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!
Q: My fifth graders are learning outlining in the classroom. Is there an easy way to tie that into technology?
A: Outlining can’t be easier than doing it in Word. Here’s what you do:
- Select the Numbered List or the Bullet List in MS Word. MS Word 2010 even lets you select the style up front. MS Word 2003–it’s a bit more complicated
- Your first bullet or number appears on the screen. Type your item
- Push enter to add another number or bullet
- To create a subpoint, push tab after you’ve pushed enter to start the next bullet/number
- To push a subpoint up a level, push Shift+tab after you’ve pushed enter for the next bullet/number
That’s it–three keys:
- bullet list or numbered list
- tab to indent
- Shift+tab to exdent
The biggest problem I have is students who get themselves outside of the numbered/bullet list. If that happens, they can do one of two simple steps:
- backspace until their cursor is up against the last bullet/number, then push enter to generate the next bullet/number
- click the tool for bullet/numbered list and reactivate the list
I’ve tried this with fourth graders and it’s a much more complicated process. Their technology skills don’t seem to be there well enough to make this a fun, easy lesson. That’s why I wait for fifth grade. How about you? What are your experiences?
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.
