Volume 9, #3
November 2004

Workshops

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G-Rated Tips for OS X

By Ralph Tolbert, Educational Technology Consultant ()

Saving PDF Files

Anything that can be printed in OS X can also be saved as a PDF file that can be opened by anyone using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. In the Print Dialog window, select Save as PDF and be sure to add the .pdf file extension at the end. If a PC user has trouble opening the file from a CD, drag the PDF file onto the desktop.

Sound Check

To play iTunes songs at the same volume level, use the Sound Check option found in iTunes Preferences under the Effects button.

Burning Photos

To burn a CD with photos from iPhoto for a PC user, follow these steps:

1. Insert a blank CD and name the CD.

2. Position the iPhoto window so you can see it and the CD icon.

3. Drag the photos to the CD icon.

4. Burn the disk by dragging it to the BURN DISK icon in the dock (this replaces the TRASH icon when you have selected a blank disk).

5. In the next dialog box, click the Burn button.

PowerPoint

When using PowerPoint, teachers should be aware that ?while a little multimedia may be a good thing, the research also suggests that too much multimedia is often a bad thing? (Presentations, September 2004, 25-29).

This article is condensed into Ralph?s PowerPoint Rule #1: ?Just because you can, doesn?t mean you should.? Like a good movie, the plot (content) and actors (teacher) are more important than the special effects (PowerPoint animations).

For a change of pace, apply the ?Zeigarnik Effect,? which states that ?people remember uncompleted or interrupted tasks better than completed ones.? You can achieve this by inserting a cartoon or unusual quote in your presentation.

An excellent list of how-to articles for PowerPoint 2004 for the Mac can be traced to www.microsoft.com. Choose Mac Products, search for PowerPoint 2004 and click on Using PowerPoint.

If you are a PC user, follow the same path, except choose the PC Office path.