TECHNOLOGY TASK #7
This week’s Tech Task involves both WordArt and one of the web’s most valuable websites for your classroom: Internet4Classrooms. http://www.internet4classrooms.com [Note the “s” on “classrooms” in the web address. If you do not put the “s” in, you will not hit the website. ]
This week, the task is the same for all levels. The only real difference is the amount of information on the page; therefore, you will just need to choose the level that you wish to complete and do that one.
Beginner Level: Create a flyer type page to be displayed close to your computer. The page needs (a) a WordArt title, (b) three websites that your students would find valuable either for your class or for a Gateway or EOC course (c) at least one clipart picture. Print a copy to display and email me a copy as a WORD attachment.
Intermediate Level: Create a flyer type page to be displayed close to your computer. The page needs (a) a WordArt title, (b) seven websites that your students would find valuable either for your class or for a Gateway or EOC course (c) at least two clipart pictures (d) a page border. Print a copy to display and email me a copy as a WORD attachment.
Wizard Level: Create a flyer type page to be displayed close to your computer. The page needs (a) a WordArt title, (b) ten websites that your students would find valuable either for your class or for a Gateway or EOC course (c) at least two or three clipart pictures (d) a page border. Print a copy and email me a copy as a WORD attachment, and post the page on your classroom webpage.
ALL LEVELS
(1) Decide on a title for your page.
(2) Click on View / Toolbars and put a checkmark in front of WordArt, if there isn’t one there already. Drag the small WordArt toolbar out of the way.
(There is a shortcut to this: If you have the Drawing toolbar at the bottom of your screen, it has the WordArt A on it. If you click it and insert your design from the Gallery, the WordArt toolbar automatically appears on your screen if you select (single-click) your WordArt title that you typed in. Either way is fine.)
(3) The first button on the toolbar is a blue slightly tilted A. This button opens the WordArt Gallery, which gives you a preview of the style and default coloring of your title. Choose one that you like and click OK.
(4) Your WordArt appears on the page, and if you single-click it you will be able to click the second area of the WordArt toolbar: Edit Text… You will use this button if you need to change the title text or correct spelling, etc.
(5) The third button has the tilted A with the WordArt Gallery table behind it. You may click on the title that you created to select it and then click the third button to use the same text you typed but change the style of the wordart.
(6) The fourth button has a paintbrush and paint can. Selecting this button after single-clicking the wordart will allow you to change the colors and colorstyles of your wordart. There are several tabs on the box that opens, but the first one (colors and lines) and the third one (layout) will be the ones that you will most likely use often. Change the colors and the colorstyle of your title. (Be sure to go to Fill / Color / Fill Effects on the colors and Lines tab and look at all of the available options for customizing your art!)
(7) The fifth button is the ABC button, and it gives you some additional shape options for your title. Single-click the WordArt to select it and then click the ABC button to try a few of these additional shapes.
(8) The sixth button looks like a dog in front of some window blinds, maybe… This button will do the same thing as the Layout tab from the Format button (fourth button). If you select your WordArt (by single-clicking it), clicking the Layout dog will let you specify how you want the WordArt to be spaced on your page with text. You can put it behind text, in front of text, wrap the text tightly around the WordArt, etc.
(9) The last four buttons (same height letters, direction, justify, and kerning) will not be as useful, probably, but you might play with them and see if they help your WordArt.
Got your title on your page? Now for the fun part!
(10) Minimize
WORD (FW+m, remember?) and open Internet
Explorer. Type
http://www.internet4classrooms.com
into the address bar. The main link for this task is the top
one: Links
for K12 Teachers. Click on that
one. (Note: you may use other websites that you
particularly like also.)
(11) Search through the websites in your curriculum area AND/OR the Assessment area at the bottom of the page. Notice that the Gateways and ACT/SAT are Assessment choices.
(12) Find the first link that you want to put on your WordArt page. Make sure that you are actually on the site that you want the students to visit.
(13) Make sure that your Explorer page is NOT maximized. If it is, double-click the title bar, and the page will restore to a smaller size. Resize it so that it takes about half of the screen, and then drag it to the right half of the screen.
(14) Maximize your WordArt page, and then double-click the title bar for it also. Click on the page and type in the title of the webpage that you want to put the link to. Resize the page to about half of the screen and then move it to the left half of the page.
(15) Notice that only one program can be active at one time. (Single-click the half that you wish to make active.) Click on the Internet Explorer half to make it active, and then click on the Explorer E in front of the website address.
WITHOUT LETTING UP ON THE MOUSE, take the E across the page to your WordArt page and drop it where the link goes on the page (next to the webpage title that you put there).
Continue
until you get the number of links needed for your task level.
ADDING CLIPART
(16) Click
on Insert / Picture / Clipart and
find a picture to use. Resize it if
necessary. Single-click the picture and
then click the Textbox button on your
Drawing Toolbar. This will put the picture in a textbox that
you can now drag on the page to the spot where you want it. If you do not want the border around the box,
just right-click on the border and pick Format
Text Box. In the Line area, select No line.
Repeat for additional clipart.
ADDING A PAGE BORDER
(17) Click on Format / Borders and Shading / Page Border and select the type, the style, the color, and the width for line borders. Notice also that there is an Art option under the width area, with some artistic-type borders that you might use.
Look over your flyer and make any adjustments necessary.
Print one copy to post or give to students.
Email me (bgarnett) the page as an attachment. (See Task 5 instructions if you need it.)
If you are completing the Wizard Level, you should also post your page on your classroom webpage. Remember to change the date for the “Last Updated” area of the page.
Note: internet4classrooms
is one of the best classroom resources you will find. You might also check out their Daily Dose of the Web and Online Practice Modules links. Both are excellent! The site is from Bill Byles
(now retired from his position as Director of Technology for Memphis City
Schools), and Susan Brooks (Technology Facilitator at