Virtual Learning Tip - Keyboard Shortcuts

keyboard and mouse by Musmellow from the Noun Project

As you are working through teaching virtually, having a system where you can easily do tasks on the computer is key. Here are some helpful tips and shortcuts to make your life easier.

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Split Screen

Having a split screen means you have one window on one side of your device monitor and one window on the other. This allows you to see two things at once. Example: Your Google Meet and your presentation.

On a Chromebook, you can quickly do a split screen by using the shortcut:

Alt + [ to move left
Alt + ] to move right.

To learn more about how to do a split screen on Chromebooks, Windows 7 or 10, or a Mac, head to the PPS Family Tech Tips site in the Online Learning Tips section.

Open a Closed Tab

If you have ever accidentally closed a tab you were working on, then this shortcut is for you! This shortcut will reopen the tab you closed most recently. If you closed multiple tabs, just keep using the shortcut and it will keep opening the closed tabs in the reverse order you closed them.

Ctrl + Shift + t

Copy and Paste

Many people know and use this quick shortcut, but it is worth mentioning. Copy and Paste are going to be huge for you. For example, if you want students to quickly get to IXL during a Google Meet, copy the URL from the IXL login page, then paste it in the chat. This would allow the kids to quickly click the link to get to the site you want.

Ctrl + c to copy
Ctrl + v to paste
Ctrl + Shift + v to paste without all the formatting attached. This is great when you are transferring something from one document to another, but you don't want the font and such to copy with it.

Meet Quick Controls
Sometimes you just need to quickly mute or unmute, or turn your camera on or off. Thankfully there is a shortcut for that.

Ctrl + e to turn camera on or off
Ctrl + d to mute or unmute yourself (Great to share with students)

Zooming in or out
If you are presenting and want your students to see your screen more easily, you may need to zoom in.

Ctrl and - to make everything on the page smaller
Ctrl and + to make everything on the page bigger
Ctrl + 0 to return everything on the page to the default size

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