Set the Microsoft URL in Internet Explorer Options for the Startup and Home buttons.

• Type the URL (www.microsoft.com) into the Address Bar and press Enter.
• Select Tools | Internet Options.
• Click on the Use Current button.
• Click on OK.

Remove all Shortcut Buttons from the Links bar to avoid distractions in the classroom.

• Right-click the shortcut and select Delete.

Note: If the Links bar is not visible, go to the menu bar and select View | Toolbars | Links.

Add Marcopolo URL buttons to the Links bar to focus class attention and to help avoid distractions in the classroom.

• Type the URL marcopolo.worldcom.com into the Address Bar.
  
• Click and drag the Web page's icon from the Address bar directly onto the Links bar.

Note: You may also drag any link from a Web page, your Favorites bar, or your desktop onto the Links bar.

Notice how the new MarcoPolo Links Button displays a whole sentence in the Links bar.

Let's edit the button to fit the toolbar.

• Right-click on the new MarcoPolo Button and select Properties.
• Click on the General tab near the top of the window.
• Select the text in the selection box and delete it.
• Type MarcoPolo and click OK.
  

Remove all favorites that came with the original browser installation.

• On the menu bar, select Favorites | Organize Favorites.
• Highlight each favorite and click the Delete button.
  
• Continue until all are gone (or at least every site you don't want the students to visit).

Note: Do NOT delete the Links folder as the Links bar was cleaned up above. You could deleted those URLs and their buttons from here.

Make a folder to organize your favorites.

• On the menu bar, select Favorites | Organize Favorites.
  
• Click on the Create Folder button and name your new folder.
• Press Enter.
• Click on the Close button.

File a favorite site into your folder.

• When viewing a site click on Favorites | Add to Favorites.
  
• Click on a folder to open the folder.
  
• Click on OK.

Note: You may click and drag favorites into folders if you have some unfiled favorites.

Export your Favorite sites to disk.

• From the menu bar select File | Import and Export and click on Next.
  
• Select Export Favorites and click on Next and Next.
  
• Place a dot in the radio button in front of Export to a File.
  
  
  
  
• Browse to the Desktop as where you would like your favorites exported to and click on the Save button.
  
  
  
  
• Click on Next, Finish, and OK.

Import your Favorites from your disk into your Internet Explorer Browser.

• From the menu bar select File | Import and Export and click on Next.
  
• Select Import Favorites and click on Next.
  
• Place a dot in the radio button in front of Import from a File.
  
  
  
  
• Browse to select bookmark.htm file and click on Save and Next.
  
• Select the Folder where imported favorites will be placed and click on Next, Finish, and OK.
  
  
  

Open your Favorite sites as a Web page (less invasive).

• From the menu bar select File | Open.
  
• Browse to bookmark.htm file that you saved (above) on your desktop.
  
• Highlight bookmark.htm and click on Open and OK.
  
  

Copy and Paste text to Notepad or Word to collect your information.

• Highlight some text on a Web page.
  
• Select Edit | Copy or press Ctrl-C.
  
• Select Start | Programs | Accessories | Notepad.
  
• Select Edit | Paste in the Notepad window or press Ctrl-V.
  
• Click on the Explorer button on the Task Bar or press Alt-Tab to flip between application windows.

Save a picture from the Web.

• Right-click on the picture.
• Select Save Picture As and save to disk.

As the History teacher, you show a picture of the Allied Soldiers storming Normandy Beach to grab the attention of your students at the beginning of class.

How? Search for a Web site about D-Day. Locate your picture and right click on the picture and select Save Picture As to save it to disk. In class you can then open Explorer off line and click on File | Open | Browse to select your file | Open | OK.

There you have it!

Note: Your picture will open in a second window this way.

As the Art teacher, you can display several famous paintings from the Louvre museum to start a group discussion on Renaissance art with your class.

How? Search for the Louvre. Grab your pictures as described above. To prepare your graphic presentation, open your browser off-line, click on File | Open | Browse to select your file | Open | place a check in front of Open as Web Folder | OK | Yes. Repeat to cache your pictures. To present them, simply use the Back and Forward buttons to bring each up for viewing and discussion.

Note: Files should be .gif, .jpg, or .png files and must be associated with Internet Explorer (use it as a viewer).

As the science teacher you can show actual photos of two planets so your students can compare planet sizes.

How? Search for pictures of the planets in the solar system. Grab your graphics, go off-line, and open a second and third window so you can view each picture in a separate window. Finally, you may right click on the Task bar and select Tile Vertically to view both pictures side by side.

Note: Watch along the taskbar for multiple windows to pop up. Close unnecessary ones to keep Explorer running smoothly.

Make a favorite Web site available offline.

• Select Favorites | Organize Favorites.
  
• Click on the favorite page address you want to make available offline.
  
• Select the Make available offline checkbox.

To specify a schedule for updating that page, and choose how much content to download, simply click on Properties.

Note: Before you go offline, select Tools | Synchronize to be sure you have the latest version of your pages before you go offline.