AN INTRODUCTION TO
SOLO™
WHAT IS SOLO™?
SOLO™ is a software tool specifically designed for diverse learners for instructional
reinforcement and guided practice. SOLO contains four learning tools (Read:OutLoud,
Draft:Builder, Write:OutLoud and Co:Writer) that help learners develop strategies in the
following areas:
Reading comprehension
Writing
Planning
Organizing
Revising
Editing
Individually, each of these tools focuses on building skills in one aspect of literacy.
When used together in the SOLO environment, these tools integrate to have an even
greater impact on learner outcomes across the reading and writing continuum.
HOW DO I BEGIN USING SOLO™?
These instructions will focus on using the basic components of SOLO. We will focus on
learning the following:
How to launch SOLO
Signing in as a learner
Open an eText document
o How to locate eText files
o How to create eText files
o How to use Read:OutLoud with the web
Various speech to text options
Using the dictionary
Highlighting key points to create a study guide
Arranging information into topics and subtopics
Sending information to Draft:Builder
Moving text within the draft
Creating notes
Using the bibliographer
Sending information to Write:OutLoud
Add text in Write:OutLoud
Using Co:Writer in conjunction with Write:OutLoud
Co:Writer options
Selecting a topic dictionary in Co:Writer
Using templates
Using SOLO’s Text Reader-Read: OutLoud
1. Double click on the SOLO icon on the desktop to launch SOLO.
2. Sign In screen-select Learner 1-default password: 123456
3. Launch Read:OutLoud-click on icon.
4. Open eText file
a. Ancient Egypt eText.rtf (located near bottom of list)
5. Review reading options
a. Read paragraph
b. Read all
c. Select sentence
d. Move to next sentence
e. Highlight word by word (speech menu-select on/off)
6. Using the dictionary
a. Click and drag on “pharaoh” (shades in blue)
b. Select dictionary icon
c. Select copy
d. Select OK.
e. Select OK (Selection has been verified)
f. Select Unassigned Notes (brown)
g. Select new note icon from tool bar
h. Click paste icon.
i. Select OK.
7. Repeat 6a-i for 2 more words. (Clicking anywhere in the document will deselect
the highlight word.)
8. Using highlighter options to create study guide
a. Click and drag on the word“tomb”
b. Click on green highlighter
c. Click on words “Step Pyramid”,click on green highlighter
d. Click on words “Great Pyramid, click on green highlighter.
9. Highlight 2-3 facts relating to these three topics.
10. Arrange facts under topics by dragging. Notice by clicking on the right and left
arrow facts can be arranged by subtopics (notice color changes within document).
Using Read:OutLoud with the web
1. Click on web tab.
2. Search for web information.
3. All commands on the Read:OutLoud tool bar remain active
4. How to access web information at a later date
a. Click on insert menu, click on “capture web page”-page will be saved as
an html document and then can be opened up at a later date (note: save
the Read:OutLoud document before closing, later found under my work
folder)
5. Use the bibliographer to create the bibliography-click icon on toolbar and follow
on screen commands.
Using Draft:Builder
1. Click on Draft:Builder icon. Name file if prompted.
2. In Outline tab, notes can be arranged using the arrow icons or by dragging; option
to use a map view is also available.
3. Screen can be made larger or smaller by using the double arrow icon in tool bar.
4. In Notes tab, additional research can be added by clicking on the topic, selecting
“add note” icon from the tool bar and entering additional information.
5. In the draft tab, notes can now be dragged from the notes column into a draft
document. Additional information can be entered with the key board. Note:
Co:writer is also available in any program within SOLO to offer word prediction
options.
Using Write:OutLoud
1. Click on Write:OutLoud icon.
2. Write:OutLoud provides more editing power to the document, including
homonym check, spell check, inserting graphics, and editing options.
3. Write:OutLoud continues with the speech options contained in all of the SOLO
programs.
4. Co:Writer can also be activated.
Using Co:Writer
1. Launch Co:Writer from the toolbar.
2. Co:Writer provides word prediction options.
3. To change options select settings.
4. To activate topic dictionaries, select topic dictionary and select specific topic.
5. To create a new topic dictionary, select “create” and enter in vocabulary.
Using templates
1. Return to sign in window.
2. Select “Teacher sign in”.
3. Select “Teacher”—password school.
4. “Content management” allows teacher to assign work to particular students.
5. “Student documents”, view student assignments and work.
6. “Student preferences”, set speech options, enable/disable spell check, set fonts
and size
7. “Student progress”, analyze student writing performance, track progress
graphically.
8. Return to content management icon.
9. Select “New Assignment Template”
10. Select “Open the Reading to Writing Wizard”.
11. Select Ancient Egypt eText document.
12. Select CoreContent KWL 2Questions.
13. The template is available for editing. Click on “Look at the book title…..”, area is
highlighted. Delete ending of sentence.
14. Topics can be deleted by selecting and clicking delete.
15. Locked text can be added by selecting insert locked text.
16. Save template.
17. Templates can then be assigned to students.
18. Additional templates from simple to complex are available on-line at
www.donjohnston.com Select download section.
Prepared by: Mona Pruett, VCU TTAC January 2008.