Who really wanted Office 2007? I certainly didn’t! Why does it always happen that, just when you get comfortable using a software program, the publisher comes out with a new version that never resembles the old one and requires hours of relearning? Who really benefits from the upgrade, other than the publisher making more money by convincing you that you absolutely need the new features of the upgrade?
As an educator, I would like to argue that upgrades are not always necessary for a child’s education. I am so tired of people telling me that we are doing our students a disservice by not providing them with the most up-to-date software. They say, “How are we ever going to prepare our students for high school or the workforce if we don’t provide them with the most recent tools?” I’ll tell you how. Make them think!
It’s not the version of the software that is going to prepare them for anything. By the time our students enter high school or the workforce, the “new” version that they are touting will be obsolete and will have been replaced by three or four newer versions! It’s not the tool but what you do with the tool that matters. Even a carpenter can drive a nail without the most updated hammer!
For students to succeed in the 21st century, they need to be able to do three things well.
1. Communicate effectively
2. Work collaboratively
3. Think critically.
Software is merely a means of helping a student accomplish these three goals. Once they learn how a particular software program can help them communicate, the use of the tool becomes second nature to them. For example, if they determine that a table is the best way to communicate some information in a report they are writing, they learn how to insert and format a table. If the tool changes because of an upgrade, they can still look to it to perform the same function. They may have to search to find how to insert a table with the new software but they already have a mindset of what the tool can do. In other words, they already know the “why” and “what,” it’s the “how” they have to learn. It’s all in being able to think critically. I know what I want to do, I just have to find out how to do it!
Having said all that, when is it necessary to upgrade? I feel it is necessary for two basic reasons:
Ø You absolutely have to have a feature in the upgrade, for example, the ability to publish directly to a blog in Microsoft Word 2007.
Ø You are stuck with the new version because it came with the computer you just bought.
So, once you have upgraded to Office 2007 you realize that the interface is totally different. Where are the pull-down menus? How do you save and print your files? Where do you set the margins? It feels like you are in a foreign land and do not understand the language.
Don’t worry! There are really three primary concepts that you need to understand to transition to Office 2007 and use it more effectively. The first is the concept of the “Ribbon.” Microsoft has replaced the pull-down menus and toolbars with what they call “ribbons.” Each ribbon has a tab that signifies its function.
The Home tab is the default ribbon and includes the commands that you formerly found on the standard and formatting toolbars as well as some other most used commands. You can select your ribbons by Tab at any time. In addition, the appropriate ribbon for your use will open automatically based on what you are doing. For example, after inserting a picture, the Picture Tools ribbon will open allowing you to perform commands on that picture.
A second new feature is what they call Live Preview. This is actually a pretty neat function and one that I would have to say makes dealing with the upgrade more palatable! In previous versions of Office, for example, you would have to select your font and size and then see what it looked like. If you didn’t like it, you’d have to start all over again. In 2007, you get to see immediately what those changes look like and you can play with as many as you want before making your final selection. This Live Preview feature is readily available in all the Office 2007 programs.
The last feature is the Office button in the upper left corner. (I call it a beach ball because that is what it looks like!) This button includes the commands that you previously found under the File menu such as, Open, Save, Print, etc.
If you get lost in Office 2007, one hint that the younger people always think of is to right click. (I say young people because they grew up right-clicking. It’s natural for them to think of that first. Not me! The first computers I used didn’t even have mice! ) Highlight something that you want to format and right-click. This could be words or a cell in Excel. This will bring up a Mini-Toolbar that will more than likely have the options that you need, without having to search the ribbons!
LINKS TO EXPLORE
A great overview of these features is found at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/HA101679481033.aspx . Play the short 6 minute video and you will see all these features clearly explained.
One of the best websites I have found is http://office.microsoft.com/assistance/asstvid.aspx?assetid=XT100766331033&vwidth=1044&vheight=788&type=flash&CTT=11&Origin=HA100744321033&app=WINWORD&ver=12 This site is the perfect one to help you transition from Office XP (03) because it shows you how Office 07 handles the commands from Office 03. Try it! You’ll love it also.
Another great resource for teachers is found at http://www.microsoft.com/education/howto.mspx. This is Microsoft’s page for educators where you can find lesson plans and “How to” articles on many topics appropriate for education.
Another good overview of Microsoft Office 2007 is provided by Diane Chapman at http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=272 . She clearly explains the new features of Office 2007 and how to use them.
Lastly, if you have Office 2007 at work and are still using a previous version at home, you have two options to be able to work with your files in both places. Office 2007 saves files in an XML format which is not recognized by previous versions. The first option is to always save your files in the 97-2003 format which is an available in the Save As menu. Your other option is to download the Microsoft compatibility pack on the computer running the prior version. This will allow the older version of Office to convert and be able to work with your 2007 files. It can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&DisplayLang=en .
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Microsoft Training Portal http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/training/office.aspx#tab2
Microsoft Office 2007 Training http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/default.aspx
MS Office Fundamentals http://www.educationwebcasts.com/Webcast.aspx?i=4458
MS Office Tips and Tricks http://www.educationwebcasts.com/Webcast.aspx?i=1264
Internet 4 Classrooms Word Tutorial http://www.internet4classrooms.com/technology_tutorials/office_07_word_topics_technology_tutorials.htm
