Tag: Snapverter

Change to Texthelp Software Licensing

UA’s enterprise license agreement for the Texthelp suite of tools will not be renewed in FY21.

After conversations with campus partners, we determined that we did not have a user basis to justify an enterprise-level agreement for the product. The good news is that Texthelp offers free premium subscriptions of Read&Write and EquatIO for educators! These tools can be accessed on the Texthelp website. Additionally, one alternative to the Texthelp suite of tools are the Learning Tools offered by Microsoft 365.

If you, or users in your area, have any need beyond the scope of the free tools, please contact us. We will be happy to make arrangements to provide the tools that you need to succeed.

Texthelp Higher Education Summer Camp

The Texthelp tools freely available to all UA students, faculty and staff are: Read&Write, a literacy support toolbar with supports for reading, writing, research, and studying; EquatIO, an application you can use to type, handwrite, or speak to create equations, formulas, and other math and chemistry expressions; and Snapverter, an easy to use add-on for Read&Write for Google Chrome and iOS app that transforms papers and files into readable PDF documents.

From Texthelp:

Join us for a summer full of learning, new ideas, and useful strategies! During our seven week series, we’ll focus on the key features within Read&Write and EquatIO, while leaving you with practical strategies when working with students. Be sure to invite campus partners, administrators, instructional designers, or peers who might need to brush up on their knowledge, explore applicability on campus, or to help support the transition to online learning. Both beginners new to the products and experienced users wanting review will take away tidbits to add to their toolboxes.

Texthelp tools for remote learning and working

Texthelp offers a collection of Mac and PC desktop software, Google Chrome apps and extensions, and iOS and Android apps that support reading, writing, language learning and STEM subjects. Texthelp tools freely available to all UA students, faculty and staff include: Read&Write, a literacy support toolbar with supports for reading, writing, research, and studying; EquatIO, an application you can use to type, handwrite, or speak to create equations, formulas, and other math and chemistry expressions; and Snapverter, an easy to use add-on for Read&Write for Google Chrome and iOS app that transforms papers and files into readable PDF documents.

Here are some tips on how to use Texthelp tools to enhance remote learning and working, from the Texthelp blog:

Texthelp tool access for personal Google accounts

UA users of Texthelp tools are able to access Read&Write, EquatIO, and Snapverter by signing in with a Crimson Mail account (“Sign in with Google”) or a @ua.edu Office 365 account (“Sign in with Microsoft”). Some users previously granted authorization for an email address connected to a different Google or Microsoft account may have lost this access in a recent update. If you are unable to log into the Texthelp tools with a non-UA email address for which you had previously received authorization, please contact us.

Updated Texthelp tools

Updated versions of two Texthelp tools, Read&Write and EquatIO, are now available on the OIT website, along with updated installation instructions: Texthelp in the OIT software catalog

Texthelp offers a collection of Mac and PC desktop software, Google Chrome apps and extensions, and iOS and Android apps that support reading, writing, language learning and STEM subjects. Texthelp tools freely available to all UA students, faculty and staff include: Read&Write, a literacy support toolbar with supports for reading, writing, research, and studying; EquatIO, an application you can use to type, handwrite, or speak to create equations, formulas, and other math and chemistry expressions; and Snapverter, an easy to use add-on for Read&Write for Google Chrome and iOS app that transforms papers and files into readable PDF documents.

Video: Introduction to using Read&Write at University

Video: Introducing EquatIO® – Make Math Digital. Make Math Together

Video: Introduction to Snapverter – An Add-On for Read&Write

Texthelp expert-led EquatIO and Read&Write training for UA users—you’re invited!

The Faculty Resource Center’s Emerging Technology and Accessibility team invites you to participate in upcoming opportunities to learn more about Texthelp tools for reading, writing, language learning and STEM subjects. These tools are free to all UA students, faculty, and staff. They are particularly beneficial for English language learners, students with learning disabilities, and students who can benefit from writing supports, but are useful to all. Please consider joining us for these events and sharing this post with others who may wish to attend.

Mid- 2018 Accessibility Initiative Update

The Emerging Technology and Accessibility team, now part of UA’s Faculty Resource Center (FRC), housed in the Office of Information Technology (OIT), continues to lead the initiative to provide our technology users, including those with disabilities, a functional and accessible technology experience with our web presence and our instructional and emerging technologies. An annual audit of campus college and division web sites reflects that many campus areas continue to improve in their accessibility status.

2017-2018 efforts include:

  • Working with campus stakeholders to develop a Web Resources Accessibility Policy that would adopt WCAG 2.0 AA to address the accessibility of public-facing web resources, campus-wide web resources, and web resources needed to conduct core University administrative and academic functions, including third-party tools and equal access and non-compliance plans.
  • Establishing technology accessibility liaisons for each college, school, and division. Appointed by campus deans and vice presidents, these liaisons serve as the area contact to address technology needs related to accessibility.
  • Compiling and distributing to liaisons the most complete and accurate list of UA web sites to date.
  • Acquiring and rolling out campus wide the Texthelp suite of literacy support tools. Texthelp tools freely available to all UA students, faculty and staff on campus and personal machines include Read&Write, a literacy support solution with tools for reading, writing, research and studying; EquatIO, an application you can use to type, handwrite or speak to create equations, formulas, and other math and chemistry expressions; and Snapverter, an easy to use add-on for Read&Write for Google Chrome and iOS app that transforms papers and files into readable PDF documents.
  • Assuming management of campus licensing for ZoomText, a screen magnification and reading program that enables users with low vision to see, hear, and use everything on the computer screen
  • Captioning and/or transcribing over 4000 minutes of media through UA captioning grants. Captioning grants may be used to caption and/or transcribe UA-owned video and audio that will be shared on public or campus-wide websites.
  • Offering new workshops covering accessibility best practices for various media as well as diversity in learners and learning style and how accessibility barriers affect users with diversity of ability.
  • Adding staff member Melissa Green. Melissa is a Technology Accessibility Specialist dedicated to technology accessibility training needs.
  • Resolving 255 tickets in the Helpspot customer service/support ticket system.
  • Running 3246 Accessibility Management Platform reports. Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) is a comprehensive accessibility and reporting tool freely available to members of the UA community.

Spring 2018 Technology Accessibility Workshops

Emerging Technology and Accessibility invites you to enhance your technology accessibility skills by participating in these workshops during the latter half of the Spring 2018 term:

  • Texthelp Tools for Reading, Writing, Language Learning, and STEM
    This hands-on workshop offers an introduction to the Texthelp tools freely available to all UA students, faculty, and staff: Read&Write, a literacy support solution with tools for reading, writing, research, and studying; EquatIO, an application that lets everyone create mathematical equations, formulas, Desmos graphs, and more on their computer or Chromebook; and Snapverter, a Google Chrome app that converts printed documents and inaccessible digital files into readable PDF files for easy sharing and reading aloud.
    Wednesday, March 28, 2:00-3:00 p.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232
  • Introduction to Accessibility Management Platform (AMP)
    For all UA users, learn about UA’s Accessibility Management Platform and how it can help evaluate web sites for accessibility.
    Friday, March 30, 2:00-3:00 p.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232
  • Accessible Content and Inclusive Learning with Microsoft Office
    This demonstration session introduces general principles for creating accessible content with Microsoft Office products and free Microsoft Learning Tools that provide support for reading and writing Office documents.
    Tuesday, April 3, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232
  • Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) Office Hours
    This open help session is an opportunity to get assistance with your Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) questions.
    Friday, April 6, 10:00-11 a.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232
  • Creating Accessible Emails
    Whether you’re sending a note to just a few contacts or crafting a campaign for broad distribution, it’s important to make sure your email messages are accessible to people with disabilities. This hands-on workshop will cover how to create accessible emails: composing messages, improving image accessibility, and adding accessible tables and lists. Participants will use Microsoft Outlook to create accessible messages, learning practices they can also apply to other email programs and marketing tools such as MailChimp.
    Tuesday, April 10, 2:00-3:00 p.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232
  • How People with Disabilities Access Digital Content
    Participants in this session will gain a fuller appreciation of technology accessibility by exploring the user perspective: technologies and methods people with disabilities use to access websites, documents, audio, video, and other digital content, and barriers created by inaccessible design. This session includes demonstrations of assistive technology such as screen readers and magnifiers, alternate input devices, and the accessibility features built into the Mac and Windows operating systems.
    Friday, April 13, 10:00-11:00 a.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232
  • Introduction to Web Accessibility
    The University of Alabama is committed to providing our technology users, including those with disabilities, a functional and accessible technology experience with our web presence and our instructional and emerging technologies. This session will provide an introduction to web accessibility: laws and standards regarding accessibility in higher education, the University’s web accessibility guidelines, common accessibility challenges and solutions, and resources and strategies for creating accessible documents, images, audio, video, and web content.
    Wednesday, April 18, 2:00-3:00 p.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232
  • Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) Office Hours
    This open help session is an opportunity to get assistance with your Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) questions.
    Friday, April 20, 2:00-3:00 p.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232
  • Creating Accessible Digital Stories with Microsoft Sway
    Microsoft Sway is a digital storytelling app that helps you quickly create professional, interactive designs for your images, text, videos and other media; it is also a more accessible alternative than Adobe Spark. This hands-on workshop offers an introduction to Sway with a focus on accessibility. Participants will learn best practices to make their Sways accessible; use the Accessibility Checker to identify and fix potential accessibility issues; and play their finished creations in Accessibility view.
    Tuesday, April 24, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in Gordon Palmer Room A232

Registration is requested but not required.

We are also happy to offer private training sessions on these and other accessibility-related topics to members of the University community. Please contact us if we can help with your technology accessibility needs.

Introducing Texthelp

The FRC Faculty Technology Showcase is a great place to learn how faculty are using technology to enhance learning, conduct research, and increase professional productivity. Today’s Showcase also marked the launch of the Texthelp tools now freely available to UA students, faculty, staff, and departments.

Texthelp offers a collection of Mac and PC desktop software, Google Chrome apps and extensions, and iOS and Android apps that support reading, writing, language learning, and STEM subjects. The tools are available for use on both personal and University-owned devices and can be accessed via the software catalog on the OIT website.

Read&Write

Read&Write supports reading, writing, researching, and studying. It offers a simple toolbar at the top of the screen that you can customize to meet your specific needs. It offers support with tasks like reading text out loud, understanding unfamiliar words, researching assignments, and proofing written work. It’s particularly beneficial for English language learners and users with learning disabilities, but it’s useful for all learners.

Video: Introduction to using Read&Write at University

The Read&Write toolbar is available as a Google Chrome extension and as desktop software for Windows and Mac. There are also iPad and Android tablet apps that offer many of the features of the Chrome and desktop tools.

Snapverter

Snapverter is an easy to use add-on for Read&Write for Google Chrome that transforms papers and files into readable PDF documents.

Video: Introduction to Snapverter – An Add-On for Read&Write

After installing the Snapverter Chrome app, you can use your smartphone to snap a picture of text in a book, handout, or other paper-based item or select a saved inaccessible digital file from your phone or computer and upload it to the Snapverter folder in your Google Drive. Files are converted to readable text using optical character recognition (OCR) and stored as PDFs in your Google Drive. If you’d like, you can then use Read&Write to hear text read aloud, see words explained, access translation features, and more.

EquatIO

EquatIO supports math and STEM subjects. It lets you type, handwrite, or speak to create equations, formulas, and other math and chemistry expressions on a computer or Chromebook; there’s also a library of ready-made expressions you can use to add STEM content to a document. EquatIO also supports LaTex, a typesetting and mark-up language that’s widely used for mathematical and scientific documents.

Video: Introducing EquatIO® – Make Math Digital. Make Math Together

EquatIO is available as a Google Chrome extension and as desktop software for Windows and Mac. EquatIO users can also use the EquatIO mathspace collaborative workspace and, coming soon, the EquatIO mathspace mobile app.

Ready to give Texthelp a try? Contact Emerging Technology and Accessibility to request access or to talk about how these and other technologies can support inclusive and accessible learning opportunities.