Evernote for organising courseware

Posted on March 4, 2013 by E.A. Draffan

“In order to organise my courseware I use an online tool called Evernote. This helps me to ‘clip’ useful information from websites and also to save some reminders. The app can be used online as a web app and also installed as a Chrome browser bookmark or Android and iPhone mobile or tablet app. The offline app can then sync to your profile.” Andreas (MSc Web Science)

Keith Everett has provided a useful YouTube video about how he has worked with Evernote and he shows the Chrome browser bookmark as well as talking about linking with a mobile phone.

SwiftKey Android mobile app for speedy keyboarding.

Posted on February 21, 2013 by E.A. Draffan

“SwiftKey mobile app for Android is super great with writing prediction. It can even create meanings from very incorrectly spelt words. Great for speed writing an also for dyslexic users!” Andrew (computer science)

SwiftKey have produced a YouTube video of their version 4 of the app where you can also write phrases with word prediction.

Adobe Reader remembers where you last viewed part of a document

Posted on February 11, 2013 by E.A. Draffan

“I found it useful when revisiting lectures notes for exams to use Adobe Reader. It can remember the last view of a document and when I re-opened it I am able to start revising from where I left off without having to look for items or remember the particular slide or page again.”

To check you have set up the settings for this to happen

Go to Edit > Preferences.
Choose Documents.
Check the box marked, Restore last view settings when reopening documents.

The same is possible if you are using Foxit Reader Just select Edit > Preferences > General, and then enable Restore last view settings when reopening.

Free Dictionary on the iPad and Dictionary.com app

Posted on February 8, 2013 by E.A. Draffan

“I like the way on the iPad the dictionaries are available from different apps but I also use the free Dictionary.com and Thesaurus app as it works offline and gives me the pronunciation of words.” Andreas

There are advertisements supporting the free version of the app. These disappear if you pay £2.99 for the ad free version of the Dictionary. The iPad version also appears to work on an iPhone OS 6 as can be seen in the image and you can say the word using speech recognition.

Butterscotch.com have provided a YouTube video about the Dictionary.com app and mentions that you need to be online to use the audio pronunciation.

Wikipedia to help with writing

Posted on February 5, 2013 by E.A. Draffan

“I use Wikipedia before starting to write any reports or essays in order to have a broad idea that may relate to a specific topic. Then I start to look for references, websites, journals and conference papers.”

But as is commented on the page that we have linked to on Wikipedia “Do your research properly and wisely. Remember that any encyclopaedia is a starting point for research, not an ending point.” However, Wikipedia often provides references at the bottom of the topic page and can lead to other more academic resources and it even offers advice as to how Wikipedia should be used for researche

There is also a YouTube video describing the way Wikipedia can be used for Research

Online project management to manage deadlines

Posted on January 28, 2013 by E.A. Draffan

“I use online project management systems for managing deadlines for course work, assignments and deadlines for club and society activities. I like to use ones that can be colour coded depending on the urgency and also where I can add alarms!”

Gantter is a free Gantt chart project management system that offers some colour coding and easy ways to add tasks and resources. It offers links to online calendars and iCalendar and Google which can send reminders, as well as exporting to Microsoft Project and to Google Drive for sharing with others. Google have provided a YouTube video with an overview of Gantter

Lexdis 2.0

Accessible technology for learning

Category Archives: Dyslexia