Welcome to post nine in our “Summer of Reading with Read&Write” series. For a quick reminder, Read&Write is free for all staff and students at RRC Polytech to use! While it has many, many, features, we’re highlighting the reading features in this blog series.

Disclaimer: this post assumes that users have both installed/signed into Read&Write, and self-registered in the Read&Write Tutorial in LEARN. If you haven’t, we suggest reviewing:

• Our Summer Reading with Read&Write – Kick Off blog post,
• Post two, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Reading Basics,
• Post three, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Unreadable Text,
• Post four, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Screen Masking,
• Post five, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Highlighters,
• Post six, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Dictionaries,
• Post seven, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Vocabulary Lists,
• and post eight, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Rewordify.

Simplify

Reading online can get overwhelming quickly. Many webpages include ads, sidebars, buttons, pop‑ups, or long stretches of text that make it hard to focus. If you’ve ever wished you could “clean up” a webpage, or make it less distracting, the Simplify tool in Read&Write is exactly what you need!

The Simplify tool works only in the Read&Write web extension, not the desktop version.
This makes it perfect for reading articles in LEARN, news sites, research pages, and any web content that feels cluttered.

What Does Simplify Do?

Simplify aims to remove distracting elements from a webpage so that only the important text remains. Of course, users are responsible to ensure nothing essential or important was removed. The intent is to make the page easier to read and help you stay focused by:

• Remove ads and sidebars
• Cut out extra buttons and clutter
• Reformat the text into a cleaner layout
• Make long passages less overwhelming

It’s like turning a busy webpage into a simple, clean reading view.

How to use Simplify

1. Open the Read&Write web extension in your browser (Simplify is not available in the desktop version of Read&Write)
2. Go to the webpage you want to read
3. Click the Simplify button on the Read&Write toolbar. The page will reload in a simplified, streamlined format
4. Adjust the text size, spacing, or background color if the options are available.

From here, you can also use Read Aloud, highlighters, Dictionary, or other tools on the simplified version of the text.

Caution!

As Simplify removes parts of the webpage, always double‑check that it didn’t take out anything important — such as:

• Assignment instructions
• Images, diagrams, or tables
• Notes from your instructor
• Links or citations

It’s a great tool, but it’s helpful to compare it with the original page to make sure nothing essential is missing.

More Information

For more information, check out the Simplify section of the Read&Write LEARN Tutorial!

“Homework”

Use the Simplify tool on this blog post!

AI Usage Acknowledgement

This post was jointly written by Copilot and a human.

Welcome to post eight in our “Summer of Reading with Read&Write” series. For a quick reminder, Read&Write is free for all staff and students at RRC Polytech to use! While it has many, many, features, we’re highlighting the reading features in this blog series.

Disclaimer: this post assumes that users have both installed and signed into Read&Write, and self-registered in the Read&Write Tutorial in LEARN. If you haven’t, we suggest reviewing:

• Our Summer Reading with Read&Write – Kick Off blog post,
• Post two, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Reading Basics,
• Post three, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Unreadable Text,
• Post four, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Screen Masking,
• Post five, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Highlighters,
• Post six, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Dictionaries,
• and post seven, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Vocabulary Lists.

What is “Rewordify”??

Sometimes you run into sentences that feel too long, too complex, or packed with unfamiliar vocabulary. You may use one of the Dictionaries or the Vocabulary List feature, but maybe, you don’t have time for that. If you’re using the web extension of Read&Write, instead of rereading the same paragraph (or sentence) over and over, you can use Read&Write’s Rewordify feature to simplify the text for you.

Rewordify is a tool that changes hard‑to‑read text into simpler, clearer wording. It, intends, to keep the main idea the same, but removes confusing or complicated language. Of course, users are still responsible to ensure that the meaning wasn’t changed, or important information removed.

How to use Rewordify

1. Open the Read&Write web extension in your browser (Rewordify is not available for the desktop version of Read&Write)
2. Go to the webpage or online text you want to read
3. Select the Rewordify button on the toolbar
4. The tool will automatically create a simplified version of the text
5. Read through the revised content to better understand key ideas

Caution!

Because Rewordify rewrites text, always double‑check that:

• Important details weren’t removed
• Technical terms weren’t oversimplified
• Nothing needed for an assignment was changed

It’s a helpful tool — but it’s still important to use your own judgement!

More Information

For more information, check out the Rewordify section of the Read&Write LEARN Tutorial!

“Homework”

Use the Rewordify tool on this blog post!

AI Usage Acknowledgement

This post was jointly written by Copilot and a human.

Welcome to post seven in our “Summer of Reading with Read&Write” series. For a quick reminder, Read&Write is free for all staff and students at RRC Polytech to use! While it has many, many, features, we’re highlighting the reading features in this blog series.

Disclaimer: this post assumes that users have both installed and signed into Read&Write, and self-registered in the Read&Write Tutorial in LEARN. If you haven’t, we suggest reviewing:

• Our Summer Reading with Read&Write – Kick Off blog post,
• Post two, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Reading Basics,
• Post three, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Unreadable Text,
• Post four, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Screen Masking,
• Post five, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Highlighters,
• and post six, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Dictionaries.

Vocabulary List

In our last post we talked about using the built-in dictionaries in Read&Write. In this post, we’re going to expand on the dictionaries with the Vocabulary List feature!

If you find that you are looking up a lot of words, or looking up the same words often, it might be useful to create yourself a Vocabulary list to study. The Vocabulary List feature creates a study-ready Word document with the words you choose, along with definitions and images. It’s one of the easiest ways to build strong vocabulary for your program!

Why Create a Vocabulary List?

Using the Vocabulary tool can help you:

• Improve comprehension while reading
• Learn academic or technical terms more deeply
• Build a personal word list for studying
• Prepare for quizzes, tests, and assignments
• Support language learning

This feature works especially well if you’re reading content with lots of specialized terminology.

How to Create a Vocabulary List

1. Highlight the words you want included
   Use Read&Write highlighters to mark terms as you read – make sure you consistently use the same colour!!!
2. Select the Vocabulary List button on the toolbar
3. Read&Write will instantly create a new Word document that includes:
   • The word
   • A text definition
   • A picture definition (if available)
   • A blank column

Don’t forget you can have your Vocabulary List Document read aloud with Read&Write. What a great way to study!

What to do with the Blank Column?

• Reword the definition into your own words
• Relate the term to an example from your experience or a lecture
• Use the word in a sentence
• Add notes from class

More Information

For more information, check out the Vocabulary section of the Read&Write LEARN Tutorial!

“Homework”

Create a vocabulary list with 5 words. Have the document read aloud to you.

AI Usage Acknowledgement

This post was jointly written by Copilot and a human.

Welcome to post six in our “Summer of Reading with Read&Write” series. For a quick reminder, Read&Write is free for all staff and students at RRC Polytech to use! While it has many, many, features, we’re highlighting the reading features in this blog series.

Disclaimer: this post assumes that users have both installed and signed into Read&Write, and self-registered in the Read&Write Tutorial in LEARN. If you haven’t, we suggest reviewing:

• Our Summer Reading with Read&Write – Kick Off blog post,
• Post two, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Reading Basics,
• Post three, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Unreadable Text,
• Post four, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Screen Masking,
• and post five, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Highlighters.

Dictionary

When you’re reading, whether it’s a textbook chapter, an online article, or a study guide, it’s normal to come across words you don’t recognize. Instead of searching them up in a separate tab, or worse: your ever distracting cell phone, use Read&Write’s Dictionary tool!

The Dictionary is built right into the Read&Write toolbar, giving you quick definitions (that can be read aloud), pronunciations, and support whenever you need it. This helps you stay focused and makes reading feel less overwhelming.

Picture Dictionary

Read&Write also has an option of a Picture Dictionary. This shows an image to help explain basic words. While it isn’t the main focus for academic reading, it can be helpful for visual learners.

Why Use the Dictionary?

The Dictionary is great for:

• Building vocabulary
• Understanding complex readings
• Studying for quizzes and tests
• Reading in your second language
• Staying focused without switching apps

Instead of guessing the meaning of a word or interrupting your reading flow, everything you need is available with one click.

How to Use the Dictionary

1. Select the word you’d like a definition for using your cursor (double click, or select and drag to highlight)
2. Select either the Dictionary or Picture Dictionary icon from the Read&Write toolbar
3. A new pop-up window will appear with the selected word and definition(s)
4. Either select the play icon next to the definition (web extension); or select the text and then select play from the Read&Write toolbar (desktop)

More Information

For more information, check out the Dictionary & Picture Dictionary section of the Read&Write LEARN Tutorial!

“Homework”

Use the dictionary in both the desktop and web extension of Read&Write to listen to a definition read aloud.

AI Usage Acknowledgement

This post was jointly written by Copilot and a human.

Welcome to post five in our “Summer of Reading with Read&Write” series. For a quick reminder, Read&Write is free for all staff and students at RRC Polytech to use! While it has many, many, features, we’re highlighting the reading features in this blog series.

Disclaimer: this post assumes that users have both installed and signed into Read&Write, and self-registered in the Read&Write Tutorial in LEARN. If you haven’t, we suggest reviewing:

• Our Summer Reading with Read&Write – Kick Off blog post,
• Post two, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Reading Basics,
• Post three, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Unreadable Text,
• and post four, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Screen Masking,

Why Use the Highlighters?

It can be very easy for your mind, or your eyes, to wander while listening to text read aloud – especially course content that maybe isn’t written in the most engaging way!

Highlighters help you stay active and engaged while listening. As the text is read aloud, you can highlight key ideas, important vocabulary, or anything you want to remember. This keeps your brain focused and makes the reading experience more interactive… the more engaged you are, and the more interactive the work is, the more likely you are to remember that information!

Using the highlighters helps you to:

• Follow along visually
• Stay (more) alert or focused
• Keep engaged
• Pick out important information

How to Use the Highlighters

1. Open your document or webpage
2. Use your cursor to select the text you want highlighted
3. Select the color highlighter you want that text highlighted in from the Read&Write toolbar

Highlighted something you no longer need? Select it with your cursor and then select the erase highlights icon from the Read&Write toolbar!

Highlighter Strategy

There are four highlighter colors in Read&Write – blue, green, yellow and pink. Use each color to represent something – for example: yellow for definitions, blue for important names, green for examples, and pink for questions you want to review.

Collecting Highlights

So you’ve made all these highlights, now what?!

Once you’re done, you can select the Collect Highlights icon from the toolbar, and Read&Write will pull everything you highlighted into a new Word Document. You can even customize which highlighters colors are pulled into the new document, and in which order! This makes studying easier and helps you review only the parts that matter most.

More Information

For more information, check out the Highlights & Collect Highlights section of the Read&Write LEARN Tutorial!

“Homework”

Use the highlighters to highlight important information in something you are reading. Collect those highlights and save it as a study guide!

AI Usage Acknowledgement

This post was jointly written by Copilot and a human.

Welcome to post four in our “Summer of Reading with Read&Write” series. For a quick reminder, Read&Write is free for all staff and students at RRC Polytech to use! While it has many, many, features, we’re highlighting the reading features in this blog series.

Disclaimer: this post assumes that users have both installed and signed into Read&Write, and self-registered in the Read&Write Tutorial in LEARN. If you haven’t, we suggest reviewing:

• Our Summer Reading with Read&Write – Kick Off blog post,
• Post two, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Reading Basics,
• and post three, Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Unreadable Text,

Screen Masking

Do you find it difficult to read digital text? You are not alone. Bright backgrounds, small text, high or low color contrast, and long paragraphs may make digital reading hard. We get that. And this blog post is here to help!

Screen Masking is a set of tools within Read&Write. These tools aim at reducing eye strain, and make it easier to read or follow along while reading on-screen text. Screen Masking gives you tools to change how your screen looks so reading (or even viewing your screen) becomes easier and less tiring. You can adjust the colors, add helpful visual guides, and create a reading environment that works best for you.

Screen Masking Tools

Tint Whole Screen

Tint whole screen changes the color of the entire screen. It’s like putting a colored piece of glass over your computer.  You can customize the color and opacity of the screen. It reduces eye strain by lowering the contrast between the background and text.

Change Page Color

Change page color only changes the page’s color. It does not affect the toolbars or other panes (like Tint Whole Screen does). You can customize the color and opacity of page color. It reduces eye strain by lowering the contrast between the background and text.

Underline Typing Line

Underline typing line places a colored bar underneath where you are typing. You can customize the color, opacity, and size of the underline. This feature may help with visual tracking while typing.

Tint Typing Line

Tint typing line places a colored bar over the text you are typing. You can customize the color, opacity, and size of the underline. This feature may help with visual tracking while typing.

Underline Cursor

Underline cursor places a colored bar, the width of your computer screen, underneath your cursor. As you move your cursor, the bar moves too. It supports visual tracking while navigating your computer. You can customize the color, opacity, and size of the underline.

Reading Light

Reading light places a line of light across your computer screen that follows your cursor. You can adjust the height of the line so that it is the height of a line of text, supporting visual tracking. You can customize the color, opacity, and size of the light.

More Information

For more information, check out the Screen Masking section of the Read&Write LEARN Tutorial!

“Homework”

• Locate the Screen Masking feature in either the desktop or web extension (bonus points for locating it in both!)
• Explore the different Screen Masking Tools
  • Try each one, and play around with the available customizations

“Homework” Help: if you’re not sure which Screen Masking tools might work for you, we suggest trying the Tint Whole Screen option in a light grey or pale blue tone.

AI Usage Acknowledgement

This post was jointly written by Copilot and a human.

Welcome to post three in our “Summer of Reading with Read&Write” series. For a quick reminder, Read&Write is free for all staff and students at RRC Polytech to use! While it has many, many, features, we’re highlighting the reading features in this blog series.

Disclaimer: this post assumes that users have both installed and signed into Read&Write, and self-registered in the Read&Write Tutorial in LEARN. If you haven’t, we suggest reviewing our Summer Reading with Read&Write – Kick Off blog post. We also suggest checking out post two Summer of Reading with Read&Write – Reading Basics.

Scan

The Scan feature, available only on the desktop version of Read&Write, turns non-readable text into text that Read&Write can read aloud. Some examples of non-readable text include: images of text; scanned pages; photocopies of text.

If you’re using the desktop version of Read&Write and cannot get the text read aloud, or it reads odd (like mispronounces words, reads words that span multiple lines as two separate words, etc…), digitally scan the file with Read&Write. The scan tool uses OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to “convert” that non-readable text into real, usable text (that can be read aloud).

How to Use Scan

1. With Read&Write open, select the scan icon on the toolbar
2. A new pop-up window will appear, select the file folder icon
3. Then either drag and drop the file you want digitally scanned into the dashed box, or choose to “Select File(s)” (which opens your file explorer)
4. Choose if you want a PDF or Word Doc created (we suggested sticking with the same file type as the original)
5. Then select scan – when finished your document will automatically open in Read&Write

Screenshot Reader

The Screenshot Reader is available on both the desktop and web extension versions of Read&Write. We like to think of it as a “back up plan” when you cannot get text read aloud, and cannot use the scan feature. For example: text within an image, diagrams, and buttons on webpages.

How to use Screenshot Reader

Check out the Screenshot Reader section of the Read&Write Tutorial for text and video instructions on how to use the Screenshot Reader!

“Homework”

• Use the Scan feature on a PDF file (even if it reads properly)
• Use the Screenshot reader to read a paragraph of text from that same PDF file

AI Usage Acknowledgement

This post was jointly written by Copilot and a human.

Welcome to post two in our “Summer of Reading with Read&Write” series. For a quick reminder, Read&Write is free for all staff and students at RRC Polytech to use! While it has many, many, features, we’re highlighting all of the reading features in this blog series.

Disclaimer: this post assumes that users have both installed and signed into Read&Write, and self-registered in the Read&Write Tutorial in LEARN. If you haven’t, we suggest reviewing our Summer Reading with Read&Write – Kick Off blog post.

Read Aloud

With Read&Write you can have digital text read aloud, in a variety of voices, languages, and speeds!

Why Use Read Aloud?

Everybody learns differently! Some may find listening to content instead of reading a more reliable way to take in information. Some may need to multitask and listen while completing another task (such as cleaning, or going for a walk). Others may find that computer use increases headaches or migraines and use read aloud to reduce their screen time.

How to Read Aloud with Read&Write

Rather than rewrite those instructions here, we suggest checking out the Read Aloud (Play) section of the Read&Write Tutorial. This link gives text and video based instructions on how to have digital text read aloud both in the desktop and web extension versions of Read&Write.

Customize Your “Reading” (Listening) Experience

Ever try listening to text read aloud by a mono-tone robot reading at the pace a snail moves? It’s not only difficult, but odds are you’re more focused on how annoying the voice is, rather than digesting the information that is being read aloud. This is not what we want. But never fear, Read&Write has different settings you can adjust to customize your reading/listening experience.

Voice

With Read&Write you can select from a variety of natural sounding voices – pick one that sounds “good” to you (easy to listen to, not distracting, etc…).

Hint: the more natural sounding voices have “Eleven Labs” in the name (for the desktop). On the web extension you can choose to search for the “AI enhanced” voices. These will be the most natural, real, human sounding voices available.

Reading Speed

An often overlooked setting that is really valuable. Think of it like this: if someone is speaking to you too fast, you’ll most likely get frustrated and stop listening, or at the very least, only catch part of what they are saying. On the reverse, if someone is speaking too slow, you’ll most likely get bored with the conversation and stop listening. The same is true when listening to content read aloud to you.

Choosing an appropriate reading speed is also impacted by things such as how tired you are, how difficult the content you are reading is, and if there are a lot of terms that you don’t understand.

Long story short, adjust the reading speed, and adjust it often! Find that middle ground where you’re not bored, or frustrated, with the speed the information is being presented to you at.

Reading Settings

The Reading Settings consists of two settings, essentially “what” and “how” does Read&Write read to you?

With the “reading mode” you can choose “what” is read together, either sentences or paragraphs. Then you can choose to turn “continuous reading” on or off.

• Sentence mode with continuous reading off – Read&Write would read a sentence and then stop
• Sentence mode with continuous reading on – Read&Write would read a sentence, take a short pause, then read the next sentence
• Paragraph mode with continuous reading off – Read&Write would read a paragraph and then stop
• Paragraph mode with continuous reading on – Read&Write would read a paragraph, take a short pause, then read the next paragraph

Voice options, reading speed, and reading settings are discussed further in the Speech Settings of the Read&Write Tutorial.

“Homework”

As a means of testing your knowledge from this blog post, your “homework” is to:

• Open a PDF file in the PDF reader of Read&Write
• Have the file read aloud to you
• Customize how Read&Write reads to you through the voice, speed, and reading modes

AI Usage Acknowledgement

This post was jointly written by Copilot and a human.

Summer is the perfect time to sit back and relax with a good book (then again, so are snowy winter nights, rainy spring days, and chilly fall nights…).

Summer is also the perfect time to set yourself up for success in the upcoming academic year. Which is why we’re going to feature a summer blog series, yes, starting now in May, on reading with Read&Write! We’ll start off with the basics of what Read&Write is, how to access it, and how to install it. Then we’ll move into some more specific posts on features and unique uses of Read&Write.

What is Read&Write?

Read&Write (also known as R&W), is an application available (for free) to all staff and students at Red River College Polytechnic. Features in the application support learners with reading, writing, studying, and more!

While Read&Write does have features that support writing, we’re going to focus this series of blog posts on reading supports.

Versions of Read&Write

The desktop version of Read&Write is available for download on MacBook and Windows Devices. It reads and interacts with text-based content stored on your computer. If you are working off of a device other than these two listed, you can use OrbitNote.

The web extension of Read&Write is available for the Chrome or Edge browser. It reads and interacts with text-based content accessed online (including content in LEARN).

Read&Write LEARN Tutorial

We recommend that anyone interested in using Read&Write and following this Summer of Reading Blog Series, to self-register in the Read&Write Tutorial in LEARN.

Installing Read&Write

Once you are registered in the Read&Write Tutorial in LEARN, you’ll have access to all of the content including how to install both versions of Read&Write, and how to access OrbitNote.

If you are already registered in the Read&Write Tutorial, here is a direct link to the page that walks you through the installation process. There are both videos and text-based instructions.
Installation – Read&Write Tutorial

“Homework”

We’re going to playfully assign “homework” in each of these blog posts, specifically aimed at you practicing the skills discussed in each blog post.

This time around, your “homework” is to:

• Install both a desktop and web extension of Read&Write
• Sign in to Read&Write (this is further explained in the tutorial, but you sign in using the same email address and password used to log into HUB or LEARN)
• Have this blog post read aloud to you using Read&Write

Hopefully you checked out our Live Captions on Windows and Mac Devices blog post and know all the reasons why one might use Live Captions. But in case you didn’t, let’s recap those reasons…

Why Use Live Captions

• Quiet Environments – for example, taking a call in a library but you’ve forgotten your headphones (or forgot to charge them)
• Noisy Environments – for example, working in a shared space where even with headphones, it can be difficult to hear what is being said
• Language Support – captions can help those who speak languages other than what is being spoken follow along more easily, and even improve comprehension
• Accessibility – not just for individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, but some individuals find it easier to process written information rather than auditory information
• Focus & Comprehension – captions can reinforce spoken content, helping with focus, memory and understanding (especially during fast paced conversations or lectures)
• Clarity in Calls – Live Captions work during video calls (such as Teams), helping you catch every word even if the audio quality isn’t perfect.

Live Captions on Android Devices

To turn live captions on:

1. Go to Settings
2. Then Sound & Vibration
3. Toggle on Live Captions

Live Captions on iOS Devices

1. Go to Settings
2. Then Accessibility
3. Toggle on Live Captions

AI Usage Acknowledgement

This post was jointly written by Copilot and a human.