Macbook Features (L4L Users)

Kate Smith-Ziegler Updated by Kate Smith-Ziegler

What are some MacBook Air features that support teaching and learning?

Settings and Accessibility

Tool/ Application

Function

Features

System Preferences

There are many ways to personalize and customize the function of your MacBook.

  • General appearance
  • Dock
  • Notifications
  • Energy Saver (screen saver, brightness, etc.)
  • Trackpad
  • Printers & Scanners
  • Siri
  • Accessibility features

Learn more about System Preferences. 

Accessibility

There are many accessibility options for your MacBook. These can be found in System Preferences.

  • Zoom
  • Display
  • VoiceOver screen reader (for alt text)
  • Captions
  • Mouse & Keyboard options

Learn more about Accessibility Features. 

Trackpad

Your trackpad now works a lot like a touchscreen.

  • Smart Zoom
  • Scroll
  • Rotate
  • Swipe between apps or multiple desktops
  • Drag
  • Show desktop or Launchpad

Learn more about the trackpad. Watch a video of all trackpad features and settings.  (1m26s)

Locating Documents and Apps

Tool/ Application

Function

Features

Finder

The Finder is the central nervous system of your Mac. It is how you access files and folders and display windows, and it generally controls how you interact with your Mac. It runs constantly in the background.

If you click on the Finder icon in the dock, it opens a window where you can quickly and easily browse through files.

Learn more about Finder. 

Spotlight

Use the Spotlight feature to perform searches. The magnifying glass icon can be found in the bar along the top of the screen, on the right side. You can change what Spotlight searches in System Preferences.

This search tool doubles as a text-based Siri alternative, and is an easy way to launch or look up anything.

The keyboard shortcut for Spotlight is Command+Space.

Learn more about Spotlight .

Dock

Your dock is a convenient place to access the apps you use most. You can rearrange, add, and remove apps from the dock.

Dock size, magnification, and position settings can be changed in System Preferences.

You can add something to the dock in two ways:

  • Drag the icon of the app to the dock.
  • Right-click on the icon → “Options” → “Keep in Dock”

Learn more about the dock .

Launchpad

The launchpad is another editable space to quickly access apps. You can access it by pressing the F4 key or by clicking on the gray, circular rocketship icon in the dock.

You cannot remove apps from the Launchpad, but you can create folders by dragging one app’s icon on top of the other app’s icon in the Launchpad window. It will automatically suggest a name for the folder, but you can change it by clicking on the suggested name and typing a new one.

Learn more about Launchpad. 

Multiple Desktops

If your desktop becomes cluttered with open app windows, you can create additional desktops, called spaces, to organize the windows. When you work in a space, you see only the windows that are in that space.

To find or add desktops:

  • Press the F3 button on the top row of the keyboard
    OR
  • Swipe 3 fingers up on the trackpad

Learn more about using multiple desktops. 

Self Service

This icon serves as a portal to BPSTechnology, with links to Aspen bookmarks, tech purchasing, tech support and software downloads. You can find this app in your Launchpad.

Use Self Service to add Follow-You printers.

Basic Organization and Creation Apps

Tool/ Application

Function

Features

iCloud

iCloud stores and shares files, documents, and apps across all your Apple devices. Sign in using your BPS account as your Apple ID.

What is “the cloud”? Basically, it’s the Internet, or more accurately, a piece of the Internet. The underlying metaphor is that the Internet is the sky and that the sky is made up of all of these different clouds, each one of which can provide a different service. The "Gmail" cloud, for instance, delivers us our mail, while the "Dropbox" cloud stores our files. (Source: LifeHacker )

Learn more about iCloud. 

Learn more about setting up iCloud. 

App Store

The App Store is where you can download and update apps. Sign in using your BPS account as your Apple ID.

This is where you will go to download Apple apps (like Pages or Keynote) and to update your operating system when prompted.

You can also download other free apps. Look for apps that say “Get” in the gray box instead of a price -- these are free.

Learn more about the App Store. 

Notes

Notes is a digital notepad that allows you to create notes that can incorporate multiple media. If you choose to use iCloud, your notes will automatically sync across Apple devices.

Learn more about Notes for Mac.

Screenshot

Screenshot is a built-in application that allows you to take a screenshot of all or part of your screen.

You can capture:

  • A selection - part of your screen
  • A window - one open program's window (not the whole screen)
  • Your screen - this captures the entire screen

Learn more about how to take a screenshot. 

QuickTime

QuickTime is most frequently used to play video files, but did you know it can also be used to record video and audio files?

To record, open QuickTime Player and go to the "File" menu. There are three options at the top of the menu:

  • New movie recording - uses your camera + microphone
  • New audio recording - uses your microphone only
  • New screen recording - uses your microphone + records what happens on your screen

Learn more about QuickTime. 

Photo Booth

Photo Booth is an often-forgotten gem that can capture photos or video using your built-in MacBook camera. It offers tons of special effects right in the application.

Note: When using effects in Photo Booth, it can really slow your computer down. Quit any unneeded applications and close as many windows as you can.

Looking for more? Visit Apple's MacBook Air features webpage  or explore the Apple Support Center Guides. 

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