How to Create Professional Looking Resources
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Creating Professional Teaching Resources (using Serif PagePlus X6) Teacher Tutorial © G. Reid, 2016 Continuing P Professional Teacher Training C D Development Introduction Today’s pupils live in a world where they are surrounded by colourful, interactive content. Computer systems run immersive games with stunningly realistic graphics, most websites have drop-down menus or animated banners and even some cars have colourful dashboard menu systems. All of this and more is available on a multitude of high definition devices. It should be no surprise that when presented with a white worksheet covered with black text and a couple of Googled graphics many pupils instinctively respond negatively. Of the many skills required of the modern teacher, making lessons interesting, attention grabbing and accessible should be at the core of what we do. Unfortunately many teachers lack either the IT skills or the time to create professional looking resources. This booklet aims to show you that with a little knowledge and practise, colourful worksheets and booklets can be created quickly and with little fuss. Before you start this tutorial have an idea of a resource you would like to create. For your first effort aim for a booklet with a few pages. The tutorial will teach you the skills, you will be providing the content. Contents Page 2 Master Pages (Templates) Page 4 Creating a Master Page Page 11 Setting up the First Page of Content Page 15 Controlling Text Page 17 Adding Images (Graphics) Page 20 Why Copy Pages? - The Importance of Consistency Page 22 Creating a Final Copy Page 23 Literacy Page 26 Multiple Master Pages Page 28 Final Touches - More on Consistency Additional Learning Page 30 Some Tricks With Graphics Page 35 Some Tricks With Shapes 1 Creating Professional Teaching Resources CPD Master Pages (Templates) Look closely at a magazine, text book, newspaper or other lengthy document and you’ll notice that certain parts of each page are repeated. This is achieved by creating a background known as a Master Page (or template). The Master Page contains all the design elements of the page (headings, defined areas, page numbers) without any of the content. All Desktop Publishing applications, ● Microsoft Publisher ● Serif PagePlus ● Xara Page and Layout Designer ● and many others are capable of creating Master Pages. Desktop Publishing applications always include built in templates for documents such as leaflets, party invites and advertising. © Mr G. Reid, February 2016 2 Continuing P Professional Teacher Training C D Development Creating a Master Page for teaching resources has several advantages: 1. You only need to do this once! 2. If you change your mind about how you want your resource to look editing the Master Page will change every page automatically, even if you write a 50 page resource. 3. Master Pages can be reused for other resources. Once you have created a Master Page, each new page you add to your resource will automatically start with the same background. All you need to do is add the text and graphics to each new page. The content will sit on top of the background to create the final professional look for your resource. content + = background 3 Creating Professional Teaching Resources CPD Creating a Master Page This is the Serif PagePlus version of this tutorial. If you do not have a copy of the Serif PagePlus application in your school, Serif Education will usually send teachers a free evaluation copy. A quick search for Serif Education in your country and you will find contact details for the company. These instructions are written for Serif PagePlus X6 (version 16). If you have an older or newer version the images throughout the tutorial may look slightly different but the same options will be available. Setting Up a New Document Step 1 Open the Serif PagePlus application and create a ‘New Publication’. Step 2 Select a page size. For the vast majority of teaching resources this will be an A4 portrait page. © Mr G. Reid, February 2016 4 Continuing P Professional Teacher Training C D Development Step 3 All new PagePlus documents already have a blank Master Page. Click on the Pages tab (this is usually found on the right hand side of the PagePlus window). and then on the Master Pages tab to reveal the blank ‘Master A’ It is important you make sure you have the correct Page or Master Page selected as you work. This is done by double clicking on one of the pages. Select Master A by double clicking on it. Adding a Background Colour Step 4 The PagePlus ‘Tools’ menu is used to add content to pages. To add a background colour select the ‘Drawing’ tool. Advice - This tool may look different to the example shown as it remembers the last shape that was drawn. Use the small arrow on the tool to select the correct shape. Select the ‘Rectangle’ tool from the Drawing menu. 5 Creating Professional Teaching Resources CPD Some Tricks to Make Headings Look a Bit More Professional Making an object, like a heading, look more interesting can be achieved using a few simple tricks. Before After Step 8 Rotate your heading by holding the mouse pointer just outside the text box until you see a small double headed arrow. Hold down the mouse button and drag the heading round to rotate it. Step 9 Change the colour of the heading using the Colour tab. Make sure the text colour is selected. Click on the colour pallet to select a colour for your text. Advice - Make sure your colours contrast. If you have a light (or white background) choose a very dark colour. For a dark background choose a very light colour. Poor Example Good Example This is particularly important if you intend to print some copies of the resource in black & white as the colours will convert to shades of grey which may then be closely matched. © Mr G. Reid, February 2016 8 Continuing P Professional Teacher Training C D Development Step 10 Adding shadows to objects can give them depth on the page making them stand out. Select the Shadow icon from the toolbar on the left. Drag the small black circle down and right to create a shadow. Advice - Effects like Shadows should always be used subtly. If you are too heavy handed they can be a distraction rather then an enhancement. Step 11 Serif PagePlus provides a facility for curving text. Note that this is a tricky skill to learn and make take some practice. Click on your heading and select the ‘Path - Top Circle’ option from the icon shown. Selecting the path curves your letters through three ‘nodes’ marked with small white squares. Move the ends of your heading further apart by dragging the right hand node to the right. Now drag the centre node down. This should create a wave effect through your text. Advice - The angle of the curves can be adjusted by moving the handles that appear when you click on a node. Experiment with this. 9 Continuing P Professional Teacher Training C D Development Literacy The readability of a resource can significantly affect its effectiveness and accessibility. A good quality resource should be accessible by students with a range of reading ages and abilities. How you manage this is a real skill. Below is some advice to help you get started. Language The most obvious consideration is the level of language you use throughout a resource. When writing the level of language you use should be targeted at the normal reading age of your expected audience. If you unsure about the reading age of any text you have written there are many free facilities that can help you. The example below is a facility from a website - http://read-able.com/ Text can be copied and pasted from your resource, following which a click of a button will reveal a detailed analysis of your text. The reading age of text may be lowered by the use of shorter sentences, words with fewer syllables and fewer technical terms. 23 Creating Professional Teaching Resources CPD Providing Visual Clues The use of icons and recognisable symbols may aid students understanding of the different purposes of sections within your resource. Plenty of excellent icons are available on the world wide web for you to download and use. Make sure the icons you choose are instantly recognisable. They have not achieved their objective of aiding understanding if all your students have to ask what they are. When using icons ensure that they are clearly visible (and read first) by placing them on the left hand side of the page. Use the margins to move your text in from the side of the page. You may wish to further highlight sections of your resource using boxes, lines or colour. Describe the feeding habits of Lions Use your research from the last two tasks to describe in detail strategies that prides use to catch various types of prey. Visual clues in text may also aid the readability of a resource. Highlighting keywords using bold text or colour will focus readers on important instructions. Describe the feeding habits of Lions Use your research from the last two tasks to describe in detail strategies that prides use to catch various types of prey. Photographs, diagrams or cartoons may provide visual information on an event or description. Suitable images can be harder to find on the world wide web but persevere and you’ll usually find something appropriate. © Mr G. Reid, February 2016 24 Creating Professional Teaching Resources CPD Multiple Master Pages As your skills improve you will become more adventurous with the layout and look of your resources.