Keyboard Shortcuts & Working Faster
The 20 shortcuts that save the most time, practised as races, plus screenshots and quick ways to move around.
⌨️ Start with your 10-minute typing warm-upBy the end, you will be able to:
- Press a shortcut correctly (hold the modifier key, tap the letter, let go) and use the editing and formatting shortcuts: copy, cut, paste, undo, redo, select all, save, print, find, bold, italic and underline.
- Switch, snap, show the desktop and lock the computer with Alt + Tab and the Windows key, and use the browser shortcuts for tabs, the address bar and refresh.
- Take a screenshot of part of the screen and paste it into a document, and move through and select text with only the keyboard.
What you need
No computer at home? Print the PDF and practise on paper.
Follow these steps in order
Tick each step when you finish it. Your ticks are saved on this device, so you can stop and come back later.
Learn the ideas ⏱️ 35 min
Read pages 1–4 of the workbook and try every small task. Type your answers straight into the boxes: they save by themselves.
Explore the 3D lab ⏱️ 15 min
Play with the 3D model below. The 🎯 missions tell you exactly what to do next. When you finish every mission, this step ticks itself.
Do the Lab Mission ⏱️ 25 min
Page 5 is the hands-on task. Do it on a real computer, step by step. You need: a computer with a word processor and a web browser.
Check yourself ⏱️ 10 min
Answer the questions on page 6 without looking back, then check your answers below.
Finished? Check your answers
Your turn (Page 2): Ctrl + Backspace deletes the whole word "kenkey" in one press (the cursor must be just after the word).
Your turn (Page 4): any two shortcuts with a sensible reason, for example Ctrl + S (saves work from power cuts) and Ctrl + Z (fixes mistakes fast).
Lab table (Page 5): times vary. Check the "Mouse used?" column honestly. In Race 1, the saved file
Shortcut_Race_YourNameshould show the bold sentence plus 2 pasted copies (3 pastes, then 1 undo). In Race 3, the same file also has a pasted snip of the Kente page.Which Shortcut Would You Use? (Page 6)
- Reopen a closed tab: B, Ctrl + Shift + T.
- Leave the PC safely: C, Windows key + L.
- A picture of one part of the screen: A, Windows key + Shift + S.
- Find "Volta" in a long document: B, Ctrl + F.
- Jump between Word and Chrome: A, Alt + Tab.
Written Review Questions
- Hold down the Ctrl key, tap the S key once while still holding Ctrl, then let go of both. The file saves. Look for: the order (hold first, then tap) and letting go.
- Snap the browser to one half with Windows key + Left (or Right) and the document to the other half with Windows key + Right (or Left); Alt + Tab also switches between them. She could also copy (Ctrl + C) and paste (Ctrl + V) a short quote, and save her notes with Ctrl + S.
Rate yourself and save your work ⏱️ 5 min
Tick how confident you feel on the last page, then press 🖨 Print / Save as PDF in the workbook to keep a copy. On a shared computer, press Clear my answers when you have saved it.
🎉 Session 25 complete!
Brilliant work. Next up: Session 26: Skills Lab 3: Office Triathlon.
Go to Session 26 →⚡ Shortcut Race
Race the clock with the most useful keyboard shortcuts: copy, paste, undo, find, switch windows and take screenshots. Follow the 🎯 missions on the right: they tell you what to do next.
Stuck? Try this
Most problems are one missed word. Look for the Panic Button or Help box in the workbook.
Refresh the page. On a very old computer it may not show 3D. The workbook still has everything you need.
Answers save on the computer you typed them on. Open the workbook on that same computer and browser.
Ask your mentor, a teacher or a friend. Show them the step number you are on.