Monday, February 28, 2011

Working with SOLO

Are you just getting started with SOLO? Or, do you need a refresher? The following links are all on the Don Johnston website.
I have just tried to put them together so that you can get to them easily and will not have to jump around the website quite so much.  Also, you may be able to get a better feel for what is included in SOLO by looking down through the topics or titles of the Show-Me-How Video Tutorials.

What is SOLO?
It's a literacy suite of  assistive technology accommodations, including a text reader, graphic organizer, talking word processor, and word prediction for students who struggle with reading and writing.
Here are some links for the Don Johnston Solo website that will help you get started.

Co-Writer 6

Show-Me-How Video Tutorials  (about a minute)
     This link takes you to a series of very short videos on the following topics:
          How to use Co:Writer when you are not sure how to spell a word
          How to get Co:Writer to predict more words
          How to display the word bank
          How to activate a topic dictionary
          How to find the topic dictionary you created
          How to add words to your personal dictionary
          How to change the main dictionary
          How to change settings and activate a user
          How to use the refresh button

CoWriterTrain-in-30-PDF Document.  Step-by-step training. 20 pages

Show-Me-How Video Tutorials  (about a minute)
 This link takes you to a series of very short videos on the following topics:
        How to change the voice you use and rate of speech
        How to change text size and colors
        How to have Co:Writer repeat the sentence you just wrote
        How to type numbers in your sentence
        How to turn off  Predict Ahead for test taking
        How to use abbreviation expansion
        How to use the Co:Writer talk window
        How to use Co:Writer with Dragon Naturally Speaking

CoWriter Quick Card-PDF Document. 2 pages

Read Outloud

 
Show-Me-How Video Tutorials  (about a minute)
 This link takes you to a series of very short videos on the following topics:
How to add a note to your outline
How to add new topics and adjust text in your outline
How to rearrange your outline
How to use a premade outline template
How to use electronic bookmarking with your outline
How to capture key ideas for your outline
How to change eText styles in a NIMAS file
How to change the PDF viewing size
How to change voice settings


Read:OutLoud 6 Train-in-30 Tutorial-PDF Document.  Step-by-step training. 20 pages

Show-Me-How Video Tutorials  (about a minute)
 This link takes you to a series of very short videos on the following topics:
        How to change the toolbar
        How to read word by word
        How to turn on auditory cues

Read Outloud Quick Card-PDF Document. 2 pages
Draft Builder
DraftBuilder Product Demonstration-5-min. video

Show-Me-How Video Tutorials  (about a minute)
 This link takes you to a series of very short videos on the following topics:
        How to add green subtopics
        How to add yellow and red subtopics
        How to reorganize your outline
        How to create a note
        How to create a draft
        How to check your spelling using the Spelling Checker
       How check the meaning of a word using the Talking Dictionary
       How to access outline templates

DraftBuilder 6 Train-in-30 Tutorial-PDF Document.  Step-by-step training. 20 pages

DraftBuilder QuickCard-PDF Document. 2 pages

Write:Outloud
Write Outloud Product Demonstration-5-min. video

Show-Me-How Video Tutorials  (about a minute)
 This link takes you to a series of very short videos on the following topics:
        How to listen to text with the Speak button
        How to check your spelling using the Spelling checker
        How to add more sentences to your document
        How to use the Homonym Checker
        How to use Write:OutLoud in Test Mode
        How to Check the Meaning of a word using the Talking Dictionary
        How to use the Mark for Deletion Button
        How to add a picture to your document

WriteOutLoud 6 Train-in-30 Tutorial-PDF Document. Step-by-step training. 20 pages


WriteOutLoud QuickCard-PDF Document. 2 pages
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Saturday, February 5, 2011

Document Cameras

The most exciting aspect of using document cameras in the classroom is the extra dimension that it acan add to your presentation. In addition to showing notes and written materials to your classroom with your document camera, you can display three-dimensional objects . There are a few document cameras in the district.  I would love to hear from people that are using them and how they are using them.
Here are just a few examples of how document cameras might be used in the classroom:
  • In science classes, students could watch the teacher dissecting a frog that is displayed so that all of the class could easily see. Or, the teacher could show the difference between beetles and butterflies in a very realistic way.
  • In geometry classes, teachers could use the document camera to add a 3D twist to the complicated world of pyramids, cones and cylinders.
  • In geology classes, teachers could show up-close and personal different types and textures of rocks.
  • In art classes, students could watch and see more clearly techniques on molding clay or making perfect brush strokes.
Here's a feature checklist and comparison chart for several document cameras:


Here are some links to more information about document cameras:
And finally,
Here's a video called Document Cameras 101-A Complete Guide:


Thanks for stopping by!
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