Other Book Builder features
TextHELP Text-to-Speech (TTS)
You may have already noticed that there is a TextHELP toolbar floating over your Book Builder story. This is a "Text-to-Speech" tool (also known as TTS). You can use TTS to have the computer read the story out loud to you.
Watch the animation below for a demonstration of how to use TTS. Then, try out the TextHELP TTS tool by having it read this page to you.
Vocabulary Support
In this Book Builder short story, you will see some words that are underlined with a dotted line. This type of underline means that the word is connected to a glossary that is built into this book. You can click on any underlined word to see its definition instantly.
Hyperlinks
Any words that you see in the bright blue color that look like a hyperlink are exactly that! I've linked some of the text of the story to images and websites that I think will help you better understand the story.
Online Dictionary
If there is a word that is not underlined, and you want to know more it, use the online dictionary link at the top of every page to look it up!
Terry's Tips
Introduce technical features and provide opportunities for independent exploration
Take time to go over the Book Builder features with a short demonstration. Then, give students 'free time' to explore at their own pace. Be sure to review:
- coaches
- playing audio
- response box
- Text-to-Speech (TTS)
- glossary
- hyperlinks
- dictionary
This introduction and exploration time is important! It gives students an opportunity to not only engage with the 'fun stuff,' it also gives them time to cognitively process new skills so that they can be more focused on the literature when they dive into the story.
