Co:Writer UniversalRachel Herron, AT Consultant SSJCSSRherron@ssjcs.k12.in.usDemonstration and Play SessionJanuary 4, 2016

What is Co:Writer Universal?

•Word Prediction•Topic Dictionaries•Built in Speech Recognition•Built in Text Reader

Co:Writer Demonstration

Word Prediction

• Designed for students who are “inventive spellers”• Flexible in order to let

emergent spellers reduce or increase word choices• Features both auditory

and visual reinforcement of unknown words• Allows full sentence

read back to ensure that a student has typed what was intended

Word Prediction

Tasks to Try• Type the following sentence with

either no vowels or one phonetic helper vowel:

Today we return from a two week heat wave.

• Click on the arrow and type real numbers once the number selections are gone

Options

• Word Prediction settings:

• Increase or decrease the number of guesses presented

• Change the font• Personalize the color

of text or back ground text in the helper box

• Adjust the size of text presented

• Activate or Deactivate Topic Dictionaries

• Speech Settings:• Select a different

language• Tailor the way the

words are presented when a student is typing such as directing the voice output to speak individual letters versus whole words.

• Change rate, volume and pitch of the speech voices.To access the options for Co:Writer right click on

the purple bubble and select “Options”

Topic Dictionaries

Three Types of Dictionary Access• Built in Dictionary• Quick Topic (Web-Scraped) • Quick Topic (Highlighted Topic)

Built In Topic Dictionary Access:• Locate the purple cloud icon• Right Click the Icon• Select “Options”• Type in the subject desired• Turn the dictionary “On”• Multiple dictionaries can be activated at once

• Toggle back to the document and start writing.

Demonstrate Accessing Built In William Shakespeare

Quick Topic Dictionary Access:• Open a website of desired information• Right click on the website• Select “Co:Writer”• Select “Quick Topic” and the new dictionary will be

activated• Toggle back to original writing

Demonstrate Accessing the Quick Topic Dictionary using Benjamin Franklin Wikipedia Page

Quick Topic Highlighted Topic Access:• Open a website of desired information• Highlight a certain word or selection of

information• Right click on the highlighted text• Select “Co:Writer”• Select “Quick Topic” and the new dictionary will be

activated• Toggle back to original writing

• Demonstrate Quick Topic Highlighted Dictinary using American Enlightenment.

Tasks to Try• Right click on the purple bubble and access “options.”• Under the subheading “Topic Dictionaries” turn on

“Dinosaurs 1 Basic” by clicking off to on.• Toggle back to the document and type:

The tiranasawrus rx fot the teradactile.(The Tyrannosaurus Rex fought the

Pteradactyl.)• Be sure to notice how quickly the words are predicted and

accessible as you type. Type as few letters as needed to get the correct content.

Speech Recognition

• Co:Writer Universal includes a speech to text option. Simply click the microphone at the bottom of the text box and a student can dictate text.• If a word is not captured

correctly, the student can right click on the word to have words predicted. One simple click changes the erroneous word.

Text Reader

• Co:Writer Universal includes a feature that reads highlighted text aloud. • Simply highlight the desired text, right click on the text and select “Speak.”

Sometimes the solution is so clear …we miss it!

ResourcesWebinar for Co:Writer Universal:• https://vimeo.com/143403825

Features, videos and product demonstrations by Don Johnston:• http://donjohnston.com/cowriter/

It’s Not About the Nail• https://youtu.be/-4EDhdAHrOg