3 Essential Windows 7 Tools

We recently did a computer refresh in our district and several teachers received computers with Windows 7.  I recently typed up a document sharing with them 3 essential tools/apps that they could use in their classroom.  I also wanted to share them here because it is be a bad assumption on my part to think that teachers know about them.  So here is a short description of each tool, how to access the tool, and how to use the tool.  Share with the teachers in your building who also use Windows 7.  These are very simple and effective tools.

Snipping Tool

A.)   Description:

a.       This is a screen shot tool.  It allows you to click and drag around an area of your computer screen.  This is a great tool for capturing photos from the web or text from an article.  This is a tool for taking a “Screen Shot”

B.)    How to Access:

a.       Start Menu/Windows Icon Button in lower left corner

b.      All Programs

c.       Accessories

                                                   i.      If you want it on your desktop, right click, followed by “Send To” and select “Desktop (Create Shortcut)

C.)    How to Use:

a.       Click the down arrow next to new to determine the style of screen shot

b.      Your screen will cloud over.  Click and drag your mouse around the area that you want to capture.  You will see a red line.

c.       Release your mouse button to capture your screen shot.

d.      A window will open with what you captures/snipped

e.      Here is where you will save your image.  There are some additional features: Draw, highlight, copy, etc.  Use as you wish.

Sticky Notes

A.)   Description:

a.       Digital Post-It Notes that you can see and view on your desktop.  No more notes around your monitor screen

B.)    How to Access:

a.       Start Menu/Windows Icon Button in lower left corner

b.      All Programs

c.       Accessories

                                                   i.      If you want it on your desktop, right click, followed by “Send To” and select “Desktop (Create Shortcut)

C.)    How to Use:

a.       Double clicking the icon will open up a post it note.  You can type on it directly.

b.      Clicking the “+” will create a new post it note.

c.       Right clicking on the note will allow you to change the color

                                                   i.      Blue, Green, Pink, Purple, White, Yellow

d.      The x will permanently delete your post it notes.

Magnfier

A.)   Description:

a.       Allows you to easily zoom into certain areas of your screen.  You can also press and hold the CTRL button while using the scroll button on your mouse if you don’t want to use this tool

B.)    How to Access:

a.       Start Menu/Windows Icon Button in lower left corner

b.      All Programs

c.       Accessories

d.      Ease of Access

C.)    How to Use:

a.       Click to open and move your mouse around the screen to see the zoomed in areas.

b.      You will notice a magnifying glass.  Click that to access options.

c.       It defaults to a zoom of 200%.  You can change that if you need to by typing in a zoom or clicking the “+” and “-“ buttons

d.      Clicking on the settings icon (a gear) will allow you to activate color inversion and other features.