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Dear Otto: How do you teach file types?

 2 Comments on Dear Otto: How do you teach file types?

tech questionsDear Otto is an occasional column where I answer questions I get from readers about teaching tech. If you have a question, please complete the form below and I’ll answer it here. For your privacy, I use only first names.

Here’s a great question I got from Kaylene:

Dear Otto,
How do you go about teaching file types to students? I’m sure you begin early – but even my 6th graders’ eyes glaze over when I try to explain the difference between a .jpg and a .xls! Any tips?
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I teach them as they come up. For example, when students use KidPix, the file extension is .kpx. That doesn’t work for slideshows so I take the opportunity to discuss file extensions and how to get KidPix drawings into presentations. When they upload images to KidPix, it wants ‘.bmp’ or adjust the settings for .jpg. We upload images and take the time to chat about problem solving (since most images students use won’t be .bmp).

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Same with Photoshop. We talk a lot about file types when working with this program. Students need to understand the difference between saving as a .psd and a .jpg to use this program well.

When students search images, we talk about file type and file size. I ask them to find .jpgs of a certain size–mostly to get them to pay attention to that, but also for quality issues.

If your sixth graders are blogging, it will ask for a certain file type to load an image. that’s a great opportunity to discuss ‘file types’ and why an .xls won’t load but a .jpg will. Perfect time to teach screenshots–which will save a non-interactive version of the .xls as a .jpg and enable loading. Also a great opportunity (if you have GAFE) to show them how to load an interactive spreadsheet with the.html (another extension).

In short, I pause and chat about extensions whenever the opportunity arises. I don’t make it a separate unit. I tried that and just didn’t work. Became boring very fast.

Does that help?

Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice, CSTA presentation reviewer, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, contributor to NEA Today, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.

Author: Jacqui
Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice, CSTA presentation reviewer, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, contributor to NEA Today, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.
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2 thoughts on “Dear Otto: How do you teach file types?”

  1. Dear Otto:
    Our school is going 1:1 with chromebooks. I have been asked to give a Chromebook basics presentation to staff and I will soon begin teaching it to students too. Do you have an lessons, videos, slides… that you have found helpful for teaching about Chromebooks?

  2. I have a handful of articles on Chromebooks on the site–Chromebooks in the Classrooms–Friend or Foe? 18 Pluses, 5 Differences, and 9 Tips about Chromebooks in Your Classroom. Faceoff: What Digital Device Should My School Buy?

    I also have a graphic of the most popular shortkeys for Chromebooks here–https://askatechteacher.com/2015/06/09/computer-shortkeys-that-streamline-your-day/. Scroll down to find it.

    Does that help? Are you looking for something specific?

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