How to Mac

  • CTE stands for Career Technology Education

  • Please don't ask to use the restroom for the first 15 minutes of class. So I can get started with class.

  • Or use the online PASS system to ask for permission to leave the classroom. Submit your request online first, and then ask me if you can go.

  • No food or beverages allowed in the classroom. The only thing acceptable is bottled water with the lid on the bottle. Please leave this bottle of water on the floor.

  • Cell phones, smart watches, and Bluetooth headphones or earbuds are not permitted in the classroom.

  • Stay in your assigned computer workstation area until after the bell rings. Please don't stand up, wander around the classroom, or line up at the door.

3 Main Classroom Rules are

  1. Respect Me

  2. Respect yourself

  3. Respect each other.

  • Macs are utilized in the classroom because they are the industry standard for creative fields, offer better security (fewer viruses than PCs), and have greater hardware longevity (5–7 years refresh cycle compared to ~3 years for PCs). These devices are repurposed across grade levels, providing long-term value.

  • Key macOS navigation includes the Dock (quick access to frequently used apps) and LaunchPad (a grid-style launcher for all apps). Apps can be added to or removed from the Dock by dragging; removing an app from the Dock does not uninstall it.

  • Students will set up Google Chrome as their default browser, signing in with their school email. Class materials, syllabi, and video-based assignments are accessed via Clever and Canvas.

  • Essential workflows include using Finder for file management and screenshots (via Cmd+Shift+4Cmd + Shift + 4) for assignment submissions. Screenshots are saved to the Desktop by default. Files can be deleted by moving them to the Trash, from which they can be recovered or permanently deleted; emptying the Trash makes data recovery difficult once overwritten.

    • Do not to delete or modify unfamiliar files.

Finder and Mac Basics

  • Finder is the Mac equivalent of Windows Explorer, used for file management, located at the bottom left-hand side of the screen.

  • The main goal is efficient navigation, location, and management of files using views and shortcuts.

  • There are 44 Finder views, with column view being strongly advocated for its ease of navigation. Use Column View.

  • Spotlight search (Command + Spacebar) allows quick access to apps and files.

  • The Notes app is used for assignments and demonstrations, emphasizing precise instruction following (e.g., capitalization).

  • Key keyboard shortcuts use the Command key (equivalent to PC's Control):

    • Quit: Command + Q

    • Copy: Command + C

    • Paste: Command + V

    • Cut: Command + X

    • Undo: Command + Z

    • Redo: Command + Shift + Z

    • Save: Command + S (Notes autosaves; other apps require explicit saving).

    • Close window: Command + W

  • The clipboard is a temporary storage area for copied/cut data.

  • Screenshots (Command + Shift + 4, then drag) are a common submission method, saving to the Desktop with a timestamp (screenshot-YYYY-MM-DD-HHMMSS.png).