Curated Tech Tools
Kennedy Institute Social Media Channel for Educators
The Kennedy Institute has launched new social media channels, specifically for educators, that will feature specialized lesson plans, virtual educational programs, and civic education news and hopefully serve as a welcome resource in support of future curriculum needs and work to build civic knowledge and encourage civic participation with students (Kennedy Institute, 2022).
Twitter: https://twitter.com/emkcivics
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emkcivicsed
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emkcivics/
Voice in Voice Typing
But what if you want to do speech to text in something else, like maybe a quiz in a Google Form where Docs Voice Typing does not work?
Well, you can now use Voice In Voice Typing.
How it works!
- Click inside of the text box you need to complete
- Then, click on the Voice In Voice Typing extension, which looks like a little microphone.
- Start speaking.
- Anything you say will now be typed in the form.
- This can be very helpful for students when taking a quiz or writing an email.
- Click the microphone icon again to stop the speech to text.
To adjust the settings for Voice In Voice Typing:
- Right click on the extensions and choose "Options".
- Here you can change the dictation language you wish to use.
- And also get a list of built-in voice commands for punctuation and more.
Credit to Eric Curts
Chromebook Dictation Tool
As a bonus if you are using a Chromebook there is actually a speech to text tool built right in. Nothing needs to be installed. It just needs to be turned on.
- First click in the bottom right corner of your Chromebook screen to open the system menu.
- Click on the "Accessibility" icon.
- Note: If you do not see the "Accessibility" icon you can click on the gear to go into the advanced settings to turn it on.
- Now from the "Accessibility" menu click on the "Dictation" option to enable speech to text.
- This will put a little microphone icon down in the bottom right corner.
- Anytime you need to do speech to text just click on the "Dictation" icon and start speaking.
- Anything you say will automatically be typed into the computer wherever you are.
- This works in websites, documents, forms, and more.
Password Resets
Additionally, students can email the Technology Help Desk directly at help@rjuhsd.us.
Bookshare and Read & Write for Students with IEPs or a 504 Plan
Any students with 504 or IEPs can access all of their materials in ebook, audiobook, or large print form. Bookshare has an immense collection that includes most textbooks and thousands of free fiction and non-fiction reading materials.
Any teachers or counselors that want to set a student up with Bookshare just needs to let me know who the student is, whether they are on a 504 or an IEP plan, and what their disability is. I can set up an account for the student and assign specific textbooks or reading books or even an entire reading list based on a students' interests (ex. sports books, graphic novels, reluctant reader books, etc...) in about 5 minutes. After setting up an account for the student, I can then share their login credentials with them as well as my tutorials for how to get started accessing their books.
You can email me the student's information, or you can fill out the Bookshare Enrollment Google form for your student(s).
Students with IEPs also have access to the Premium edition of the Read & Write App through the District's site license. I have tutorials for them on how to use the app, and I can also Zoom with them to show them how to use the app in real time if they need any extra help getting started.
Here is the link to my Bookshare and Read & Write App tutorials on my website. Just scroll down to the resource you are interested in.
Cameron's Collection
SCHOOL DATABASES GIVE YOUR STUDENTS QUALITY SOURCES AND HONE THEIR RESEARCH SKILLS
How to Research on ABC Clio Social Science Database
How-to at the AnHS Library
WANT TO ACCESS THE SACRAMENTO BEE IN THE CLASSROOM?
Access to the Sac Bee through the Sac Library
Sacramento Library (Scroll down to Sac Bee)
Apply online for an eCard to access long term or use the following temporary login
Barcode/Username: 23029091921439
PIN: 2004
