Embedded Files
Reading Supports for PDF Documents
Reading Supports for PDF Documents
Not everything is available on the internet particularly when it is created by the teacher. Often times, these documents originate from a google docs or word document or it is a worksheet that has been scanned. Regardless of the source, many of these documents can be converted into a PDF file which can then be accessed by read&write through the student's Google Drive. Below are the uses of the various tools in the PDF Toolbar.
The various tools within the toolbar are activated by clicking on them. Some tools will stay active until they are turned off. Tools that remain activated are indicated with a blue line underneath the tool. Other tools may be a one time use tool until they are selected again.
The Dictionary tool allows the user to look up the meaning of a word they may be unfamiliar with. Users can have the word and/or the meaning of the word read out loud. The definition opens up in a pop up box which can be left open or closed by clicking on the 'x' in the top right hand corner.
For some students for whom English is not their first language or may suffer from language deficiencies, the picture dictionary tool provides them with a visual representation of the word. Not all words may have a picture available.
There are three tools that are grouped together to support text-to-speech allowing students to hear words read out loud to them. These tools are the Play, Pause, and Stop buttons. Students simply highlight the selection of text they would like to hear read aloud and then click on the play button. Reading can be paused or stopped at any time by clicking the corresponding buttons.
Screenshot Reader is a tool that recognizes text that is imbedded within a picture on a webpage that might otherwise not be read out loud. For instance, a website may host a diagram of the water cycle. This diagram is actually a graphic file which the reading tools would not otherwise recognize. By activating the screenshot reader, the cursor is replaced by a crosshair symbol which is used to draw a boundary around the desired image. read&write will not be able to recognize the text that is imbedded within the image. Note that this tool requires installation of an additional Chrome extension called Screenshot Reader before it can be used.
The Translator tool translates single words from one language to another language. Including English, there are currently six languages available.
The highlighting icon activates a smaller toolbar.
Within this smaller toolbar, there are four different colours available for students to highlight text. There are many reasons for which a student might wish to use highlighting including note-taking, identifying new vocabulary, identifying main points of an article and supporting details. To use the highlighting tools, students simply highlight the selected text and then choose the colour of their choice.
If students make a mistake in highlighting, they can simply re-highlight a section and click on the clear highlights to sweep away the highlights.
The Collect Highlights tool is a powerful study tool that takes all of the highlights in the selected colour(s) and extracts them into a separate Google Docs page. Students are prompted to select the colour(s) of the highlighted text that they would like extracted and whether they would like the extracted information to be sorted by order or by colour. This allows students to reference material once the browser is turned off as the Google Docs page is automatically saved on the student's Google Drive. Students can always reference the source of the highlighted content as there is a link created at the bottom of the Docs page referencing the location of the PDF document within the user's Google Drive.
The Vocabulary tool is somewhat similar to the collect highlights tool. However, instead of extracting large amounts of text, the vocabulary tool is meant to be used for words that are unfamiliar to the student. These highlighted words are then compiled into a Google Docs page (stored automatically in Google Drive) accompanied with the definition and a picture representation (where possible).
The Typewriter tool allows users to insert comments within the PDF document. When the Typewriter tool is clicked, the icon is underlined in purple showing that the tool is activated. It may appear that it does not work but the user must click on an area where they would like the note to appear. Once this has occurred, a Typewriter window appears as shown below.
Below is a list of all of the various tools within the Typewriter window and what they do:
The reposition tool allows users to place the text window in a different location simply by holding down the icon and moving it to the desired spot.
The Play icon allows users to hear the text that has been written in the Typewriter window.
Word Prediction is a tool that supports people who struggle with spelling. By typing or more letters of a word, read&write will provide suggestions of words that the user may be trying to spell. The tool is based on initial letter sound recognition and eliminates words based on subsequent letter sounds. It is also possible for the word prediction tool to make phonetic guesses even if one or more letters are not contained in the actual word. For example, "jiraf" will still prompt the tool to suggest "giraffe" and "lfnt" will prompt the tool to suggest "elephant."
The Talk&Type tool is another name for dictation, or VoiceTyping. It allows users to use their voice to replace the physical task of typing words. This tool is useful for students that struggle with conventional spelling or have physical impairments that make writing difficult or impossible. Refer to the section on dictation prerequisites and tips for best results.
The two similar looking icons increase and decrease the size of the font respectively.
Users also have the ability to change the text colour by clicking the arrow and selecting the desired colour from the drop down menu.
The last tool in the toolbar is the Push-pin which is like the Typewriter except that notes are hidden unless the push pin is clicked. Unlike the Typewriter note, the push pin can not be relocated once it has been placed. Otherwise, the annotation tools within the push-pin window are identical to that of the Typewriter window.
Finally, users have the ability to discard the note or to insert the note by clicking the appropriate icon (X or Checkmark).
A more subtle feature that is not accessed through the PDF toolbar is the commenting feature. When the mouse cursor is clicked anywhere on the document or whenever a section is highlighted (it doesn't have to be with the highlighting tool), an icon will appear on the right hand edge of the document allowing the user, a peer, or a teacher to make a comment about the document. Clicking on the comment icon opens up a separate commenting window as shown below.
This commenting window also has its own separate set of tools, many of which have already been explained in this guide. There are however, three new tools that were not previously available. Comments are saved by selecting the "COMMENT" button or discarded by selecting the "CANCEL" button. Once created, comments can be viewed by clicking on the down arrow within the note in the right hand margin. Notes can be read out loud by clicking the "play" button. They can also be edited or deleted by clicking on the three vertical dots and selecting the appropriate option.
The first is the voice note tool which allows users to comment by making a voice recording up to a minute long. The voice note is recorded simply by clicking the microphone icon.
The other new tools are options to attach an image and attach a link. Both options will open up the user's Google Drive directory and prompt them to select an image or a file to append to the note.
There are many ways to configure the program to meet the specific needs of individual students. Please refer to the Options section to see how the extension can be modified to meet the needs of most students.
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