I now would much prefer resources in electronic formats so that Texthelp Read Write Gold can read to me if I am at my pc or the iPad can read to me. Headsets and headphones are the must have accessories and woe betide the website designer who hasn't considered accessibility! At a push I will read a physical document with the aid of a trusty reading ruler but this is definitely only a short term activity.
I probably would have changed my habits around keeping track of references without the bang to the head but the reliance on technology is far more important to me now. I have been using Endnote for a while with a library on my m drive at work and using the web version at home or anywhere else. This has worked even if I do get a little obsessed with filing into groups and moving things around (I forget things quite easily so need order). I always download a pdf document to go with the reference as these are much easier for assistive software to read to you. The pdf aloud plugin from Texthelp makes pdf documents by far the easiest thing to read. The interactive web based pdf 's don't work at all. So I have the reference and the article all in one place. Then what do I do with notes? I also use Dragon Naturally Speaking voice recognition software that I dictate to which means less eye fatigue looking at the keyboard (I can't touch type). My dragon is very well behaved and has been well trained. Today I finally worked out the best way of bringing everything together - it's not rocket science and you are probably thinking why didn't I do this before and the answer is I don't know. I open the pdf document and the end note reference and split my screen. I listen to the pdf document and pause speech if I want to highlight or make notes about key issues. If it is more than a comment and I want to remember something fundamental about the article I put those in the research notes section of the reference. Working on the web version of endnote from home I save the pdf to downloads and then reattach the version with comments and delete the original. Simple! As I said not rocket science but seems to be a system I can work with and with minimal fuss. I am always amazed at what technology can do and I am very grateful that I can use it. Without all of these systems I would probably not be able to work and I certainly wouldn't be as productive. Technology rocks!
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AuthorKirsten Huby Lecturer Child Nursing interested in blended learning, educational technology and improving student engagement. Archives
September 2017
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