Digital Recording

Digital recorders can be used in the classroom for many purposes. Some of the more common ones include providing audio for texts, practicing speaking, creating podcasts, recording conversations, delivering focus lessons, and more. This post features tools and ideas on what is needed to make digital recording happen for you.

Your computer is one option for digital recordings. You can record on a computer in a variety of ways, but which way is best depends on what you are trying to do. Here are some options for you:

Document Cameras

You have likely seen, used, or at least heard of document cameras. Typically, they are large, non-mobile devices that are attached to a "home" computer and used to project things to a screen for demonstration. Many teachers use them for lessons on reading, writing, experiments, and more. Most of the older models are costly, $500 and up! Recently, smaller, more portable, more useful, more affordable models have come out, like this one:

This is an Ipevo P2V (point to view). It is about the size of a water bottle and can perform all the functions that bigger, clunkier versions do while being easily transportable. This chapter will cover ways in which these handy tools can be used in teaching situations.

Here are some videos and quotes on how others use document cameras. Though these focus on the elementary level, you can do many of the same things with more advanced content in the upper levels.

Livescribe Pens

 (content created by Andrew Steinman)


The smartpens from Livescribe combine the ease of writing with the functionality of a computer. You can record audio while you write, which can be played back through the smartpen or on your computer. Not sold on this concept? You might change your mind after watching the video below:

Adobe Typewriter function

Adobe Reader has a Typewriter Tool that allows users to add text to PDFs. This is useful for having students complete assignments electronically, especially if the student is already using another function, such as the Read Out Loud function. Examples of this can be found below:

Premier Tools cont'd

Universal Reader Plus is one of the most frequently used tools in the Premier Literacy software suite. Its functions include: reading Word and Google Docs documents, email, PDF files, Flash files, webpages in Firefox, and other kinds of text. Universal Reader also tracks the words as they are read and can translate to or from several languages. Below are training videos show how to use some of the features available within Universal Reader Plus.

Introduction to Universal Read Plus
Reading Flash Books with Universal Reader
Universal Reader Plus Summary Feature
Universal Reader Plus Translation Feature

Talking Pointer is popular feature in Universal Reader Plus. It works within Internet Explorer to read web pages, but can also read text from other sources. Below is a training video that shows how to use some of the features available within Talking Pointer.

Universal Reader Plus Talking Pointer

Premier Literacy has released an Internet Explorer toolbar that makes it easier to access the Premier Literacy tools while web browsing. Below is a video that shows how to use some of the features available within Premier Literacy Internet Explorer Toolbar.

Introduction to Premier Literacy Internet Explorer Toolbar

Premier Tools Intro

Premier Literacy

Text-to-speech software or text-readers turn print text into digitized speech. (Not to be confused with voice-to-text or speech recognition, which converts your voice into print text.)
Text readers are often thought of as ‘accommodations’ for readers who have already fallen behind their classmates, however, printed text is a curriculum barrier for many students of all ages. Think about the benefit of audio support for a struggling student, an ELL student, an auditory learner, or a young student.

Research is reporting that text-to-speech improves students’ reading fluency, comprehension, speed, and vocabulary. In addition, writing quality and length of writing increases. Older students report better editing when using text-to-speech than when reading for editing purposes on their own.

Adobe read Out Loud function

Many of us use Adobe Reader to read Portable Documant Format (PDF) files, but did you know that Adobe Reader can actually read PDFs to you? Not only that, but you can also enable PDF documents to allow text input. These features, including many others, make Adobe Reader an excellent tool to use with students.

If you do not already have Adobe Reader, we suggest that you download it by clicking this link.

Like other text readers, Adobe Reader's Read Out Loud function reads the text contained within a PDF out loud for the user to hear. This is very helpful for audible learners and students that have reading disabilities. You can even use this function to read documents to you while you work on something else on your computer. The video below outlines how to use the Read Out Loud function in Adobe Reader: