At the most basic level, computer literacy means being able to navigate universally utilized software programs, such as the Microsoft Office Suite, knowing how to type in a reasonably quick manner (QWERTY style preferred!), and understanding how to use printers, scanners, and other basic computer accessories. Then there are the tricks that take your computer literacy to the next level; adding symbols with Alt codes is one example.
In a basic computer course, students learn to insert codes by using the editor feature of the program, scrolling to “insert” and then selecting the code they want to use. This is fine for the very occasional code, but what about the symbols you use on a regular basis? Perhaps you’re writing about a product that is trademarked™, you work with products or scenarios that are temperature specific°, or you incorporate foreign words that use accent symbols to enhance their pronunciación. In these cases, the Alt codes are your most efficient choices.
To insert an Alt code (on Macs, use the Option key), you simply place the cursor where you want the symbol to appear, and then press Alt+Number Code. Voila! The symbol, or letter with an accent, will appear.
Here are some common examples:
- Alt+0153 = ™
- Alt+0162 = ¢
- Alt+0169 = ©
- Alt+0177 = ±
- Alt+0225 = á
- Alt+0233 = é
- Alt+0237 = í
- Alt+0243 = ó
- Alt+0250 = ú
- Alt+0241 = ñ
Visit Labyrinth Learning to review textbooks that will enhance your students’ computer literacy.