An Introduction to Image Editing Software

Overview:
Paint: Simple yet effective

Picasa: File Organisation/Sharing/Editing/Publishing Genius

Windows Movie Maker: Add variety to Assessment Items

Adobe Photoshop: An inner softer exterior revealed


Windows Paint:
Use windows paint to enhance DIY lessons for visual learners.

Using the Print Screen key on your keyboard will allow you to Copy whatever is disaplayed on your screen at any one time. Using the Paste function (Ctrl V) you can use Windows Paint to edit the image which can be then used in a word document or PDF.

Fig 1: Print Screen Key

Picasa
- File Sharing and File organisation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPU4awtuTsk

Read this blog to find out how Picasa 3 is even more useful than before:
http://picasa-readme.blogspot.com/


Windows Movie Maker
- easily used to create presentations and movies (handy for introducing variety into assessment tasks)

To find Windows Movie Maker, go to: Start > Programs > Windows Movie Maker

Fig 2: Simple Stop Motion created using Windows Movie Maker

1. Copy and Paste the link below to open the Show and Tell Folder:
I:\Public\Show&Tell\Session 3 - Image Editing
2. Open Windows Movie Maker
3. Use the Import function to import the file "Movie Maker Movie" into Windows Maker
4. Have a go at adding a title, credits or still pictures.

Adobe Photoshop
- complex editing software that has a user friendly side under its imposing technical skin, Photoshop is not only used for editing of Photographs, but in the creation of icons, fonts and other various digital imagery.

Copy and Paste the link below to find a PDF that contains a series of 10 Steps that will guide you through the creation of a panoramic photograph.

I:\Public\Show&Tell\Session 3 - Image Editing\Photoshop Lessons

Have a go: Copy and Paste the link below into your browser to open photographs for use with Adobe Photoshop

I:\Public\Show&Tell\Session 3 - Image Editing\Photoshop Lessons

- Save the photographs to your computer.

- Open Adobe Photoshop and follow instructions as outlined in the PDF above

Below are several websites that will give you access to Photoshop Tutorials:

http://www.photoshopgurus.com/tutorials/t007.html

http://www.photoshopgurus.com/tutorials/t008.html

http://www.photoshopgurus.com/tutorials/t009.html

Google "Photoshop Tutorials' to search for interesting hints and tips

Googling Session for Year 10's

1.      Keyboard shortcuts. Copy (Ctrl C), Paste (Ctrl V), Cut (Ctrl X), Undo (Ctrl Z), Redo (Ctrl Y), Save (Ctrl S), Open (Ctrl O), Print (Ctrl P), Select All (Ctrl A), Lock (Windows L) , My Computer (Windows E)

2. URL’s (universal resource locator) – what are they are how to copy

3.      Using Google Image search (http://images.google.com) , find a picture of a vertebrate holding an apple. Must be at least 400 x 400 in size. Copy this picture and paste into new document. Reference with URL

4.      Using  the Google Guide Cheat sheet (http://www.googleguide.com/cheatsheet_teens.html) on projector – teacher to run through with class

5.      Students to have a go at search challenge from Google Guide (http://www.googleguide.com/exercises_teens.html) . Copy all answers onto Word document with the URL of where the information was found. Number each task.

6.      Run through strategies for searching for Power Point Presentations. Students to have a go at finding something of interest (Troy’s notes are here: http://spcshowandtell.blogspot.com/2008/11/sourcing-slide-shows-and-flash-diagram.html).

How to embed YouTube Videos in PowerPoint presenatations

http://www.labnol.org/software/insert-youtube-video-in-powerpoint-presentations/5393/

Sourcing Slide Shows and Flash diagrams

Finding Power Point (ppt) shows on the Internet

1. Open Google search engine (or yahoo, excite, etc)


2. Type in a key word, followed by "filetype:ppt"


3. Example: Mitosis filetype:ppt


4. This will bring up all webpages that are just Power Point Shows on Mitosis

Your Turn

• Try to search for something in your field of teaching, followed by filetype:ppt

• (Remember: there are no spaces bewteen Filetype and ppt)

Saving a Silde show from the Internet

• Right click the link on your search page
• Select a folder
• Rename it something appropriate
• Save

.

Finding a Flash diagram on the internet

Firstly, What is a Flash diagram - click on the following link http://kitses.com/animation/swfs/digestion.swf

Flash Diagrams are Macromedia Flash Files that are truly interactive. They can be used in the classroom for;

• Note Taking
• Introduction to a new topic
• Drop and Drag for revision (example)
• Student group or individual activities
• Linked to Excel and word for full I.T assignment or classroom task
  

To locate one of these;

1. Open google search engine (or another suitable search engine)
2. Type in a keyword followed by filetype:swf (swf is the file extension for all flash files)
3. This will bring up all webpages that are just Flash diagrams on your chosen topic.
4. They are saved the same way as before with the ppt files.

Opening them off line

1. Open the folder and right click your saved flash file
2. Select to open file with Explorer
3. Explorer will appear to be loading
4. However, you will not be connected to the internet.

.

Finding other resources on the web

Using the same technique "keyword filetype: __" you can locate all different kinds of files and save hours of searching.

Some common file type extensions are

• doc - word document
• xls - excel document (spreadsheet)
• ppt - powerpoint 
• swf - flash diagram
• jpeg - picture file
• bmp - picture file
• giff - picture file
• html - webpage

.

Using You Tube in the Classroom

Using the following link open up a new window 

• Right click this link "http://au.youtube.com"
• Search for DNA Replication Song
• Go up to favourites and bookmark
• Its now available next class - just log on and go to favourites and this video will load.

Searching for blogs using Google Blogsearch

Google has a very powerful tool for finding blogs of interest:
http://blogsearch.google.com/

How to lock your computer

t is important that your computer is not left unattended when it is logged on. There are a couple of ways to make locking easier. For those that are unsure how to do it . . .

The way I do it is twofold. a. I lock it manually when I walk away from my computer using the keyboard and b. I have an automatic lock turned on that activates if my computer is idle for more than 15 minutes (this also turns the screen off to save power), which covers me for the times when I forget to lock manually.

(BTW – here is a simple tool and guidelines for creating a strong password click here)

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1.      Manually – requires you to press only two buttons.

To do:

Press and hold the ÿ Window button and then press the letter L (the windows key is near the bottom left of your keyboard – see image below) – your machine is now locked.
<

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 1.      Automatically – a couple of simple steps that should need only be done once

-        Instructions for Windows XP users (nearly all staff & students) click here

-        Instructions for Windows Vista users (small number of staff click here

If you need assistance with using any of these instructions let me know and I will give you a hand. 

ARDA Staff 'Show & Tell' Wednesday 12th November

Some brief notes:

1. Welcome
2. You Tube Video on what blogs are (in plain English) available here

3. Short online slide session on what a blog is (available here).

4. have a look your self at some blogs that are available

- this blog! (Year 10 Computing at St Philip's College)

- see the right side of this page for Some Blogs of Interest
5. Have a go at commenting on a blog

6. RSS - Really Simple Syndication

7. Maybe having a go at using Google Reader

Resources:

a. Creating a blog:

http://www.blogger.com

http://wordpress.com/

b. Some blogs - see the right side of this page for Some Blogs of Interest
Search: http://blogsearch.google.com

c. http://www.commoncraft.com

d. http://www.slideshare.net

e. Safe and responsible blogging for students (some guidelines)

Hope you will learn/do:

- what a blog is

- where to find them

- some possible uses

- have a look at some blogs - see the right side of this page for Some Blogs of Interest

You might learn (depending on time/information overload):

- create a google account (btw- you already have one if you have a GMail email account

- about RSS (really simple syndication) and feeds

- how to set up a feed reader

- maybe setup your own blog