Tech Tip Tuesday ... Screen Shots/Clippings in Word 2010

There are lots of ways to take a screenshot of your computer screen. There are many third-party programs that you can download to use and there's even a button on your keyboard that will do it! However, Microsoft has added a super easy way to take and insert screen captures into a document.

In Word 2010 (or even PowerPoint or Excel!), click Insert Screenshot from the Insert tab.

You will see a preview of any open windows on your computer. If you want to insert a full screenshot, just click on the one you want. If you'd rather take a smaller "clip" of something, then select Screen Clipping. The document you are working on will immediately minimize, and the computer screen will fade a bit. With the new cursor, draw a box around the part of the screen you want to use. When you release it, that image will be inserted in your document. 

It's really easy ... give it a try!

Tech Tip Tuesday ... Email Siggies in Outlook 2010

I've had lots of requests to share how to set up an Email Signature in our new email program, Outlook. (This is the application loaded on your computer, not the Outlook WebApp at www.live.com)
Just follow the steps below to create a text or imaged-based signature.

• File > Options
• Choose Mail from the left column, Click Signatures
• Click New

• Name your signature
• Enter the desired information in the Edit Signature box, OK
  Be sure to use the standard fonts. (Fancy fonts will look cute on your computer, but will now show up for your recipients unless they also have that font installed.)
• To insert an image, click the Image icon on the toolbar of the Edit Signature box.

Are you interested in creating a cute signature? I blogged about it last year - check it out!

Tech Tip Tuesday ... Study Ladder

Study Ladder is an exciting online resource primarily for PK-6th grade students (older students may also benefit from some of the activities!). 5000+ interactive activities are available for nearly every subject - math, language, science, music, art, health, and more. Another biggie ... it's FREE for teachers!

You will need to sign up for an account, but then you can choose to use the activities in a computer center, as a class activity on the projector, or in the computer lab. If you set up your class, your students will have full access to all of the activities throughout the day and can even have some access at home (they are limited to 3 activities from home).

Even if you choose not to set up your students with accounts, you can still access the resources for class use.

Some of the activities could actually be used as lesson and others would be great for reinforcement. Each activities gives you the option to be opened in a "Whiteboard version", which simply opens it in a larger, new window.

Be sure to check it out!

BrainPOP: September 11th

If you're a BrainPOP fan (and really, who isn't???) you'll want to check out Tim and Mobi's video about the September 11th attacks. Like most of their videos, there is an interactive quiz, activities, Q&A's and many other related videos.

The video and other material here is written specifically for kids, but I still encourage you to watch it first to make sure it's appropriate for your students.

Check it out here.

The September 11th Video and Resources are part of BrainPOP's free materials. However, as a BrainPOP district, our teachers have access to all of the BrainPOP videos and activities. If you do not know the username and password, please contact your CTI or IT.