Are you one of the many people who wonder why nothing happens when you push the Print Screen button on your computer
keyboard? Nothing prints! The Print
Screen key can actually be thought of as a copy key. Whatever is on your computer
screen will be copied when you use the key. You then need to use Paint to paste
and edit the image (known as a “screen shot”).
How is this key helpful
to you as a RIFLI teacher? It is always helpful to use authentic materials such
as a screen shot. When teaching a technology skill, the use of handouts with
the directions is highly recommended. By having a handout, it helps the student
become more independent – when they use the computer later in class, at the library or at home. Screen shots on a handout allows for less text and more focus on the images they will see in the software
program. Use arrows or other indicators to help direct a student’s attention
to a particular section of the screen shot.
Using the Print Screen Command to Insert a Screen Shot into a Document
(screen shot example
in step #5 below)
1.
1. Have whatever you want to copy on your screen. In other words, if you would
like to copy the Yahoo! Main page, be sure that is what you see on your screen.
2. Click on the Print Scrn key (nothing will happen but you really have copied it).
3.
Go to START, ACCESSORIES, PAINT.
4. In PAINT, go to EDIT, PASTE. If you are asked if you want to
expand the bitmap image, reply YES. You should see what you had on your screen
in step #1 in Paint now.
5. Click on the SELECT tool
