Using Outlines

Here are some tips and tools for using
Kevin Patton's web-based Learning Outlines
for your own learning strategy

If you are not sure what is meant by a "Learning Outline" then
click here for an example.

1. These outlines are not intended to be complete

They are just OUTLINES, silly! See the items below for hints on how to make them complete.

The outlines tend to be more detailed where there is little back-up information in the textbook and more sketchy in areas where I know that you have resources to fill it in on your own.

2. Use the Learning Outline to take class notes.

The most frequent use of the web-based Learning Outline is as a "skeleton outline" for your own note-taking in class. To do this, use the how to print instructions below and print out your outline. You may want to move it to your word processor first, so you can add spaces for notetaking. If you save the file, you can go back after class and type in your notes for later study. See my note on editing tips below.

3. Use the Learning Outline as a preview of the class.

Many students find it saves them time in the long run to review the outline before reading the text and attending class. This gives you a heads-up on how the information is organized and what to expect.

You will find that if you don't preview the material, it will seem as if I am going way too fast for you!

4. Use the Learning Outline as a review of the class.

You will want to use the outline to make sure that you've studied everything that you needed to in order to prepare for a test. If you've added your own notes to the outline, then it will be an even more complete review.

FYI - Don't forget to do a last minute check of the web-based outline to see if I've made any last-minute improvements! The button on each Learning Outline (at the bottom) may come handy for that.

5. Use the Learning Outline as an active study tool.

This is an often overlooked, but important, use of the web-based outline. You can use either your saved version or the current web version to navigate to the links and assignments (for example, Mini Lessons) imbedded in many of the Learning Outlines. These links were placed with a great deal of thought in mind because I believe that they will help you learn the concepts. Some, especially the animations, are just plain fun besides!

Any terms that are underlined with dots can be clicked to get the definition and (often) pronunciation from www.answers.com .

Tips for using the Lion Den Dictionary to find the meaning of unfamiliar words are below.

How to print the Learning Outline

Simply print out the page and bring it to class with you.
- Click Print or the printer icon in the toolbar of your browser.
- OR click the "Print this Page!" icon at the bottom of the Learning Outline (this feature does not work with all browsers)
- OR click File on your browser, then select Print
- FYI - I recommend a color printer if you have one, so that the figures and other features will show up the way that they were intended.
- If you are having trouble with the outlines running over the edge of the paper, select "Landscape" instead of "Portrait" under "Orientation" in the "Page Setup" box in the File menu on your browser.
  - Another way to fix this problem is to change the margins to a narrower (smaller) width: go to the File menu of your browser and select "Page Setup" and you will see where you can change the margin values to a smaller number.
  - Yet another approach is to use a browser that doesn't cut off the margin (Internet Explorer often cuts off the right margin).
    - Try the browser called Firefox, available for download free
  - Another fix is to convert the page to Adobe Acrobat format (that is, convert it to a .pdf file)
    - You may be able to convert this with your own program or download a free conversion program such as
      - pdf 995
    - Tell the conversion program you want a large (tabloid) page and select the option to fit everything on a single page
      - Select File, print, PDF995
      - In IE, select Preferences, Layout, Advanced, Tabloid paper size
    - Save the page (.pdf file) to your disk
      - In IE, select File, Print, then PDF995 as printer
    - Print out the .pdf file
      - Select shrink oversize pages to paper size option
    - Another good (free) PDF conversion program is PDF creator
    - If you are using PDF files, you can edit them (add your own notes) by using the free program Foxit Reader instead of Adobe Reader
      - In Foxit, use the Typewriter feature to add your own notes
Select the content of the page and move it into a blank page on your word processor or HTML editor
- To select the content, right-click on the page and then choose Select All
  - If you only want SOME of the page, instead highlight the part you want by holding down the left mouse button as you move it across the material you want to select
- Now you can use your mouse to drag the selection to a window containing a blank page in your word processor
  - OR, you can right-click on the selection and choose Copy or click the copy icon then open a blank page in your word processor and either right-click and choose Paste or click the paste icon in the Edit toolbar of your word processor
- FYI - The format of these pages copies most easily to Microsoft Word, but any word processor should work fine. You may want to adjust the format to make it work best for you.
Save the Learning Outline page and then print it later
- Click on File in your browser toolbar, then select Save As
- In the dialog box, make sure you are saving the file to a location on your disk that you can find later and then click Save
- Later, find the file in Explorer (or "My Computer") and right-click on the highlighted file name and choose "Print."
- OR, open your word processor or HTML editor, click on Open under File or on the open file icon on the toolbar and select your saved file to open in the word processor or HTML editor.
  - Most word processors will open a web page (HTML format) easily.
  - A dialog box may ask you whether to open the file as an HTML (web page) or as a regular wordprocessing file. You can select either option.
- Print the page as you would any other file
Edit the Learning Outline for your own use
- Once it's in a file on our disk (either as a web page or a word-processing file) you can use your browser, HTML editor, or your word processor to edit the outline to suit your needs
  - Add spaces to give you room to take notes after it's printed out
  - Add a blank table (with or without lines) in one or both margins to write your own notes
  - Change the size of the font to read it more easily
  - Highlight, underline, or bold different areas to help you study
  - Add notes from the textbook
  - Add sample questions for later study
  - Add your own links to other web pages that relate to the contents of the outline
  - Add your own images or add labels or explanations to existing images
  - Add contents of the links to the outline itself
  - Put page breaks where you want them

The Lion Den Dictionary will help you with terms that you are unsure of:

Simply select the word you want to know the meaning of by dragging your mouse over it with the left mouse button pressed down so it looks like this: carbaminohemoglobin

Release the left mouse button after selecting the term

Right click on the highlighted term and select "COPY"

Go to the top of the outline page and click on on "Search"

Find "Search" the right navigation box next to the title of the outline OR

Find "Search" in the navigation bar at the bottom of any page in the Lion Den

A search window will open and you will see the "Lion Den Dictionary" at the bottom of the page.

Right click inside the blank white box and choose "paste" --your highlighted term will now appear in the search box.

Click the SEARCH button and you'll get your definition.

You may want to click the print icon in your toolbar to print and save the definition.

You may want to "copy and paste" the definition into your copy of the outline.

Close all search windows and return to the outline.