What do you do when your computer mouse breaks?

6th grade tackled the issue today in tech.  After completing an email survey and talking about tech we encountered over break, we all disconnected our computer mice.  We learned keyboard shortcuts and controls to successfully open programs, access menus and exit.  Some specifics:

Review:

  • Ctrl + C = copy
  • Ctrl + X = cut
  • Ctrl + V = paste
  • Ctrl + P = print
  • Ctrl + S = save

Program controls:

  • Alt + Tab = switch between programs
  • Alt = activate the top menu in many programs
  • Tab = switch between fields in many programs
  • Esc = back out of program menu

Advanced stuff:

  • Alt + Left Shift + NumLock = convert number pad to mouse controller
  • Ctrl + (a number) = switch between tabs in Firefox
  • Ctrl + Alt + Delete = access task manager to kill programs

Students accomplished some amazing feats even without a mouse, including:

  • manipulating functions on a graphing calculator,
  • playing solitaire,
  • watching youtube.com videos,
  • sending and reading emails,
  • surfing the internet,
  • exploring Google Earth,
  • programming Ruby in Hackety Hack,
  • and much more!