F1 Tuesday: Helping You Help Yourself: September 2015

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Stay in Contact: Easy Ways to Message Parents

Do you need this F1 Tuesday? Find out by taking a look at the Learning Targets:

I can use Skyward's Message Center to post messages to and/or email parents/students.
I can download parent and/or student information from Skyward (e.g. contact information, birthdays, etc.) into a spreadsheet.
I can import contact information from a spreadsheet into Outlook in order to create a new contact group.

How to send emails or post messages to Skyward Family/Student Access using Skyward's Message Center: Screencast: Skyward Message Center

How to download parent contact information from Skyward into and Excel CSV file then import that file into your Outlook contacts:

Step 1: Download information from Skyward (e.g. parent email addresses) into Excel: Screencast: Download from Skyward to CSV
Step 2: Import Excel (CSV) contacts into Outlook Contacts: Step-by-step written instructions Screencast for importing Excel into Outlook: Screencast: Import CSV to Outlook
Step 3: Put imported contacts into a new Outlook Contact Group: Screencast: Creating a New Contact Group

Why F1?

Did you know that pressing the F1 key in nearly any program or application takes you to the help menu? Sure thing! Try it now--you'll get the help menu for Internet Explorer (if that's the browser you're using). Try it in PowerPoint, try it in Word, try it in a house, try it with a mouse . . . . F1 puts learning in YOUR hands. Technology changes too rapidly to only rely on trainings or printed manuals. Instead, the most savvy tech user relies on herself, knowing she can get the most help from a program's help menu. Now you can too. Of course, you can use F1 anytime you want, but here at F1 Tuesdays we'll show off some of the things we think everyone should know and even a few that may impress your friends. Our goal is to make you happy and a bit more snappy with technology.