Academic Connections:
Art
Improving and Creating Computer Icons

Let Me Try It!: Part A

Perhaps you have been clicking on computer icons for a long time. Perhaps you are just beginning to use them. In either case, you may have experienced times when you were not exactly sure what a particular icon stood for or what clicking on it would do.

In this Let Me Try It!, you will revise and improve computer icons by following the steps below:

WARNING:

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CHANGE ANY OF THE ACTUAL ICONS ON YOUR COMPUTER.

Step 1:

Look at the icons on your computer screen, either on your word processing toolbars or your desktop. Do all of the icons make you immediately think of the task they represent? You probably notice that some are more easily understood than others.

Step 2:

Choose two icons that you think are not as clear as the rest. If you do not know what the icons stand for, these may be good choices. You are choosing icons that you will try to improve. You may have to ask your teacher for help in identifying some icons, or your computer may be set up so that the name of the icon pops up when you place your cursor on it. Be sure you know what task the icon represents before you decide to improve it.

Step 3:

You need a copy of each icon to work with. You may get copies of the icons in two ways. You can:

(a) Draw the icons on separate pieces of paper.

(b) With your teacher's help, do a "screen capture" of the icons you want to work with. If you do one screen capture for all the icons, you will probably need to print out the screen capture more than once. Follow your teacher's directions about the number of printouts you need. If you do a separate screen capture for each icon, be sure to print out each screen capture.

Step 4:

Make the following notes on the screen capture for each icon or on the drawing you made of the icon. Write the words we have italicized and answer the following:

(a) Title/Function:

What is the icon named, and what will clicking on it allow you to do?

(b) Needed Changes:

Describe the changes you think would improve the icon and explain why these changes would be an improvement.

Step 5:

If possible, use the draw function on your word processor or some other drawing program to create the "improved" icons. Or, if you cannot use a computer drawing program, draw the "improved" icon on a separate sheet of paper.

Be sure to place the name or function of your icon at the top of the drawing (whether you draw by hand or use the computer).

Step 6:

If possible, staple your finished picture to the screen capture or drawing and to the notes you took about improving the icons. Make the picture of your improved icon your top page.

Step 7:

After you have created your "improved icon," go to How Did I Do?: Part A. Use the checklist to help you check your work.

Teach Me!
Let Me Try It!: Part B
How Did I Do?: Part A