HIGH TECH CENTER TRAINING UNIT

WINTER 2006 TRAININGS

List of Trainings

Dear Disabled Student Services Program Directors and Specialists:

The High Tech Center Training Unit (HTCTU) is pleased to announce its Winter training courses for DSP&S Program Directors, High Tech Center Specialists, Alternate Media Specialists, CVC staff and community college faculty wishing to learn more about web accessibility, alternate media and assistive computer technology for students with disabilities.

This series of trainings includes:

• A one-day training on the advanced features of Dragon Naturally Speaking 8.0. (For experienced Dragon Users, only)
• A one-day training on Web Page Creation with the Office Accessibility Wizard that integrates into the Microsoft Office suite to convert Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files into accessible, HTML-based files.
• A one-day training by Stacey Kayden in which participants use the Kurzweil 3000 with curriculum based strategy guides to help students improve critical thinking reading skills along with editing skills
• A one-day training in the use of Duxbury software to transcribe text into Braille
• A one-day that looks at getting the most out of the Duxbury Braille translation program
• A two-day workshop using a variety of hardware and software DAISY readers and producing books in DAISY format
• A three-day intensive training on reading Braille
• A one-day training on creating structured web pages, coupled with Cascading Style Sheets, allowing web page designs to be reformatted for various media platforms. 
• A one-day training on Designing Accessible Web-based Forms and Tables, including the use of tables for presentation purposes as well as organizing data.

Please Note: You may now register for trainings electronically. You may also select the "Register for Training" link from the HTCTU home page.

Important Information

1. Trainings are provided at no charge to DSP&S faculty and staff of the California community colleges.
2. Trainings begin at 10 AM and finish by 4:30 PM.
3. All trainings are offered at the High Tech Center Training Unit in Cupertino, California.
4. Due to budgetary constraints, the HTCTU will no longer be able to reimburse training participants for meals. We will continue to provide reimbursement for travel, hotel, car rental, and other related costs associated with attending trainings at the program's Cupertino location. No reimbursement can be offered for off-site trainings presented on college campuses.
5. A limited number of openings are available for each training (6-12). If you decide not to attend a training for which you have been confirmed, please notify HTCTU staff promptly so that we can offer your seat to those on the waiting list.
6. Participants in all trainings are presumed to have basic computer skills, including disk formatting, file activities (copy, delete, move, etc.), familiarity with Windows operating procedures, and simple word processing.
7. Written requests for participation in any of the trainings offered in this series must be received by the High Tech Center Training Unit generally thirty (30) days prior to the date of training.
8. Participants with disabilities who require special access accommodations during trainings (i.e. Braille, sign language interpreters) should provide the HTCTU with notice of their needs at least ten (10) working days prior to the date of the training. So that you can make your travel arrangements conveniently, we will notify you as soon as possible if your training request can be accommodated.

Please Note: Although several staff members from the same college may attend the same training provided that spaces are available, the High Tech Center Training Unit will be able to reimburse ONLY ONE staff member from that college. If you have any additional questions, please call Michael Fosnaugh at (408) 996-6048.

Sincerely,

Carl Brown, Director
High Tech Center for the Disabled

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HIGH TECH CENTER TRAINING UNIT

Winter Schedule 2006
January - March

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Advanced Dragon Naturally Speaking 8.0
February 1

Dragon Naturally Speaking (DNS) Professional Version 8.0 contains a number of advanced features that will allow you to help your students customize the program for their specific needs.

Training Objectives

Participants will be able to do the following:


• understand and create DNS macros
• use the vocabulary builder
• customize training materials
• understand the options for customizing DNS
• understand how to create a profile for a digital recorder

Intended for those High Tech Center Specialists who are already familiar with the basic features of Dragon Naturally Speaking.

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Creating Web Pages with the Office Accessibility Wizard
February 2
February 15

The Office Accessibility Wizard integrates into the Microsoft Office suite to convert Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files into accessible, HTML-based files. Using the Office Accessibility Wizard, content authors can create their materials using Microsoft Office tools and then convert these documents into Web-based versions that are accessible and can be viewed by individuals using just a Web browser (no plug-ins required!).

Training Objectives

Participants will be able to do the following:


• installation and configuration of the Office Accessibility Wizard
• use the Office Accessibility Wizard to convert Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files
• identify the tools in Microsoft Office to ensure accessible, HTML-based content,
• current limitations of the Office Accessibility Wizard

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Enhancing Reading Skills Using Kurzweil 3000 by Stacey Kayden
February 3

Through this one-day workshop participants will learn to use Kurzweil 3000 to assist students with reading and studying needs through interactive tutorials and curriculum based strategy guides.  Participants will also work in groups to apply what they’ve learned to the creation of their own curriculum based strategy guide.  Participants are encouraged to bring assignment material to the workshop to work with.  This training will be presented by Stacey Kayden from Laney College.

Training Objectives

Participants will be able to do the following:

• Identify ways in which Kurzweil 3000 can be embedded to meet the unique reading and study needs of students with learning disabilities
• Apply the various tools of Kurzweil 3000 to the reading needs of students with learning disabilities
• Use Kurzweil 3000 to design curriculum based learning templates for students with learning disabilities
• Modifying pre-existing Kurzweil 3000 strategy guides, tutorials and templates

Intended for community college staff who primarily support students with learning disabilities.

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Transcribing with Duxbury 10.5
February 8

Beginning with e-text, we will explore the process of transcribing Braille using Duxbury. We will explore the features of the Duxbury program and learn to use the new MS Word templates that come with the program. Please note--you will need to have Duxbury 10.5 in order to take advantage of all the features learned in this training.

Training Objectives

Participants will be able to do the following:


• transcribe e-text into Braille using Duxbury 10.5
• format e-text with the Duxbury Word templates
• use styles in Word and in Duxbury
• include print page numbers in Braille
• create Braille books

Designed for Alternate Media Specialists and others who need to transcribe materials into Braille

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Advanced Duxbury 10.5
February 9

This training is designed for those who are already familiar with the basic features of Duxbury. We will look more closely at specific formatting issues and at taking advantage of some of Duxbury's more advanced features, including its ability to transcribe math and foreign language. Contact Gaeir if you would like to bring specific examples that you are working with. 

Training Objectives

Participants will be able to do the following:

• use more advanced Duxbury features
• automatically create a table of contents
• make a table
• use Scientific Notebook with Duxbury to create math
• use Duxbury to transcribe foreign languages
• create Computer Braille Code (CBC)

Intended for those Alternate Media Specialists who already have some experience with the Duxbury program.

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DAISY Playback & Production
February 22-23

This two-day workshop will introduce participants to the production of books in DAISY format and the use of a variety of hardware and software DAISY readers. This workshop is intended for persons who have previously completed the following High Tech Center Training Unit trainings:

• Introduction to Alternate Media
• Advanced OCR
• MP3's in Alternate Media Production

Training Objectives

Participants will be able to do the following:

• understand and describe basic DAISY formatting options
• scan and format books for DAISY production
• prepare files for upload
• understand and use the web-based DAISY production tool from Phoneticom
• understand and use several hardware and software DAISY readers

This training is recommended for alternate media specialists who are seriously committed to adding books in Daisy format to the array of campus resources available to students with disabilities. Please be certain you have the time, resources and institutional commitment of your college before enrolling in this training.

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Introduction to Reading Braille
February 28 - March 2

This three-day intensive training is designed to teach participants to read and write grade one Braille and to read grade two Braille with a cheat sheet.

Training Objectives

Participants will be able to do the following:

• read and write the braille alphabet
• understand the pattern and formation of the Braille code
• recognize grade two braille signs
• use a grade two braille cheat sheet
• decipher short grade two braille passages

Designed for community college staff wanting to know more about proofreading and/or reading Braille and essential for recently hired Alternate Media Specialists.

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Basic Structure and Style for the Web 
March 8

Creating Web pages using structure (or semantic markup) can positively affect Web page compatibility and accessibility for individuals using assistive computer technology. Structured Web pages, coupled with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), allows Web page designs to be reformatted for various media platforms (screen, print version, etc.)

Training Objectives

Participants will be able to do the following:

• identify basic HTML structure tags and how the tags impact accessibility
• organize content using HTML structure
• create basic style sheets and discern different style sheet types
• manipulate web page presentation using CSS

Designed for community college staff wanting to know more about proofreading and/or reading Braille and essential for recently hired Alternate Media Specialists.

No knowledge of Web page structure or CSS is necessary for participation.

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Creating Accessible Forms and Tables 
March 9

Web pages that include data tables and input forms require specialized code in order to function with certain assistive computer technologies. Newer authoring tools can assist with the creation of input forms and data tables, but it is important to know what information is appropriate to ensure not only accessibility, but also the requirements of Web-based forms and data tables as well as how to use different form and table authoring tools.   

Training Objectives

Participants will be able to do the following:

• identify differences between layout and data tables on the Web
• create accessible data tables and modify the presentation with CSS
• create web page forms using different authoring tools
• identify how to make Web page forms accessible to assistive computer technologies

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