Starting off with new WordQ users

Even though WordQ is very simple to use, it is a good idea to actually train your learner(s) to use it. Time spent at the beginning going through the basics is generally time well spent. You may want to offer a series of 4 or 5 mini-sessions (5 – 10 minutes) in order to maintain interest and focus.

So, for example, you could show your learner(s) how to:

• set up their user name and save it
• choose a comfortable font size and style
• choose a voice
• practice moving the prediction box
• practice predicting words

Setting up a user name and saving

1. Find and click on the Options button (far left of WordQ's tool bar).
2. Click on menu item "New User."
3. Choose a vocabulary, such as "Canadian Intermediate" and then click on Next.
4. Type in a name (overtyping *.wdq") such as the learner's own name making sure it is spelled correctly.
5. Now ask them to click Save to save this user file, either onto the default location presented on the computer, or a flash drive/memory stick if you use one. If the learner saves their vocabulary on a flash drive/memory stick make sure they put this into the computer before using WordQ the next time.

You may want to practice this again, so that your learners begin to do this automatically.

If you are using WordQ with a class you can encourage some interaction and/or competition by asking questions, e.g.,

• “How many items are there on the tool bar?"
• “Hands up when you've found the Option button"
• “What do you ALWAYS do when you've finished?” (Save)

Choosing font sizes and styles

The font size and style set by default is designed to suit most people in most circumstances. If you feel your learner(s) would not benefit from experimenting with fonts, then skip this section!

Depending on your learners , you might want to discuss what a font is, where they can find different ones, how many different ones there are in the classroom, their book(s), etc.. Some learners may know the names of some fonts. They may be able to talk about styles they like and dislike, even if in a very general way, e.g., "I don't like squiggly kind of writing because it's difficult to read. Newspaper type writing is boring."

1. Open WordQ if it is not already running.
2. Go to Options, find and click on Predictions...
3. Click on the Font button
4. Ask the learners to choose a size and style they prefer.

Choosing a voice

Again, some learners might get too easily distracted by this section and you might want to skip it. However, they generally find it quite good fun so it can be a motivating, if noise, few minutes!

1. Open WordQ if it is not already running.
2. Go to Options, find and click on Speech Feedback...
3. Let the learner(s) try the various voices. They can hear an example sentence read by pressing the Try button. Note that WordQ will show all voices installed on the computer, but not all may work work properly with WordQ. In particular, do not use any IBM ViaVoice voices.
4. You could ask the learner(s) to compare which voice they thing is funniest, weirdest, easiest to understand, before finally settling down to choose the voice they prefer. The default Acapela "Heather" voice or "Microsoft Mary" are recommended as being the clearest.

Moving the Prediction Box

The default setting in WordQ is for the prediction box to follow the cursor. However, if you are using quite a lot of text, especially web pages, you may find that this gets in the way with the box covering the text you want to read. Some people also prefer to have the box always in a fixed place so that they can look for suggestions in a constant location.

1. Open a word processor, such as Microsoft Word and then open WordQ
2. Go to Options, find and click on Predictions...
3. Click on the leave in place radio button
4. Ask your learners to type a few letters, e.g., “he”

Now ask your learner(s) to practice moving the prediction box by clicking on its titlebar and dragging it. Have them try out different locations to find one that they like best. The bottom right-hand corner of the screen is a common preference.

Next, ask your learner(s) to practice hiding/showing the word prediction box by clicking on the Words button in the WordQ toolbar and/or by pressing the F9 function key. Explain that this is a fast way to get the prediction box out of the way especially when viewing Web pages. Also, when writing, they can hide the prediction box and only show it when they need help.

Practice predicting words

WordQ is what is called 'intelligent' software, i.e., it learns from the user. The more you use WordQ, the more WordQ learns about the way you write (as long as you always save your user profile).

This means that the more you use WordQ, the better it gets at predicting what you want to say.

Ask your learner(s) to:

1. Open a word processor, such as Microsoft Word and then open WordQ if not already running.
2. Open their own WordQ user file (Options>Open User...) if it does not open with their file (which may be the case in a classroom with multiple students sharing WordQ on a computer. WordQ will show the current user file in its titlebar.

Now ask your learner(s) to type a word (prepare a list of words that commonly cause confusion e.g., friend, symbolic, beautiful, etc.)

Now ask your learner(s) to:

1. Type one letter at a time and look at the word lists that appear.
2. How long does it take to get to the word?
3. Ask the learners to select the word
4. Now ask them to type the word again, and watch the prediction box again.
5. How long does it take for the word to appear this time?

Repeat the process again – and show your learner(s) how WordQ is 'learning' this word for them. This is what it will do with all of their words.

You can set a challenge, asking the learner(s) to see how quickly they can go to the words you've suggested, in teams or individually. You can ask them to set words for each other too.