Introducing Students to Text to Speech Accommodations- (That weird computer voice can be your friend!)

I have produced a short (4 page) document designed to help concerned, yet busy teachers and parents make sense of Text to Speech (or screen reader) technology, when you really don't feel you have time to take on ONE MORE THING!!  It is designed to quickly and easily help you:

1. Better understand what Text to Speech (TTS) technology is and how it can help struggling readers.
2. Find you free and easy tools to get Text to Speech going in your classroom TODAY.
3. Figure out how to build Text to Speech into your already WAY too busy school schedule in small, manageable steps.

To access the document, please click here.
 

Text to Speech Roundup - Pros and cons of 3 Free computer text reader options

In the last few months, I have blogged about some great computer text reader options available for teachers of struggling readers.  The main idea behind all of these options is to have a computer program read text to students who are unable to read it themselves.  This makes them more independent, confident, and successful.  This blog post today is a round-up of some of the free options available.  Each option I will discuss is free, and each has particular advantages and disadvantages.  Here is the list:

1) Free Natural Reader 11.  This is a free computer program that you download from the internet and install on your computer.  It provides 2 ways to read text: 1) a window that you can copy and paste text into from another document or application, or 2) a floating toolbar that  "floats" over any open doc or application.
-Pros: 

• When using the copy and paste window option, text is highlighted as it is read. (multi-modal learning!) 
•  Floating toolbar is convenient
• Can adjust the rate and pitch of the voices

-Cons:

• You may have to put in a tech request to get this installed, as it is an actual software program
• You can only use the digital voices that come pre-installed on your computer, which may be lower quality voices
• It can be a little tricky to change voices or adjust the speed of the voice

2) Read&Write for Google Docs.  This is a free study skills toolbar that is available as an extension to the Google Chrome browser.  It works very nicely, but ONLY works with text in the Google format.  Click this link to see about converting existing docs to Google docs format.
-Pros:

• Highlights words as it reads (multi-modal learning!)
• Better quality voices
• Since it is an extension to a browser and not software, you don't need a password to install it.
• Other study skills options, such as highlighting, dictionary, and collect highlights

-Cons:

• ONLY works with Google docs format
• ONLY works on Google Chrome browser
• MUST be connected to the internet for it to work

3) Speak tool in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.).  Most folks are unaware that Microsoft office 2010 and 2003 come with pre-installed text reader tools. You just have to know where to find them. (NOTE: Office 2007 offers the Speak command in Excel, but not in Word)   To see a tutorial for Office 2003 click here.  To see a tutorial for Office 2010, click here.  To see a video for office 2010, click here. or click here for an alternate video (in case the first one didn't work).
-Pros:

• Don't need to convert your documents to another format
• Students can be trained to do this with any computer they use.  No special software is needed.
• Don't need to access any other program to hear your text read aloud.

-Cons:

• You can't choose your voice or the voice rate
• It does NOT highlight the words as it reads.  This makes it harder for students to follow along.
• Different processes to learn depending on which version of Microsoft Office you have.  Not available in Word 2007.

So there you have it.  I hope seeing these three options head to head will give you some ideas of what would work with your students and situations.  Each tool has advantages, and a savvy user would have more than one option depending on the setting and task.  As always, please provide feedback in the comments section.  


 

Speak Selection in iOS- Make the iPad read to you!

We know that the iPad can fling angry birds against the wall, take notes, play videos, and even speak for you, but one of my absolute favorite features built into the iPad is called Speak Selection.  When this feature is activated, the iPad will read aloud any text that you can select.  I have found it especially useful in Notes, Safari, Email, and Dropbox, but it is limited only to what text you can select.  It is especially useful when paired with the Reader function built into Safari.  (for more info, see my post entitled "A Cleaner and Easier Online Reading Experience...").

To enable the feature, tap the Settings app, and then tap General > Accessibility > Speak Selection.  Turn On the slider bar, and adjust the voice rate.  You only get one voice right now, but it is a good quality voice.  In iOS 6, you also get the option to have the iPad highlight words as it reads.  You also can choose different dialects, just in case you watched Finding Nemo the night before and just couldn't get enough of the Australian accent.

I have included two links to great YouTube videos explaining the feature.  The first video features the ipad, and includes info about the languages and dialects options.  The second video features the iPhone, but it works the same on the iPod touch.





I hope you and your students enjoy this amazing feature.  If you have success stories or creative implementation ideas, please share in the comments section!

Multimedia talking books using PowerPoint

The following is a tutorial created by Kristie Stapler from the Louisiana Assistive Technology Initiative.  It is a great step by step walk-through of how to create an engaging and accessible book using Microsoft PowerPoint 2003.  

Note: If you use PowerPoint 2007 or 2010, the concept will be similar, but the commands may be labeled differently or found in different location in the program.

Creating Talking Books with PowerPoint

A.  Create a Folder

1.     Create a folder on the computer to save your talking book files.

B.  Scan or create your Pictures

1.     Scan or create your pictures for your talking book and save to folder.

C.  Create a Talking Book Template

Create a talking book template that you can use with all of your talking books.

1. Open PowerPoint.  It should open to a blank slide.  If not select File-New and select Blank Presentation.
2. Choose the blank page layout and click Ok.
3. Add a forward page turning arrow by selecting the Slideshow menu and click Action Buttons.
4. Click on the Forward Arrow.  The cursor will change to a small cross.  Position this cross at the bottom right hand corner of the page and click and hold the left mouse button.  Drag mouse to draw the button.  Release the mouse button.  Resize forward arrow if needed.
5. Add a Back Arrow following the directions in step 4.
6. Add a page turning effect by clicking on Slideshow – Slide Transition.  Choose a transition effect and click Apply to all slides.
7. Save the slide as a template.  Click File-Save As.  When the dialog box opens, click in File Name and type “Talking Book Template”.  In Save as type: choose Design Template.  Click Save.

D.  Create Blank Pages

1.     Create blank pages for your book by clicking on Insert menu, then Duplicate Slide. Repeat until you have the required number of blank pages (slides) for your book.

E.   Add Pictures

Click on the first slide.  To add a picture to your slide, click on the Insert menu, then Picture, then From File and choose a picture that you have previously scanned or created.

1.     Insert the picture on the page.  Reposition and/or resize the picture on the page by clicking and dragging on the corners of the picture frame.

F.  Add Symbols/Text

1.     Adding Symbols:  Open your symbol processor and type your sentence. (examples of Symbol processors are Writing with Symbols, Inclusive Writer, Clicker, Intellipics)

2.    Make your sentence large enough but not larger than the computer screen.

3.    Remove the cursor from the screen by hitting the Return key.

4.    Copy the image by pressing the Print Screen button located at the top right of the keyboard.  Usually labeled as PrtScr or Print Scrn.  The image has been copied to the clipboard and is ready to paste into your PowerPoint.

5.    Click back to the PowerPoint where you want the symbol sentence to be.  Choose Paste from the Edit menu.  The screen image will appear on the page. 

6.    The image will be large and needs to be cropped.  Click on the image to get the Picture Toolbar.  (If you do not have the toolbar, click on View-Toolbar-Picture)

7.    Choose the Crop tool from the Picture toolbar. Move the mouse to the edge of your image.  Hold down the left mouse button and crop the image by dragging a corner or side inwards and release.  Continue to crop the image until the desired image has been created.

8.    The image may need to be resized or repositioned.

G.  Add Sound to the Page

1.     Before adding sound to the pages, make sure the microphone is connected to the computer and it is working.  (You can test the microphone by going to Start-Accessories-Entertainment-Sound Recorder and recording a voice test.)

2.    You must also change a setting within PowerPoint.  This allows you to create larger sound files and they will stay within your PowerPoint book.  (This makes it easier to move from computer to computer.)

3.    In PowerPoint, Click on Tools, then Options.  In the popup window click on the General tab.  Click on the Link sounds with files greater than box and type in 50000.  This will ensure that all sound files are included when you save your talking book.

4.    To add sound, click on the Insert menu, then Movies and Sounds and then click on Record Sounds.

5.    Click  in the Name box and rename this sound file. (ex: give more information than slide 1)

6.    Click on the Red Record button and speak the page text into the microphone.  Click Stop when you are finished recording the sound.

7.    Click Ok.

8.    A loud speaker will appear in the middle of your page. This can be positioned anywhere on the slide.

9.    This completes the first page of your talking book.  Click on the next slide and follow the directions in steps E - G.

BOOK OPTIONS

   I.   Automate The Sound On Each Page

a.    Click on the Speaker to select it.  Choose Slideshow menu, then Custom Animations.  To play the sound or movie automatically, click Start With Previous.

 II.   Use Forward And Back Buttons

a.    To set up the show, click on the Slideshow menu, then Set Up Show.  Click Browsed at a kiosk (full screen).  Then Ok.

III.   Combine A Page Turn With Speech

a.    You can set PowerPoint to turn the page and speak the text using a single mouse or switch press.

b.    Click on the Slideshow menu, then Slide Transition.  Click on the Sound box where all your sound files are located.  Choose the right sound for that page and click on Apply, not Apply To All.  Do this for each page.

c.    The cursor must be placed over the forward arrow to allow for switch access.

IV.   Add A Time Delay To A Page Turn

a.    Another modification is to give the forward arrow a time delay.  This prevents students making multiple or rapid presses that would otherwise make the pages turn quickly.

b.    Click on the Forward Button.  Click on Slideshow, then Custom Animations. 

c.    Click on Add Effect.  Choose Appear. Click on the Down Arrow next to the action button in the Animation Window.

d.    Choose Timing.  In the Delay box set time to 2 seconds.  Timing may need to be adjusted according to student.  Click Ok.