Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
Kurzweil 3000
Beyond the Basics: Using Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
What is Kurzweil 3000?
A Swiss army knife Reading support (“text to speech”) Writing support Test-taking (fill in the blanks, circle tools) Study skills (highlighting)
Kurzweil combines tools to increase their value. For example, you can… Organize ideas in order to write a short essay Read for main ideas and details, and then generate an outline
to write from Two types of Kurzweil software
One type can initiate scans (LearnStation) The other type can’t scan (Professional)
How tell the difference? Go to Help menu About2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
Before you start
Where is Kurzweil? On your desktop It is installed on the school’s servers
only 38 Learnstations can be used at a time only 5 copies of Professional at a time
Resources IT for server issues Matt in LS/MS David and Candace in HS
Resources on KTHS Tech Blog2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
Who benefits?
Grades 3 or 4 through adult Comprehensive feature sets means most students can find benefit,
especially when they have difficulty with decoding fluency visual tracking comprehension generating & organizing ideas Plus: study tools (highlighting) and test-taking tools
Keyboarding skills are necessary Can operate Kurzweil with speech-to-text (Dragon) and alternative keyboard
(Kurzweil overlay for IntelliKeys) Resistance to Kurzweil; K isn’t cool. Some strategies:
use with entire class model use demonstrate benefit (e.g. auditory feedback when editing) prepare documents for use before class starts (edit scans)
2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
Core Writing Tasks
1. Drafting Text2. Working with Word Documents3. Using Word Prediction4. Using Word Lists5. Scaffolding the Writing Process6. Looking Up Words7. Using Spell Check
2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
1. Drafting Text
File New Text File (version 11) Writing toolbar is blue. It lets you adjust…
Font, font size, font styling Alignment (left, centered, right) Single spacing (single, etc.)
If ruler not displayed: Tools Options Show Ruler
Can combine with other writing tools: Word Prediction (3) Word lists (4) Spell check (7)
2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
1. Drafting Text:Auditory feedback
Kurzweil speaks words as they’re typed (“text to speech”)
Auditory feedback available in all writing tasks Students can hear their mistakes, discuss them, and
pinpoint where they take place Make sure preferences are set as follows:
Tools Options General, check “Speak as Typing” Can adjust voices used
Tools Options Reading (select voice)
Tip: Words are highlighted as read; sound can be turned off to get the benefit of tracking without the distraction of read-aloud
2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
2. Working with Word Documents
Kurzweil’s tools are simpler than Word’s, but Kurzweil can help students edit Word documents.
1. Can open Word documents from Word to edit. Lose images and formatting …but gain Kurzweil’s auditory feedback, word prediction,
word lookup, and advanced spell-checking features2. Kurzweil taskbar (great feature but buggy in Windows
7) Right click on taskbar (bottom of screen) and select
Toolbars Kurzweil Taskbar (ignore message) Select and drag text from Word or any source into taskbar It will be read aloud (usually)
2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
3. Word Prediction: Overview
Helps students type more quickly and expand vocabulary
To activate: Click little Crystal Ball icon on Writing
toolbar OR Tools Word Prediction
When activated, displays a list of words that begin with the letters that a student types (type w to get the list on the right)▪ Single click to hear a word▪ Double click to select it OR click its number
2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
3a. Word Prediction: Options
Kurzweil offers three dictionaries to generate word predictions: small, medium, large The larger the dictionary,
more choices in word prediction but more confusion for students
Can add words as they are typed (Tools Options General Word Prediction)
Phonetic spellings (type filan and Kurzweil predicts philanthropy); not as robust as Co:Writer
2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
4. Using Word Lists
Allows you to create vocabulary lists
Kurzweil includes Lists of Confusable words, Homonyms, etc.
Words in any list can be… highlighted in word
prediction highlighted in text (Tools
Highlights) Encourages use of words in
context Supports correct spelling of
words
Click to create a new list.
Kurzweil’s word lists support vocabulary development while writing: Tools Setup Word Lists.
2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
4a. Creating a new list
To create new list: Tools Set up Word Lists New
Then, Create Words from [source] or type in own vocab list; click Next and name the List
Under Options, have new list words appear in Word Prediction and Tools Highlight to encourage use of words
2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
5. Kurzweil’s “Writing Path”
Scaffolds writing processa. brainstorming b. outline c. draft d. review
Can go back and forth between steps (draft outline); some choices will be dimmed, however
2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
5a. Kurzweil’s “Writing Path”: Brainstorming
Brainstorming is used to create concept map Bubbles Links between bubbles to show sequence/relationship
Quick Takes is like Inspiration’s Rapid Fire tool – used for brainstorming (quickly generating a concept map)
Word prediction, Word lookup, and auditory feedback are all available
2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
5b. Kurzweil’s “Writing Path”:Outlining
Write Outline generates numbered outline
Can edit by adding Topics Subtopics Notes
Can change style of outline numbering
TIP: Can generate an outline from Kurzweil’s column notes (File Extract Column Notes to Outline)
2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
5c. Kurzweil’s “Writing Path”: Drafting
Select Write Split Screen: Outline appears on left Write draft on right (select and drag from left);
supported by auditory feedback and word prediction
OutlineDraft
2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
5d. Kurzweil’s “Writing Path”: Reviewing
Write ReviewChecklist asks students to edit by
considering The way their words sound (“Listen to Your
Written Word”) Spelling Punctuation Capitalization Word lists
To change/add review items: Tools Options, click Review Items.
2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
6. Looking up words
To get meaning of word: Reference Look up Word I type, then type in word
For a selected word, click Reference Selected Word, you get Definition▪ Can be read aloud▪ Choice of dictionaries ▪ Synonyms
Syllables Picture definitions (if installed)
2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
7. Spell check
Simple spell check always available on Write menu. Can change all occurrences of
word. Spell check as you type
(Tools Options Spell Check, “Check spelling as you type”)
Ranked spelling (Tools Ranked Spelling) Shows number of occurrences
(times a word is used)2/10/2012
Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool
Tips for using Kurzweil
Tip How to carry it out
Change tools shown on main toolbar
Tools Customize Apply Toolbar Set. Use Writing Path toolbar for Write Menu tasks. Many toolbars minimize the Writing Taskbar and do NOT include Writing Path tasks.
Virtually scan any document (Word, PowerPoint, Web page, etc.) to Kurzweil Professional version
Within the other program, display program. Print KESI Virtual Printer.
Make all basic features available by right clicking
Tools Customize Right Mouse Button. Select the functions to make available by right clicking.
Attach notes to student’s writing in Kurzweil
Within the document in Kurzweil, click Tools Note, and add a Footnote, Bubble Note, or Voice Note.
2/10/2012
Top Related