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Assistive technologies and techno-savvy resources

Audio Visual help Audio-visual setup and operation

See the web sites below for more information on these learning and teaching technologies. I suggest you download the demo software, try it and if you like it, buy it. The software I am showing you I have tried, like and bought it. But, you may prefer something else, try using www.google.com to find the information you seek.

Later I will setup hands-on workshops so you can learn how to use selected software. Let me know which software you would like the learn. Send an e-mail to wmcgraw@wisc.edu. However, I think you will find the software is easy to learn and has adequate online help. I have had little problems with most of these technologies. But, if you need help, let me know.

I use these technologies as a PhD student in the CAVE program and as the Learning Technology Coordinator at the School of Human Ecology. I bought these technologies because of their cost, ease of use and versatility.

PDAs for college some of the software I use include for researching papers, taking notes and reading documents with my PDA

Endnote, for searching for books, journals and web sites then creating bibliographic citations for writing papers.
JFile, PocketCities are software to use with endnote. They will convert files to and from the PDA to your computer.
Documents to Go allows you to use MS Word, Excel and Access with your PDA.
Inknote Manager, is part of InkLINK whereby you can draw images, design objects or write with your PDA.

Techno-gadgets

USB hubs are used to plug-in multiple devices into one USB slot. You can add 4 USB devices into one USB slot.
portable flash-memory, are finger size memory devices that fit into a USB slot. You can carry 128 MB of files in your pocket.
USB network adapter if you do not have a wireless card, this device will connect to the network.

Assistive technologies for writing papers

generate and organize ideas with Writer’s Helper,
outline, structure and develop your ideas with Inspiration7,
create a draft of your paper, check it for problems and revise it with Roughdraft,
speak into a microphone and see your text on the computer screen by using speech to text ViaVoice,
type words and see possible words popup by using word prediction software,
use spelling and grammar checkers such as MS Word or WordPerfect, or use autocorrect and with MS Word,
for searching for books, journals and web site for references in writing papers use bibliographic software such as Endnote, Nota Bene, or StudentWord,
tired of reading? first scan the text using OmniPage or Readiris, then use ReadPlease to hear the words you scanned,
need some help with the APA format? use APA style or 1,
the Writing Center recommends taking notes during your reading, you can create 4X5 or 3X4 note cards using MS Word, you can use note-taking software such as TakeNote or QUERY note-taking software. Re-working your lecture notes can be done with ViaVoice (speech to text) or Inspiration software or TakeNote. The point is to refine your raw notes into a more useable form. Re-working your notes into note cards will help you prepare for tests, write papers and finish projects (web sites). This is due to the ease of finding the information you seek, organize it and use it in writing or web development. Endnote is excellent for writing papers because you can find references, insert references into your paper and format the bibliography.
Do you have problems with sentence structure, grammar, or other writing problems, then try Writers Helper, Grammar Expert Pro, Grammar Slammer or StyleWriter. I use Writers Workbench.
you can check your paper for potential problems by using document checking software such as Writer’s Workbench, or StyleWriter,
Some references for reflective writing with an example, or writing a reflective summary, or a reflective journal, or what is reflective writing?

Tips to use the web for college writing

find creditable and scholarly web sites, more info on using Endnote to search for books and journals,
how to evaluate web sites, more info on web evaluation and still more on web evaluation and more yet,
how to cite web sites for APA APAstyle,
and paraphrase or summarize information using Copernic summarizer

Assistive technologies for the web or teaching

use software that speaks words on the web by using web readers-audio such as ReadPlease,
have lots of bookmarks or favorites? want to organize all those web markers? then use Netvisualize,
have lots of reading to do or a large web site to read? then use a text summarizer such as Copernic,
now they make hiliters for the web just like hiliters for print materials, use iMarkup.
giving a Powerpoint presentation and tired of shaking the mouse or laser pointer? then use marconnit
and do you lose track of time when presenting? then use attache clock.

Assistive technologies for reading college textbooks or textual materials

tired of reading text? then use text to speech software by scanning the text with OmniPage, then listen to the text by using ReadPlease,
need to improve the speed you read at? try Acereader Pro, or RocketReader.
make notes from your lectures or readings using speech to text software such as ViaVoice,
setup and use references with Endnote
and make note cards with MS Word.

Writing papers using

how to use footnotes,
need help with citing references? use Endnote or ProCite,
and help for making table of contents.

Assistive technologies and study skills

need to capture information on the chalkboard, bulletin board or get to know your classmates? try using a small camera, Pencams, or organize your notes with a visual organizer
you can record an entire lecture, discussion or lab by using Olympus digital recorders
and take notes, draw pictures or design objects that go directly into your computer by using inklink writing pens.
More help with study skills comes from the book “Becoming a Master Student” by Dave Ellis (see link below) and my web site. My web site will have readings, inventories and help with study skills later in the semester.

Assistive technologies and techno-savvy resources

Audio Visual help Audio-visual setup and operation

I use these technologies as a PhD student in the CAVE program and as the Learning Technology Coordinator at the School of Human Ecology. I bought these technologies because of their cost, ease of use and versatility.

PDAs for college some of the software I use include for researching papers, taking notes and reading documents with my PDA

Endnote, for searching for books, journals and web sites then creating bibliographic citations for writing papers.

JFile, PocketCities are software to use with endnote. They will convert files to and from the PDA to your computer.

Documents to Go allows you to use MS Word, Excel and Access with your PDA.

Inknote Manager, is part of InkLINK whereby you can draw images, design objects or write with your PDA.

Techno-gadgets

USB hubs are used to plug-in multiple devices into one USB slot. You can add 4 USB devices into one USB slot.

portable flash-memory, are finger size memory devices that fit into a USB slot. You can carry 128 MB of files in your pocket.

USB network adapter if you do not have a wireless card, this device will connect to the network.

Assistive technologies for writing papers

generate and organize ideas with Writer’s Helper,

outline, structure and develop your ideas with Inspiration7,

create a draft of your paper, check it for problems and revise it with Roughdraft,

speak into a microphone and see your text on the computer screen by using speech to text ViaVoice,

type words and see possible words popup by using word prediction software,

use spelling and grammar checkers such as MS Word or WordPerfect, or use autocorrect and with MS Word,

for searching for books, journals and web site for references in writing papers use bibliographic software such as Endnote, Nota Bene, or StudentWord,

tired of reading? first scan the text using OmniPage or Readiris, then use ReadPlease to hear the words you scanned,

need some help with the APA format? use APA style or 1,

Do you have problems with sentence structure, grammar, or other writing problems, then try Writers Helper, Grammar Expert Pro, Grammar Slammer or StyleWriter. I use Writers Workbench.

you can check your paper for potential problems by using document checking software such as Writer’s Workbench, or StyleWriter,

Some references for reflective writing with an example, or writing a reflective summary, or a reflective journal, or what is reflective writing?

Tips to use the web for college writing

find creditable and scholarly web sites, more info on using Endnote to search for books and journals,

how to evaluate web sites, more info on web evaluation and still more on web evaluation and more yet,

how to cite web sites for APA APAstyle,

and paraphrase or summarize information using Copernic summarizer

Assistive technologies for the web or teaching

use software that speaks words on the web by using web readers-audio such as ReadPlease,

have lots of bookmarks or favorites? want to organize all those web markers? then use Netvisualize,

have lots of reading to do or a large web site to read? then use a text summarizer such as Copernic,

now they make hiliters for the web just like hiliters for print materials, use iMarkup.

giving a Powerpoint presentation and tired of shaking the mouse or laser pointer? then use marconnit

and do you lose track of time when presenting? then use attache clock.

Assistive technologies for reading college textbooks or textual materials

tired of reading text? then use text to speech software by scanning the text with OmniPage, then listen to the text by using ReadPlease,

need to improve the speed you read at? try Acereader Pro, or RocketReader.

make notes from your lectures or readings using speech to text software such as ViaVoice,

setup and use references with Endnote

and make note cards with MS Word.

Writing papers using

how to use footnotes,

need help with citing references? use Endnote or ProCite,

and help for making table of contents.

Assistive technologies and study skills

need to capture information on the chalkboard, bulletin board or get to know your classmates? try using a small camera, Pencams, or organize your notes with a visual organizer

you can record an entire lecture, discussion or lab by using Olympus digital recorders

and take notes, draw pictures or design objects that go directly into your computer by using inklink writing pens.

More help with study skills comes from the book “Becoming a Master Student” by Dave Ellis (see link below) and my web site. My web site will have readings, inventories and help with study skills later in the semester.

Becoming an excellent student