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Page 1: Kurzweil 3000   writing - final

Beyond the Basics: Kurzweil as a Writing Tool

Kurzweil 3000

Beyond the Basics: Using Kurzweil as a Writing Tool

2/10/2012

Page 2: Kurzweil 3000   writing - final

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

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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

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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)

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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

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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)

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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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.

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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)

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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

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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.

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