This document provides tips for making computers less irritating and more productive. It recommends using a password manager to easily remember passwords. It suggests using Chrome over Internet Explorer for its simplicity, bookmarks syncing, and automatic updates. Tips are given for using ad blockers, incognito windows, cloud storage options like Google Drive, organizing emails with filters and labels, and capturing screenshots. Overall it offers various tools and strategies for improving computer use and productivity.

1. Simple Computer Tips
that make computers less irritating
and you more productive

2. Never Forget your Password
● You will never have to
remember a password
again.
● Safe and secure
● Website

3. Say No to Internet Explorer
● Not as efficient and user friendly
as other web browsers
● People use it just because it comes
on their computer or out of habit
● Does not sync your bookmarks

4. And Yes to Chrome
● Simple Searchings
● Bookmarks Toolbar syncs with other
computers!
● Automatically updates
● Incognito Mode
● Website

5. Ad Blocker Plus
● View web without annoying ads
● Website

6. Incognito Window in Chrome
● Your browsing history isn’t recorded
● Your cookies are deleted
● Two people can be logged into the
same site - Like 2 Facebook users on
the same computer without logging
off.
● People who are very concerned for
privacy

7. What is the Cloud?
● Cloud is really just another word
for the Internet
● Cloud-based applications live on
the Internet rather than on your
local computer. You can access
cloud based applications from any
computer

8. Photo/Video/Doc Storage
● Google Drive - For storing anything. Its cloud storage
● Get Google Plus + from App store on your phone and
can have your photos from your camera automatically
sync to your Google Drive
● Apple - iCloud - For Apple users
● Drop Box - If you ran out of storage and you like the
company and the extra features they offer, you can
buy more
● One Drive- It's a Microsoft product so if you use a lot
of Microsoft products it might be good

9. Photos and the Future
● When considering the storage place
online for your photos/docs/videos
you should consider the future of
the company
● Big companies are less likely to fail.
So you won’t have to worry about
trying to get your files back

10. Google Drive
It’s like Microsoft Office
● Docs - Create and format text documents
● Sheets - Online Spreadsheets application
● Presentations - Allows you to show off your
work visually
● Share files, access anywhere
● Store all docs, photos, videos in ONE spot
● Get App from App store and have on your
iPhone
Tips / Video Website

11. Google Drive - Sheets Example

12. Gmail, How do I love thee?
● Archive emails and search if needed
● Put filters on emails/or unsubscribe
● Syncs on all devices
● A lot of storage
● Google Drive
● One login for all the Google Apps
● Calendar - Syncs to all devices
● Star Important Info for things you
want to reference often.- Ex Library
Card Numbers

13. Organizing Emails
● Archive!
● Make Labels
● Unsubscribe from
companies
● Star the important emails
● Use Filters

14. Filter Unwanted Emails
A filter is a rule placed on
incoming email
● Set Up Filters in Gmail
● How to use Filters
● Filter Article

15. Steps to Change Gmail Name
You can't change your email name, BUT you can
create a new email address from Gmail and forward
all emails from your current to the new one you
create
● Next - send everyone an email giving
them your new email address
● You can export your contacts and
import them easily too
● 1 Minute Video on how to forward
email
● 2 Minute Video- How to Export
Contacts

16. Cleaning Up Links
Before https://help.aweber.
com/entries/21681628-How-Do-I-Put-Links-
URLs-in-Messages-
After
Links in Messages
● You can write any words you want and
link to the site
● Send clean links in emails, links in blog
posts, etc

17. How to Clean Up Links
1. Highlight Text
2. Hover over the + near send
button
3. Click the chain link icon
4. Change the Text Display to
what you want
5. Will show your text as a link
Anytime you want to link to a site,
find a link icon and follow with
these steps

18. Creating a New Window
Opening up a new window when
clicking on a link
● Right click on your mouse
● OR Command and click on the
link on MAC
● OR Control button and click on
the link on PC

19. All your Brain in One Place
A free, cloud-based note taking,
notebook, organizational tool
Examples:
● Recipes
● Homeschool Topics
● Trip Planning
● Articles to read
Evernote ● Date Night Ideas

20. Virtual To Do List
Wunderlist
To Do lists you can
share with others

21. Screen Capture
copy what you see on your screen
MAC:
● Press ⌘ + Shift + 4 + press the Spacebar
● Press ⌘ + Shift + 4 to select a specific part on the page.
● Your Mac then saves it as a file on the desktop. The file name
will look like“Screen shot 2014-08-01 at 08.45.00 AM.png”
PC:
● Press the "Print Screen" ( PrtScr) key on your keyboard or
Press Alt+Print Screen
● Use Paint to save the picture in the clipboard (watch video)
Mac How to Video
PC How to
Video

22. Phone Screenshots
● iPhone: Press the power and
home button at the same
time.
● Android: Volume Down and
Power buttons at the same
time

23. Edit Screenshot / Any Photo

24. Genius Scan
● Take a picture of any document
or photo and it saves it as a PDF
● Very helpful to copy/send
important documents in the
right format
● Email right from the app
● It’s a free app

25. Podcasts
● Do not use iTunes
podcast- too much
hassle
● Use an app like
Overcast
● It’s free

26. Reputable Sites
● Do your homework
● Search on Google, look for evidence
of good/bad
● Look for mentions of the site on
social media
● Get a feel for what its about before
going all in
● Reputable site link/connect with
well know sites
● Google sometimes informs you sites
are malicious

27. Viruses/Malware
● Don’t execute or hit ‘run’ if you didn’
t want it. Ex. Pop-up windows from a
link
● Don’t click on attachments in your
emails- most common way you get
viruses
● Can come from people you know but
in an unusual email because they got
a virus themselves
Windows Defender - free
● Mac - Built in by default

28. Why Computers Run Slow
● Computers will run slower over time
automatically- they age, get clogged up
● They can feel slower because other
computers you use are faster than yours
● Programs are running in the background you
can’t see and the more you accumulate them,
the slower it feels. Ex. Adobe PDF, iTunes
● Suggestion: Get with computer savvy person
and have them help you do a deeper clean.
● Check out these tips

29. Computer Back Up
● BitTorrent Sync - Its a back-up
to another computer. There is
no cloud part of it. Its free. Take
a look at the video on the site
● It mirrors files from your
computer on the network

30. A Few of my Favorite
Kid Sites
Sylvia's Awesome Mini Maker Show
Kahn Academy Computer
Outrageous Acts of Science
Brain Pop / Brain Pop Jr.
Scratch
Roblox
Typing Instructor For Kids
Kid President
Code School
TED TALKS/TEDEd
My Favs
Grooveshark
Entreleadership
Behind the Brand
Jillfit
Skill Crush
Treehouse
Modern Mrs.Darcy
The Gifts of Imperfection
The Happiness Advantage
Loving What Is
The Willpower Instinct
Never Go Back