Back to School with Desktop Publishing
By Jacci Howard Bear, About.com Guide
- Education & Skills
- Academic Software
- For Teachers & Homeschool Parents
- For College-Bound Students
- Projects For Learning Desktop Publishing
- Classroom Printables & Templates
- Handwriting & Fonts
- Lesson Plans
- Email Classes
- Self-Paced Online Classes
- Desktop Publishing For Fun Or Profit
Education & Skills
Discover the educational requirements for working in the field of desktop publishing and graphic design. Obtain formal or informal desktop publishing training, join professional associations or online communities, read magazines and newsletters on design and publishing topics, explore the teaching and use of desktop publishing in the K12 classroom.
- You Can Get Better Grades By Knowing Desktop Publishing
- Do I Need A Degree Or Special Training To Do Desktop Publishing?
- Do I Need To Know Graphic Design To Do Desktop Publishing?
- Most Common Ways To Get Desktop Publishing Training
- Certification Training
- Designers Need To Know How To Write
- Spelling Is A Design Issue
- Learn To Use A Graphics Tablet And Pen
- Learn To Draw
- Desktop Publishing Myths & Misconceptions To Avoid
Academic Software
Find the right software for the classroom and save money with academic and volume pricing.
- Before You Buy Academic Software
- Academic Software From Major Publishers
- Legal Ways to Get Free Software
For Teachers & Homeschool Parents
Are you a public, private, or homeschool teacher? Find ways to use desktop publishing in the classroom or find resources for teaching desktop publishing.
- Lesson Plans That Use Or Teach Desktop Publishing
- Create A Certificate Of Recognition In Microsoft Word
- Tips For Non-Designers
- How To Choose a Desktop Publishing or Software Book
- Homeschoolers: Create A Student ID Card
- Create a Newsletter For Parents
- Make Your Own Graduation Announcement
For College-Bound Students
Even if you aren't going to school to learn desktop publishing, it can help you in your college life.
- Supplies: How to Choose a Computer Software Book
- Study Tips: Ways to Kickstart Your Creativity
- Dorm Life: Decorate With a Custom Poster
- Graduates: Strut Your Stuff in a Portfolio
Projects For Learning Desktop Publishing
These projects can make learning desktop publishing more fun. Incorporate them into your school or classroom. Tailor the projects to your students. Some may be more suitable for high school or older.
- Create a Coin Collection Grid for Jefferson Nickels
- Make Your Own Mug Shot
- Create a Scrapbook of the School Year
- Design a Holiday Letter (Tailor it to the classroom)
- Play Logo Games and Take Logo Quizzes
- QR Codes For Personal Projects (Some are classroom suitable)
- Publish A Classroom Zine
- Learn Adobe InDesign By Doing These Projects
Classroom Printables & Templates
Organize the school year or every school day with academic calendars. Print and color fun calendars for each month as a learning tool or to decorate the classroom.
- School Year Calendars and Schedules
- Fun Printable Calendars for Family or School
- Colorful Printable Calendars With Photos or Clip Art
- Microsoft PowerPoint Templates for School
- Microsoft Word Templates for School
Handwriting & Fonts
Explore the history of handwriting instruction, find fonts to create handwriting worksheets or to add a fun touch to parent newsletters.
- Cursive Handwriting In The US
- Spencerian Handwriting Script Of The 1800s-Early 1900s
- Free Handwriting Fonts For Teachers
- The Write Fonts: Free | Shareware | Commercial
Lesson Plans
These lesson plans can be used in connection with a class on desktop publishing or use them as a different way to engage students of all ages studying history, social studies, current events, literature, and just about any other subject. Each lesson plan includes the task to be accomplished, resources, checklists, steps to take, evaluation criteria, and additional notes for teachers.
- Create Your Own Business Card
- Create A Business Card For A Literary Or Historical Figure
- Create A Brochure That Informs, Educates, Or Persuades
- Create A Brochure That Explains Or Instructs
- Create A Resume For Yourself
- Create A Resume For A Literary Or Historical Character
- More Lesson Plans Using Desktop Publishing
Email Classes
Learn how to do desktop publishing, how to start a new desktop publishing business, how to make a greeting card, and other topics of interest. Get daily or weekly reminders by email and structured classes on desktop publishing topics. Some classes come in both a weekly and a daily format. Choose the one that suits you. Do the lessons as received or save them up and work at your own pace.
- Rules of Desktop Publishing - 12 Days
- Create a Portfolio in 6 Days
- Create a Greeting Card - 9 Days
- Create a Greeting Card - 9 Weeks
- Daily Dose of DTP
- Start a Desktop Publishing Business - 10 Weeks
- Start a Desktop Publishing Business - 17 Days
- Windows Font Basics for New Users
Self-Paced Online Classes
Take a freeform class on desktop publishing. Bookmark the starting page. Read and study the lessons for each of these desktop publishing classes at your own pace. Learn the rules of deskt
- 12 Rules of Desktop Publishing
- Create a Greeting Card
- Daily Dose of DTP
- How a Desktop Publishing Document is Created
- Design Basics for Desktop Publishing
Desktop Publishing For Fun Or Profit
Dig into digital crafting or learn what it takes to get a desktop publishing job or start your own freelance design business.