MITS Summer Institute
June 2009
Kurzweil 3000 – v.11
• Kurzweil is a multi-sensory software program that
provides reading, writing and study skills tools all on one
platform.
• Students can access text and online material, allowing
them to access curriculum with the appropriate supports.
• Kurzweil gives students an opportunity to work
independently, to select the tools that help them the most
and to demonstrate what they know.
Reading:
How much does it cost to read tests to students? Let’s help
them become independent
• Reading settings – students select their own appropriate
settings
• Read the Web – read html text from the Internet
Student selects voice, reading unit, reading speed, etc.
Study Skills:
We know that summarizing and note-taking are effective
instructional strategies. Kurzweil tools allow students to identify
and separate important concepts and ideas.
Then extract the notes to create a personalized study guide.
Writing
• Brainstorm – get ideas out and organize them visually
• Outline – text-based hierarchical view of ideas
• Draft – supports for writing text, reading it back, accessing
reference tools, word prediction and more
• Writing Templates – provide a structure to produce a variety
of papers. Teachers can edit and create new templates.
• Word Lists – transition words, summary verbs, conclusions,
etc.
• Review – customizable checklist of proofreading and review
tasks.
Brainstorm
Link boxes, change font, colors, box shapes, etc.
Arrange brainstorm session
Automatically or manually
Split screen – outline and draft
Use talking word processor, word prediction, spell check, etc.
Writing templates available
Book reports, compare and contrast, multi-paragraph essay, persuasion, etc.
Customizable review checklist for students
Writing Tools - Kurzweil 3000 has added more research-based writing tools to support the student at every stage of the
writing process – from brainstorming ideas using its graphic organizer or gathering information using its integrated Column
Note taking feature, to reviewing the final draft. Best of all, these new writing tools align with general accepted writing
processes (e.g. Planning, Drafting, Revising and Proofreading) and are available all in one program, so students do not
have to learn additional programs.
•Writing Path Components
Column Notes – allows you to take notes using two or three column strategies to be better organized while
reading or attending class lectures. In addition, when reading a document within Kurzweil 3000, you can use
highlighters to select information and extract to specific columns to organize information.
Brainstorm – enables you to jumpstart your thinking process and get ideas out and linked to other ideas in a
graphical way.
Outline – provides an alternative to the Brainstorm graphical view with a text-based hierarchical view of your ideas.
You can choose how you like to see information as Brainstorm and Outline present two views of the same data.
Draft – is for creating and revising writing assignments from a blank draft, from new Writing Templates as well as
from Brainstorm diagrams and Outlines.
Main parts of Draft include:
oWriting Templates – based on some of the most common writing tasks, included writing templates (e.g.
Compare/Contrast) provide a framework for the student to complete writing assignments. Also, teachers can
create, modify and save their own templates.
oFloating Word Lists – Floating Word Lists help writing in a couple of ways. First of all, you can use the
many new word lists included with Kurzweil 3000 to help prompt you to use words for areas such as transition
words, summary verbs or conclusions. Another use of Floating word lists is to provide ready access to new
vocabulary words you may have learned.
oSplit View – allows you to refer to your outline shown in the left pane, while you write. You can also
drag/drop and copy/paste selected text from the outline.
oNote Snippet – access Column Notes in a hierarchical view while you read or write or even while you use
other applications.
Review - for a customizable list of proofreading and reviewing tasks to perform before a writing assignment is
complete.
Thank you for your time and attention.
JST, Inc. is your authorized, Michigan-based reseller
of Kurzweil 3000. Our technical and instructional
personnel are committed to answering any questions
and supporting your implementation.
800-783-5780
info@jstinc.com