Using the
Flexible
Features of
Kurzweil 3000
Software to
Support
Learning
dhbebert/2014
If you are not already familiar with Kurzweil 3000,
click on the link below for a brief overview before
proceeding with the 20+ Cool Tips presentation.
• video overview of Kurzweil 3000
Some students require a text to
speech environment in order to
gain meaning from text.
Other students may benefit from
the auditory support of text to
speech to enhance meaning,
increase speed of reading,
reduce fatigue or decrease
distractions.
Another group of students may
benefit from the features to
support language translation,
reference tools and study skills
features with Kurzweil.
Kurzweil 3000
• Is a powerful literacy learning tool
• Provides reading, writing, study skills, and test-taking
support within one single program and user interface
Kurzweil 3000
• Reflects the principles of Universal Design for Learning
• Addresses the diverse needs of students within an RTI
model with its flexible range of tools and supports that can
be utilized across all grade levels and content.
Kurzweil 3000
• Makes print and electronic material available to a broad spectrum of students.
• Utilizes a multisensory approach
• Incorporates dynamic features which adapt to individual learner styles
• Promotes active learning
• Permits alternative means of access by students with disabilities
Kurzweil 3000 in Humble ISD
• Educational Support Services provides access to version 14 of Kurzweil 3000, to every Humble ISD campus, through a web managed version that can be installed on any district or home computer.
• Beginning with the 2015-16 School year, access to Kurzweil 3000 software is available for every teacher and student in Humble ISD. In addition to the desktop software, a companion iOS app (K3000 Firefly) is available free to Humble ISD students from the Apple iOS store. Each student account has unlimited cloud storage where students can store digital books and documents, with the ability to access them from any internet connected device.
Kurzweil 3000 in Humble ISD
• Students may request a username and password for Kurzweil access from the student’s language arts teacher, student’s case manager, or campus assessment specialists.
• Use of copyrighted text in Kurzweil requires compliance with copyright laws.
• Links for downloading Kurzweil 3000 and user manuals, are provided on the last slide of this presentation.
20+ Cool Tips
Using the
Flexible
Learning
Features of
Kurzweil 3000
Tip #1
Use Kurzweil to
open paper
and digital
curriculum
materials in a
flexible digital
environment.
Page from
Science
Textbook
scanned into
Kurzweil
Tip #2
Hear text read
aloud while
visually following
the highlighted
text as it is read.
Reading Toolbar (yellow) includes settings for voice and speed
Tip #3
Use zoom and
“magnify spoken
word” features
to customize for
visual needs.
Tip #4
Utilize reference tools while reading - including dictionaries,
thesaurus, and pronunciation tools.
Look up a
definition and
hear it read
aloud.
Improve
understanding
with
synonyms
Tip #5
Select content
and student
specific
dictionaries to
support
understanding
of text.
Tip #6
Translate documents to other languages
Tip # 7
Personalize
instruction to
address
student
learning
styles using
voice notes,
sticky notes
and
footnotes.
Tip # 8
Embed
comprehension
supports and
gauge
understanding
using Bubble
Notes that
students
complete as
they read.
Save answers
for studying or
grading
Tip # 9
Read Text Aloud on Websites
Read the
Web
Toolbar
Tip #10
Search for
books and
reference
articles online
from within
Kurzweil.
Tip #11
Customize
highlighters
for various
learning
tasks. Keep
students
engaged
with the text.
Tip #12
Highlight text in
documents and
extract
highlights for
studying or use
as an outline
for a writing
assignment.
You can have
Kurzweil read
just the
highlighted
portions of text.
Highlighted text
can be extracted
to an outline
Tip #13
Take Cornell
notes or
create
column notes
by extracting
highlights or
by dragging
text into
columns.
Highlights
can also be
extracted to
column
notes
Cool Tip #14
Convert Column Notes to an Outline
Highlights can
also be extracted
to column notes..
..and notes can
become an
outline for
writing
Cool Tip #15
Utilize Brainstorm and Outline Views for
Pre-writing Support.
Cool Tip #16
Utilize a split screen layout in order to view the outline
while writing.
Monitor writing
by listening to
what you’ve
written.
Cool Tip #17
Use word lists and word prediction to support writing.
Let’s give it a try!
Tip #18
Utilize Kurzweil
3000 with an
interactive
whiteboard for
whole class
instruction and
demonstration
of strategies
with curriculum
content.
Click to view video.
Tip #19
Convert
digital files
in other
formats to
.kes files to
utilize
interactive
tools and
have text
read aloud.
Online .pdf
converted to
.Kes file…now
it’s flexible!
Tip 20
Convert a
test created
in MS Word,
to a .kes
format that
Kurzweil can
read aloud.
Quickly convert
this test
document to hear
it read out loud.
Tip #21
Provide
tests in
digital
formats for
independent
test- taking
with reading
support.
Hear test read
aloud and
answer
questions
directly on the
test.
Tip #22
Provide flexible
ways for students
to demonstrate
knowledge on
tests, such as
making voice
recordings,
highlighting
answers, or
dragging and
dropping text.
Empty
placeholders
can accept
text or voice
notes.
Tip #23
Customize toolbars for test taking, reading, and
other tasks.
Lock out
certain
features for
independent
test taking.
Tip #24
Customize toolbars for test taking, reading, and
other tasks.
Classic toolbar
Test taking toolbar
Tip #25
Create
mp3 audio
files from
text for
listening
access
from
mobile
devices.
Tip #26
Combine
Kurzweil with 3rd
party tools to
support access
by students who
require
alternative
access methods.
Use keyboard
shortcuts to access
menu items for
students who have
difficulty with mouse
access.
Getting Kurzweil 3000/Firefly
on Your Windows Computer
• Kurzweil 3000 for Windows • Download the Web License version. This version includes several
speech voices. If asked for an organization, leave blank.
• Download any additional speech voices you would like to have.
• Getting Started with Kurzweil 3000-firefly for Windows
• Kurzweil 3000 for Windows Reference Guide (vs 14)
•
Getting Kurzweil 3000/Firefly on Your Mac
• Kurzweil 3000 for Mac • Download the Web License version. This version includes several
speech voices. If asked for an organization, leave blank.
• Download any additional speech voices you would like to have.
• At this time, the Mac version does not contain all the
features of the Windows version.
• Getting Started with Kurzweil 3000-firefly for Mac
•
Getting Kurzweil 3000/Firefly on Your iOS Device
• The Firefly app can be downloaded from the Apple App
store. Search “Firefly K3000” in the App store.
• The Firefly app is a companion app to Kurzweil desktop
software and does not contain all the features of the
desktop version.
• Using Firefly on an iPAD (reference guide)
•
Using the Universal Library (cloud storage)
• Using the Universal Library (manual)
For more
information
Kurzweil Video Gallery
Kurzweil and UDL
Kurzweil Training Modules
Digital Text and Ebook Sources