If the icons are all over the desktop then you can choose to arrange them neatly at the side
(View > View Options… > Keep arranged).
Or, by choosing a different option (View > View options … > Always snap to grid) it is possible to keep the pupils’ work separate from the the hard drive or the bin.

To Change the Desktop Appearance

Move the pointer to the Apple on the top left of the screen. Hold down the mouse button and drag down to Control Panels. Move the pointer through the arrowhead – the Control Panel menu appears. Keep holding down the mouse button and move up to Appearance.

Choose one of the preset themes or make your own customized screen appearance by modifying the different sections (Appearance, Fonts [shown], Desktop, Sound, Options)
Try some out to see what they look like and how your choices affect the look of the desktop.

To Change the Desktop View

Click on the top right hand corner of the screen and select the Finder. The menu bar should look like this: Choose the View menu and move the pointer down to View Options. In the View Options window choose the way you want to arrange the icons.

If you choose None you can place the icons wherever you wish.

If you choose Always snap to grid then you can choose where you want the icons to be and they will line up on an invisible grid.
If you choose Keep arranged then everything is arranged on the right hand side of the screen.

Desktop folders and stationery files

Have files for the pupils set up ready on the desktop or in a clearly marked folder. Worksheets for each child can be stored in their group's work folder. Worksheets should be saved as template (stationery) files which allows the file to be used over and over by different pupils. When a template (stationery) file is opened it comes up as Untitled. This means that the pupil working on it has to give it a name in order to save it prior to printing out. The original template is unaltered and is there for the next pupil to come and work on.

To save a file as a template or stationery file

First create the worksheet. If you are using Claris or Apple Works go to Save As on the File menu. Type in a name for the template. You will see the option of saving the file as stationery with a radio button beside it. Click on the button and the file will be saved as stationery (another name for a template). Click on Save.

If you are using Microsoft Word use Save as … (file menu).

Type in a name for the template.

Go to Save file as Type and click on the downward arrow at the side. This opens up a list of file types.
Select Document Template; then click on Save.

When typing in the name for the template, whatever software you are using, it is useful if you indicate in the name that it is a template file e.g. ORTSports Day temp.

It is possible to create templates in other word processors and desktop publishing software. They will have similar methods to those shown.

To set up an Alias

Set up short cuts to programs and folders that you use a lot, by creating an Alias on the desktop.

Locate the item for which you want an alias, e.g. a file to be used by the pupils for writing.

Click once on the file to select it. From the File menu choose Make Alias.

The alias of the file appears under the original file, in italic with ‘alias’ added to the file name.

The alias can be moved to the desktop, or into a work folder. It can be renamed if wished.