Icon for Word Processing with a W and G for Word and Google

Q2 Document Skills: Basic Formatting

4. Digital Workspace Essentials

Formatting with Purpose

Let’s be honest: nobody wants to spend extra time adjusting fonts or margins just for fun. But here’s the secret to proper formatting:

  • It’s not about making a page look "pretty" for your teacher; it’s about taking control of your audience. 
  • When your document is a chaotic wall of text, people instantly tune out, miss your best points, or get frustrated trying to read it. 
  • Learning to use headings, bullet points, and clean spacing is basically a visual cheat code. 
  • It forces people to pay attention to your smartest ideas, makes assignments way faster to review (which often means better grades with less hassle), and ensures your voice actually gets heard instead of scrolled past.

Remember, you’ll be using these to design an engaging escape room at the end of Thing 4.

The Formatting Masterclass

Tips for successfully completing the training:

  • Read the instructions on the pop-up page completely.
  • There will be two slide bars on the right-hand side - one for the document and one for the entire training screen. You may need to scroll up and down to complete each step.
  • You may turn the "read" sound off or back on by selecting the sound icon at the top of the page.
  • Be aware of the items highlighted with a blue box.
  • If you do not follow the instructions completely, you will not be able to move on in the training.

Step 1. Select the image below to start your training.

Screenshot of Formatting Training site. Image is a direct link to the training.Direct link to Formatting Masterclass site.

Step 2. Add your Certificate of Completion to your Thing 4 Quest 2 folder that you created in Quest 1.

  • Select the blue Download Image button.
  • Make sure the image name is correct, and change it if you use a different naming style.

Screenshot of the DocFormatting Certification as an example.

4.Q2 Setup

4.Q2 Advanced 

4.Q2 Student Checklist

4.Q2 Teacher Guide

MITECS   Michigan Integrated Technology Competencies for Students, and

ISTE Standards for Students

1. Empowered Learner
c. Students use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.
d. Students understand fundamental concepts of how technology works, demonstrate the ability to choose and use current technologies effectively, and are adept at thoughtfully exploring emerging technologies.

6. Creative Communicator
a. Students choose the appropriate platforms and digital tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication.


21T4S Resources