Step-By-Step Instructions

Downloading and Installing Picasa

• Go to Picasa.google.com
• Click on the Download button on the right side of the screen to download and install the picasa_setup.exe file
  
• Click on Picasa shortcut installed on your computer to launch Picasa
• When launch Picasa for the first time, choose the settings for scanning pictures.  If you want to change the scanning setting, go to Tools-Folder Manager
• Decide if you want ot use Picasa Photo Viewer as your default photo viewer

Exploring Picasa Interface

• Library View-The left column: it is used to navigate the folders and their contents.  Folders are Picasa’s built in collection which display the folders on your computer that contain pictures and videos.  By default, the collection of pictures in the folder is sorted by date
  
• Library View – The top buttons: Click button 1 to get photos from a camera, scanner, or other media;  click on button 2 to create a new album; click on button 3 to show flat folder structure in the folders, click on button 4 to show folder tree structure; click on button 5 to set view option
  

• Librarey View – More top buttons: Click button 1 to show starred photos; click on button 2 to show photos with faces; click on button 3 to show movies only, click on button 4 to show photos with geotag; type the word you want to search in the search field
  

• Library View -The central column: it display the contents from folder list or results from your search or filtered search
  
• The Library View – Lower Part: it  contains the control for zooming and the buttons of icons for specific tasks you want to take on the photos
  

Editing Photos

• Double-click on a picture in the central display area to  open the “Edit Picture” screen. This will
  show you the picture you’re currently editing. To the right of the picture are three tabs –
• “Basic Fixes,” “Tuning,” and “Effects.” Click on any button in the Basic Fixes area to apply that setting to the picture, for some settings, you have to drag and drop and then click on the Apply button to accept the change.  Click on the Cancel button to cancel your change.
• Click on the other two tabs: Tuning and Effects to apply more editing.  While on the “Edit Picture” screen, use the thumbnail arrows at the top of the picture to navigate through the rest of the pictures in that folder or album.
• To reverse any edits you made, click the Undo button at any step along the way
• Any edits you make to a picture are only inside Picasa; edits do NOT affect the original file on your computer’s hard drive. To see edited pictures in other programs outside of Picasa, you’ll need to export the picture using the specific tasks and controls  in the lower part of screen

Showing Your Pictures

There are different ways to present your pictures: slideshow, movie presentation, etc.

• Create a new album
• Move the photos of your choice into the album
• click on any of these buttons below to show your pictures
  

For more infomation on using Picasa, go to the following sites:

• http://geeksontour.com/picasa.cfm
• http://www.elitezoom.com/pdfmanual/picasa-basics-for-the-web.html

Additional Resources and Works Cited

• Picasa Basics for the Web
• Picasa User Guide
• How to Use Picasa

Activity Management

•  Narrate what kind of Picasa project and tasks students will perform.
•  Explain how to make tasks focused on student collaboration.
•  Workshop participants create their own Picasa project .
•  Workshop participants share their Picasa project online.
•  Discuss how to assess student performance.