Technology can support the educational process of all students. There are technology tools that can make many of the educational processes much easier. Technology can support organization, reading, writing, research, presentations. While the university provides access to many tools that can assist, this site also lists tools that may be of interest to students to explore on their own.
| SCSU Provided Tools | Accessibility Tools | Digital Learning Tools |
SCSU Provided Tools
SCSU Provides access to a variety of tools that students can use on the web or download to their own computers. This page provides information on the tools provided by the University and links to where they can be accessed.
MySCSU is the main digital portal at the University for students, faculty, and staff. It provides links to many of the most used digital tools such as Microsoft Office and Blackboard.
Accessible through MySCSU, Blackboard is the learning management system for the University. Many of the online, hybrid, and in person courses have a companion Blackboard shell where students can access class materials. For students, Blackboard provides a number of tutorials available through the Tutorials tab on the top, right hand corner of the Blackboard homepage. The University Help Desk site provides a Blackboard Help Hub as well.
Throughout their time at the University, students have access to all the apps that are part of Microsoft 365 including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and others. The tools are accessible online or can be downloaded and installed on the student's computer. To access the tools navigate to MySCSU. The Help Desk provides instructions on how to install Microsoft Office on Windows or Mac.
Apporto allows students, faculty, and staff to remotely access select applications using a web browser, that are normally only available on campus lab and classroom computers. Some of the applications provided through Apporto include the Adobe Suite (e.g., Photoshop), ArcGIS, and SPSS. Apporto is available through MySCSU and works on Windows, Mac, and Chrome. The Help Desk provides further instructions on accessing the program.
Accessible by phone (203-392-5123), email (helpdesk@southernct.edu), or through the web (Help Desk Website), the Help Desk provides support to all students as well as a wealth of information about technology at Southern.
The Buley library website provides access to research articles databases, tutorials on how to navigate the library resources, and access to a citation information and a citation manager.
Accessibility Tools
Recognizing the fact that not all students learn the same way, the University provides multiple approaches to learning and expression through a variety of technology solutions. To accommodate students with disabilities, the University provides access to assistive technology tools.
The Center for Educational and Assistive Technology (CEAT) provides technology to students, training in technology, and a working space for students with disabilities.
Engleman Hall, Room B017
Phone: 203-392-5799
Email: ceat@southernct.edu
The Center for Academic Success and Accessibility Services (CASAS) provides academic support to all students and accommodations for students with disabilities.
Buley Library, Room 303
Phone: 203-392-6828
Email: casas@southernct.edu
A smartpen is a device for note taking. The pen syncs your handwritten notes and recorded audio to help with note taking in your courses. In the device's notebook, you can click anywhere on your notes to replay the audio from that moment. Students who have received an accommodation from Accessibility Services for a smartpen, can loan one and receive training on how to utilize it from the Center for Educational and Assistive Technology. If you would like to loan a smartpen for the semester, please email ceat@southernct.edu. SCSU provides access to Livescribe smartpens.
Read&Write is a complete digital reading program that provides features such as text-to-speech, highlighting, and dictionary. Students with a text in alternate format accommodation from Accessibility Services can request digital copies of their course textbooks by emailing ceat@southernct.edu.
An FM system is a wireless device that allows individuals with hearing loss listen noisy environments such as classrooms. Students who have received an accommodation from Accessibility Services for an FM system can loan one from the Center for Educational and Assistive Technology.
If you would like to loan out an FM system for the semester, please email ceat@southernct.edu.
Seeing AI is a free app designed by Microsoft that can be used to describe short text, documents, products, people, currency scenery, colors, handwriting and light. It is designed to assist individuals with visual impairments but the text-to-speech engine used to read short text and documents can be used by all individuals who need text-to-speech support.
MindMup is a web based graphic organizer. It allows users to brainstorm presentations and document outlines in a graphical format. The maps can be turned into traditional outlines and saved as Microsoft Word files for easy transition to drafting. Students at SCSU can get access to the full version of the program by contacting the Center for Educational and Assistive Technology at ceat@southernct.edu.
SciA11y is an experimental program that provides access to 1.5 million open access scientific documents, published prior to April 2020, in accessible HTML format.
Digital Learning Tools
In addition to University provided tools, there are numerous tools available that can help students. While this list is not exhaustive, and the tools are not officially supported by the University, they provide an overview of what students can use on their own to help with their academic life.
Digital Tools for Reading
Read&Write is a complete digital reading program that provides features such as text-to-speech, highlighting, and dictionary.
Platform: Google Chrome; Windows; Mac; Android; iOS
All computer and mobile platforms offer built-in text-to-speech to allow the user to hear selected text aloud.
LiquidText is a PDF Reader that allows users to take notes, highlight, and annotate connecting notes and annotations to each other and the original text.
Platform: Windows; Mac; iOS
Liner lets users highlight and collect information from websites, including sections of YouTube videos.
Platform: Browser extensions, iOS, and Android
Diigo is a Chrome extension that allows users to collect resources on the web, annotate websites, organize links and references, and share their research with classmates and others.
Platform: Chrome extension
Safari Reader optimizes reading by removing ads and allowing the user to adjust how the page and text looks to fit their needs. Users can change the font, the font size, and the colors of the text and background.
Platform: Safari browser
Rewordify is a free website that allows users to automatically convert difficult vocabulary in easier to understand synonyms.
Platform: Website
Bionic Reading helps with reading comprehension by highlights the beginning of each word to help guide the reader through the text and can help with comprehension. Bionic Reading has a Google extension and text converter.
Platform: Chrome extension; Web based app
Digital Tools for Writing
Speech to text tools allow the user to dictate and have the computer or mobile device recognize the speech and translate it into written text. All operating systems have speech-to-text capabilities built in.
MindMup is a web based graphic organizer. It allows users to brainstorm presentations and document outlines in a graphical format. The maps can be turned into traditional outlines and saved as Microsoft Word files for easy transition to drafting. Students at SCSU can get access to the full version of the program by contacting the Center for Educational and Assistive Technology at ceat@southernct.edu.
Grammarly is a program that uses AI to check grammar, spelling, and punctuation. It works with any program that accepts text input such as Microsoft Word, email programs and different web browsers.
Platform: Windows; Mac; Chrome; Android; iOS
Ginger is a program that uses AI to check grammar, spelling, and punctuation. It works with any program that accepts text input such as Microsoft Word, email programs and different web browsers.
Platform: Windows; Mac; Chrome; Android; iOS