K-12 Science: Accessibility Supports

What accessibility supports are available? 

Science Techbook offers a range of accessibility supports to accommodate diverse learning needs. These include the following: 

• Text-to-Speech Tool
• Interactive Glossary
• Immersive Reader
• Multiple Reading levels
• PDF Document Reader
• Google Translator Compatible
• Spanish Text
• Video Captions

How do I use the Text-to-Speech Tool? 

To have text read aloud, simply highlight it. A menu appears—select Speak Text to begin.

At any point, the audio can be paused, stopped, and volume adjusted.

For more options, such as speed of reading, and text highlight, select the settings icon.

How do I access the Interactive Glossary?

There are three ways to access the Interactive Glossary. 

1. Select the Glossary button on the Toolbar. Learn more about your Toolbar here.                     
2. Select the More section on the Toolbar, and then select Glossary from RESOURCES.
3. Academic terms are linked to the Glossary throughout Science Techbook readings. You can locate the blue, hyperlinked words throughout the text.

Each term in the Interactive Glossary includes a variety of alternative definition formats such as: animations that helps describe the term, details that include a definition and key context sentences for the term, video segments discussing the term, and/or images or diagrams.

How do I access Immersive Reader?

The Science Techbook Interactive Glossary also includes Immersive Reader functionality. To use, simply select the icon which opens up many accessibility options. Learn more about Immersive Reader. 

How do I change the reading level? 

Both Teachers and Students can adjust the reading levels in Science Techbook. This can be done directly from the Toolbar. Learn more about your Toolbar here. 

There are two ways to adjust the Reading levels:

1. Select Language from the Toolbar and adjust between Reading Level A (on grade level) and Reading Level B (below grade level).                                                                                       
2. Click on More in the toolbar. Under Language and Level, select the desired reading level. 

How do I access PDF Document Reader? 

Both Teachers and Students have access to the PDF document reader for any PDFs included within the core lessons or from Explore More Resources in the Explore tab. To have a portion of the text read aloud, simply highlight it. A menu appears—select Listen to begin. To have the entire PDF read aloud, select Listen from the menu options at the top of the PDF.

How is Google Translator compatible? 

The Google Chrome Translator is a browser extension that can translate web pages from English into approximately 100 other languages. Any of the Science Techbook pages can be translated using this option.

To enable or disable Google Translate in Chrome, follow these steps:

1. Open Chrome on your computer.
2. At the top right, click on the three dots (More) and select Settings.
3. On the left, select Languages.
4. Under Google Translate, turn the Use Google Translate option on or off. 

How do I access Spanish text?

Both Teachers and Students can adjust the text language to Spanish in Science Techbook. This can be done directly from the Toolbar. Learn more about your Toolbar here. 

There are two ways to change the language to Spanish from the Toolbar. 

1. Click on Language and select Spanish. If Spanish is not available for a specific page, this option does not appear.                                                                                           

2. Click on More in the toolbar. Under Language and Level, select Spanish.

How do I turn on video captions?

From all Science Techbook videos, teachers and students can turn video captions on from the CC button, located on the bottom right.