Getting Started

Get Started in 5 Easy Steps

Get ready to teach with TechnoKids. Let us walk you through the essentials.

If you are downloading from the Digital Library:
  1. Visit the TechnoKids Library.
  2. Log in using your TechnoKids username and password. (It is the same one you used to place your order.)
  3. Click on a Shelf tab, such as Primary, Junior, Intermediate, or Senior.
    4. library welcome screen
  4. Add an item to the download queue by clicking the Add to Queue button for the desired project or set.
  5. If necessary, select a product version. Click Close.
    6. choose version
  6. Repeat steps 3-5 for any additional projects or sets.
  7. Click Start Download.
    8. start download
  8. If prompted, pick a location to save the download file. By default, it should go to your device's Downloads folder.
    9. save download
  9. Extract the compressed files. Help for extracting: Windows, Chromebook.

If you received your curriculum as a download:
  1. Open the email with the download link.
  2. Follow the instructions to download your file.
  3. Extract the compressed files. Help for extracting: Windows, Chromebook.

If you received your curriculum on a flash drive:
  1. Plug the flash drive into an empty USB slot on your computer.
  2. Wait for the device to be recognized. It will open in a window.

If you are on a Windows device:

  1. Visit Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  2. Follow the onscreen prompts to install the version for your operating system.

If you are on a Chromebook:

  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. Visit the Chrome web store.
  3. Search for one of the PDF extensions:
  4. Click Add to Chrome.
  5. Follow the onscreen prompts to add it to the browser.
  1. Go to the location of your extracted files. See Step 1 above.
  2. Open the extracted folder. The folder contents is displayed. This folder also includes links to get help.
    3. extracted folder
  3. Select the version of the project that you want to teach. Double click to open the project folder.
  4. Inside the project folder you will see a [project name] Resources folder, a teacher guide and student workbook.
    5. open project folder

View the Resources folder:

  1. Double click to open the [project name] Resources folder.
  2. You will see several folders; mainly:
    • Assessment: contains checklists, marking sheets, quizzes, and a skill summary
    • Handout: contains any handouts for the student such as a Parent Letter and certificate.
    • Samples: contains any sample files that the teacher may find beneficial to demonstrate to the class.
    • Tools: contains program flashcards and tool summary.
    • [project name] folder: contains the workbook folder, sample files, and templates required by the student to complete the project.
    open resources folder

Refer to the Getting Started section of your teacher guide to determine what needs to be done before you begin teaching.

If you are on a Windows device:

  1. From the Start menu , launch Adobe Acrobat Reader from the list of programs. If you do not see it in the list, visit Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  2. Click the File menu, choose Open.
  3. Browse to the location of the extracted project folder. Help for extracting: Windows, Chromebook.
  4. Select the teacher guide and click Open.

If you are on a Chromebook:

  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. Sign in to your Google Drive account.
  3. Upload the desired TechnoKids Resource file/folder to your drive.
  4. Double click on a PDF file to open.
  5. Click the Open with menu at the top of the window.
  6. Choose the PDF extension you installed. If you have not installed a viewer refer to Step 2.
    • XODO PDF Reader & Annotator
    • Annotate with Kami

The [project name] folder contains templates, sample files and worksheets that your students require to complete the project. It can be placed on a local computer, memory stick, school server, or web-based folder. If using a web-based folder, this area must be password protected and require students to log in to gain access. Files cannot be posted in the public domain. Refer to your site license agreement for further details.

  1. Go to the location of your extracted project. See Step 1 above.
  2. Open the folder to view the files.
  3. Open the [project name] Resources folder.
  4. Select the [project name] folder. Example; select the Timeline folder if teaching TechnoTimeline, or the Code folder if teaching TechnoCode and so on.
    5. select project folder
  5. Copy this folder and place it in the desired location to share with your students.
  6. Repeat for each project.

About TechnoKids PDF Files

TechnoKids Teacher Guides, Student Workbooks, and some resource files are in PDF format. They have been locked against digital editing but can be printed or viewed digitally. We have enabled commenting on these files in order to allow adding notes or answering questions. In order to accomplish this please see the sections below to learn how to install the necessary software that will allow annotation in the files.

Windows Users

If you received your TechnoKids project as a download it will be in a compressed, or zipped, format. The files will need to be extracted from the compressed state before use. Compressed filenames end in .zip. The folder icon will look like it has a zipper on it.

Although Windows comes with a PDF Reader, Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to properly open and annotate a TechnoKids PDF file. Contact your System Administrator to allow read and write privileges to all users.


  1. Go to the place where the zipped file is located. If you downloaded the file from an email it is most likely in your Downloads folder.
  2. Right click on the folder and choose Extract All....
    3. extract all
  3. In the Extract Compressed (Zipped) Folders dialog box you can choose a destination to extract the files. By default, the folder will be extracted to the same location as the zipped folder.
  4. Tick the option to Show extracted files when complete.
    5. extract dialog
  5. Click Extract.
  6. Now you can open the folder to view the files.
  1. Visit Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  2. Follow the onscreen prompts to install the version for your operating system.
  1. From the Start menu , launch Adobe Acrobat Reader from the list of programs. If you do not see it in the list, visit Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  2. Click the File menu, choose Open.
  3. Browse to the location of the extracted project folder. Help for extracting: Windows, Chromebook.
  4. Select the teacher guide and click Open.
  1. Once the file is open as described in the previous step, click Comment in the task pane.
  2. Choose an annotation tool from the Comments toolbar. (Add text comment, Add text box, Use drawing tool).
  3. Click in the document and type to annotate, or click and drag to draw.
  4. Choose Save As from the File menu.
  5. Edit the filename to save a copy of the annotated file and keep the original intact.

TIP: Watch the video below for a step by step.


Watch a video:

Watch the video to learn how to annotate using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Chromebook Users

If you received your TechnoKids project as a download it will be in a compressed, or zipped, format. The files will need to be extracted from the compressed state before use. Compressed filenames end in .zip.

You may already have a PDF viewer installed, however, you will need a Chrome browser extension to properly open and annotate a TechnoKids PDF file. Contact your System Administrator to allow read and write privileges to all users.


  1. Open File Manager. View the place where the zipped file is located.
    • If you downloaded the file from an email it is most likely in My Files > Downloads.
    • If you received the files on a USB, plug the drive into an empty USB slot on your device. Once connected, the device will appear as a folder in the left navigation panel of the Files app.
    downloads folder chromebook
  2. Double click on the file.
  3. Once you've double-clicked, notice the zip file has been mounted and appears as a folder in the left navigation panel of the Files app alongside the Downloads folder, Google Drive folder, and any other services you've mounted.
    4. mounted opened chromebook
  4. The contents of the folder are displayed in the right panel. You will see a [project name] Resources folder, a teacher guide, student workbook, and some helpful URL shortcuts.
  5. Use Alt+click to produce shortcut menu and choose Copy.
  6. Click More in the top right corner of the File Manager window and choose New Window.
  7. Click to select Google Drive from the sidebar. Create a new folder or open an existing folder.
  8. Press Ctrl+V to paste the copied folder into this location.
  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. Visit the Chrome web store.
  3. Search for one of the PDF extensions:
  4. Click Add to Chrome.
  5. Follow the onscreen prompts to add it to the browser.

Note: You may be prompted to give permission to allow the extension access to Google Drive. You must allow this in order for extension to access the PDF files.

  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. Sign in to your Google Drive account.
  3. Upload the desired TechnoKids Resource file/folder to your drive.
  4. Double click on a PDF file to open.
  5. Click the Open with menu at the top of the window.
  6. Choose the PDF extension you installed.
    • XODO PDF Reader & Annotator
    • Annotate with Kami

You may be asked to allow XODO access to Google Drive. You will be prompted to sign in to your Google account again and give both read and write permissions. Follow the onscreen instructions to give access.


  1. Once the file is open as described previously, click Free text from the toolbar.
  2. Add a text box by clicking in the desired place in the document.
  3. Replace the default text, [Insert text here], with the desired text.
  4. If you want to add a check mark, click Freehand tools. Choose a colored pen. Click and drag to draw.
  5. To save, click the arrow beside Save and choose Google Drive.
  6. To reopen the file, return to Google Drive and open the the file with the XODO PDF Reader & Annotator as before.

You may be asked to allow Kami access to Google Drive. You will be prompted to sign in to your Google account again and give both read and write permissions. Follow the onscreen instructions to give access.


  1. Once the file is open as described previously, click Text Box in the Tool panel.
  2. Pick a font size and text color.
  3. Click on the document to add a text box. Type to add text.
  4. If you want to add a check mark, click Drawing. Choose a pen size and color. Click and drag to draw.
  5. To save, click Save and choose My Drive.
  6. To reopen the file, return to Google Drive and open the the file with Annotate with Kami as before.

Watch a video:

Watch the video to learn how to annotate using XODO.

Watch the video to learn how to annotate using Kami.

Watch the video to add a chrome extension.