A Guide to Assistive Technologies: Read and Write and Inspiration

Learner Development Service

An Illustrated Student Guide to Assistive Technologies

‘Inspiration’ is a mind mapping software which is useful for students with Dyslexia and other conditions which may affect ability to organise ideas in a structured way.

‘TextHELP’ is a screen reading programme that reads information aloud from of the computer screen. It can be used to read aloud any text from the screen e.g. essays, web pages etc and can help recognise and amend errors.

Functions of Inspiration

The ‘Learn to Use’ training video explains the basic functions of Inspiration. You can click on any video within this section to learn more about the complex functions.

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With Inspiration you can transform your thinking into a polished piece of written work. Once you have created the visual aid you can transfer the whole document in to a word processing package. Select File, Transfer to Word Processor.

Watch the Video

1 If you prefer you can watch the Inspiration Training Video.

2 Select ‘Learn to Use’ from the Inspiration Starter Screen.

3 The following Screen will appear. Click, Learn to Use, ‘Training Videos’, ‘2 Diagram View’, Large, then ‘Introduction.mov’. The introduction video explains the basic functions of Inspiration, you can click on other videos within the ‘Training Videos’ section to learn about enhanced functions of the programme.

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Getting started with Inspiration

1 Start

2 All programmes

3 Learning Support

4 Inspiration

Inspiration: A Visual Planning software package

Use Inspiration to help you: Mind-mapping ideas, make notes from research, structure your thoughts and visually communicate concepts. Through using Diagrams, Images and Maps you can empower your own learning.

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Choose the Visual style which suits you best

1 Mindmap: To make notes, organise information and structure writing for essays, papers, presentations and reports. Click on File, New and Create a Mindmap.

2 Outline: Will focus visual images created in Mindmap or diagram into a list format. Click on File, New and Create an outline.

3 Template: Struggling to start a project / essay? Struggling with time management? Struggling to plan work? Use the template function for Inspiration. Click on File, New and Open template.

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Inspiration Templates can be used for your success

• to plan and prioritise tasks,

• to start essays, assignments and projects,

• to use visual and creative methods to structure essays,

• to create your work from a template, using built in prompts and plans.

Template to Success

If you need help with your subject, your structure, revision techniques or your time management using a ‘Mindmap’ can help you to focus and develop a learning strategy which will allow you to work independently.

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Inspiration Summary

‘Inspiration’ supporting visual thinking, a learning style in which YOU can learn better, through understanding and retaining information when concepts, words and ideas are linked with images.

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TextHELP Read and Write version 10

‘TextHELP’ Read and Write’ is a programme which will read text on the screen. It can be used for proofreading work as well as listening to other pieces of text such as information on websites. The programme reads text displayed on the screen out loud.

Use a set of earphones to avoid disturbing other people working around you!

Getting started with TextHELP Read&Write:

1 All Programmes

2 Learning Support

3 Read and Write & Inspiration

This floating toolbar will appear over whatever programme you are running. You can move the toolbar around your screen and put it in the best place to suit you.

1 Spell Check: Text help as an easy to use spell checking facility, which will provide you with a variety of spelling options.

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2 Confusing Words: Also known as ‘homophones’, these are words which sound the same but have different meanings and are spelt differently.

3 Play: Highlight the words you wish the computer to read and then press play, pause or stop.

4 Speech Options: Choose the voice, tone, speed and pause settings to suit you.

5 Highlighting: Key phrasing can be highlighted in a number of colours to help you focus, review or revise information.

6 Exit: When you have had enough! Select the small arrow next to Texthelp and close down.

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The Video Tour

Click the black arrow at the far right of the tool.

‘textHELP Read&Write’ will work with Inspiration, all Microsoft Office programmes and the internet. So explore and enjoy!

The ‘Quick Reference Card’ is a brilliant guide to the icons on the toolbar!

Watch the video and explore your Texthelp options

What can ‘textHELP Read&Write’ be used for?

• Proof reading your work.

• Listening to journals, articles written information and comments from other programmes including the internet.

• Homophones: words that sound the same but are spelt differently e.g. there/their.

• Supporting those who struggle with reading.9

Customise your textHELP Read&Write

Through exploring with the video tour you can learn how to change the options and customise the settings to suit your individual preferences and needs.

You can:

• Change the voice, tone, pitch, speed and pause to suit you.

• Read by word, sentence or paragraph

• Use predictive text

• Use personal dictionary

• Use auto text

• Use study Skills tours

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