Before we get into Photoshop, we’ll start with a program your fifth grader is most likely comfortable with: MS Word. For basic image editing, Word does a pretty good job, so we’ll start with a project using Word’s tools:

• Open a blank document in MS Word. Insert a picture with multiple focal points (see sample). (more…)

Don’t you love keyboard shortcuts? Instead of mouse clicking through all those steps to get something done, a quick Ctrl+I italicizes, or Ctrl+S to save. So much more efficient.

Life is like that. You can do it the long way or the short way. Often that means, learn from someone else’s experience. Don’t always feel you must reinvent the wheel. You’re not capitulating if you take the road more traveled.

• Learn from your mistakes as well as other peoples
• Accept advice from people you trust.
• Don’t feel you have to go it alone. There are lots of friends and family, and sometimes new friends, who will help you get things right.
• Go with your strengths. They have been honed by use. Your weaknesses, well, you never quite know how they’ll work out.

Having said all that, sometimes these shortcuts don’t work. At that point, try something else. One feature I love about Windows is it has multiple solutions to every problem–drop down menu, mousing, shortkeys, usually a few of each. Incorporate that into your life. If one solution doesn’t work for you, try another.

Now, go get ’em!

PS–Here’s a list of my favorite keyboard shortcuts. I can’t do without them.

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.

Looking for tech for your homeschool? Try this Homeschool Survival Kit.

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.

Every week, I’ll post a wonderful website that my classes and my parents love. I think you’ll find they’ll be a favorite of your students as they are of mine.

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As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff, how to solve problems. Each Tuesday, I’ll share one of those with you. They’re always brief and always focused. Enjoy! (more…)

Are you just starting your child on the computer but aren’t sure which program would be best for the youngest learners? You want more than the clicking around that kids seem to start in the womb. You want a program that teaches a bit about mouse functions, tools and toolbars, maybe even some text?

You’re looking for KidPix. (more…)

Your processing speed is what it is. You can only think through problems and consider issues as fast as you do. No amount of wishing you were eidetic or lusting after those with a photographic memory will change your circumstances. Accept yourself for what you are. Revel in it. Own it. Enjoy your strong points and work around the weak ones.

Here’s something you may not know. No one is perfect and everyone has weaknesses. Successful people re-form arguments and situations to accommodate their strengths and ignore their weaknesses. You can too.

Who cares what your processing speed is if your hard drive is to die for?

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.

As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff, how to solve problems. Each Tuesday, I’ll share one of those with you. They’re always brief and always focused. Enjoy! (more…)

Lots of kids think technology is technical, another word for complicated/difficult/math-like. Here are six websites students can visit that will change their minds:

Click on image to enlarge if it’s blurry.

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It’s about effort. These guys tried harder and wanted it more. I applaud them and their coaches.

Cornerstone Homeschool math team wins state competition (more…)