http://www.technokids.com

Digital Storytelling and Windows Movie Maker

Windows Movie Maker is a program that comes with the Windows XP and Vista operating system. Many teachers with PC computers in their schools do not realize this software is on their computer. Other teachers know that they have the software, but they don't understand how to use Windows Movie Maker to develop meaningful learning opportunities for students.

Windows Movie Maker is a program that makes it easy to create digital stories. You can combine still images, video clips, and sound files to tell a story. Transitions, text overlays, and video effects can be applied to make the story look exceptional!

Digital story telling is the use of technology to combine words, images, sound, and animation to tell a story. The main difference between digital story telling and traditional writing is that the events are told with digital media instead of written words.

In digital story telling students follow the stages of the writing process. They plan their story, organize their ideas into a storyboard, edit the content, and share their work with an audience. The difference in the writing process is that the work is done with digital tools instead of a pencil and paper.

TechnoKids Inc. creates technology projects that contain detailed lesson plans for using Windows Movie Maker. For example you can follow the instructions to create a modern-day nursery rhyme using pictures or video clips. To learn more visit http://www.technokids.com/technology_projects/drama.shtml.

Another TechnoKids technology project that has great ideas for using Windows Movie Maker is TechnoCommercial. In this technology project, detailed lesson plans explain how to use the persuasion tactics and production techniques of advertisers to sell a product to a target audience. To learn more visit: http://www.technokids.com/technology_projects/commercial.shtml

If you have Windows Movie Maker, try using the software with your students. You will all have a wonderful time!