AlphaSmarts 101

Welcome to the World of AlphaSmarts!

AlphaSmart Web Site:   http://www.alphasmart.com/

<     AlphaSmarts go to sleep after a few minutes.  In the older models, they go to sleep after 3-4 minutes.  The time can be set in the AlphaSmart 3000.  Use the On/Off button to wake up the AlphaSmart.

<     Use a soft dry cloth to clean the screen.  Do not use cleaning agents!

<     AlphaSmarts have 8 files.  The file numbers are listed on the top buttons of your keyboard.  When you turn on the AlphaSmart, it opens in the last file used, or if there is no information, it opens in the first file.  In the AlphaSmart 3000, all files are 12.5 pages.  In the older models, the first file is 12.5 pages, and the rest are 8 pages.

<     AlphaSmarts automatically save.  They keep the information until the “clear file” button is pushed.

<     If text is accidentally cleared, you can recover the text if no new text has been placed in the file.  To recover text, go to the file where you wish to recover text, press “option-Ë-R”.   If that fails, use “ctrl-option-Ë-R”.  If that fails, try “Shift-ctrl-option-Ë-R”.

<     “Low battery” means your batteries are really low.  Turn off the AlphaSmart and take care of your batteries ASAP!  If using standard batteries, you must replace all three.

<     AlphaSmarts are EASY to hook up to your computer.  Just look at the labels on the cables!  Open the program on your computer that you want to use (Word, Excel, etc.), and press the “send” button on your AlphaSmart!

Technology Integration Tips

Want a great way to turn your next field trip into a literacy project?  Use Alpha Smarts for:

<     Cyber Reporting

<     Journaling

<     Taking notes

<     Responding to questions and activities

<     Discussion

<     Brainstorming

<     Projects

<     Sign in/Sign out

Practical Classroom Activities with an AlphaSmart

1.       Sequential Writing - Students work in small groups.  One student starts a writing activity on the AlphaSmart; types up to 4 lines and then passes to the next person.  Piece gets read aloud, edited by the group after being printed out, etc.

2.     Sequential Responding - A piece of student work is presented to a small group of students.  Under different files, students respond to the piece in different ways.  The author of the piece will ultimately receive all the comments from the different files.

3.     Looping - Students free-write in one file.  They then take a word or phrase from the first file and start it in a different file, creating a story or idea that branches off from the initial free-writing activity.

4.     Group Looping - Same as above, except after the free-writing activity, the keyboard is passed on to someone else in the group who looks for an interesting phrase and uses that to start a new file.

5.     Invisible Writing - Typing with the window covered, then reviewing.

6.     Class Act – To help students think about reading assignments, the teacher (in File 1) makes out a list of questions.  After reading a book, magazine, etc., students would read through the questions and answer them in either the same file or other ones.  These answers would be used during class discussion.

7.     Creating New Word Lists – Use keyboard to record vocabulary words from reading.

8.     Sentences from Spelling Words

9.     Activity Journal – Use keyboard to record events, feelings, experiences.

10.    Names, Nouns, and Verbs

11.    Field Trip Questions

12.    Sentence Completion for Understanding

13.    Procedural Writing

14.    Guided Science Observation

15.    Interviewing and Writing a Biography

16.    Sequence events, put in wrong order, have students cut and paste in correct sequence

17.    Interviews

19.    Sort words

20.    D.O.L. (Daily Oral Language)

21.    Tests

22.    Use with students with physical limitations,

23.    Word Walls

24.    Journal writing

25.    Writing class or game rules

26.    Thank you notes to helpers, guest speakers, and others

27.    Book reviews for the Fayette County Schools Literary Book Club

28.    Portfolio pieces at any grade level

When multiple users share one AlphaSmart, it is sometimes BEST to use passwords to keep the contents private and protected from accidental losses. 

         1.    Obtain the original password from AlphaSmart (phone 1.888.274.2720).

  2.    Turn on the AlphaSmart and be sure it is not connected to a computer.

        3.    Press “ctrl-option-Ë-P” to show the Password Enable/Disable Screen.                   The AlphaSmart will display the message:

  Password protection is OFF.

  Type master password to turn on: _______

  4.    Type in the 5 letter master password you obtained from AlphaSmart to turn on the password protection.  As you type the old password, you will see Xs on the screen.  When the password has been entered correctly, the AlphaSmart will display:

              Password protection is ON.

              Type master password to turn off: ______  

5.    Passwords are now enabled.  Press the esc key to exit the password screen.

1.    Turn on the AlphaSmart and be sure it is not connected to a computer.  Open file x (you might need to enter the password if password protection is on).

2.    Press “option-Ë-P” to show the Change Password dialog box.  If pressed in file-4, you will see:

                        Change password for file 4

Old password: ______________

New password: ______________

Press esc key to exit.

3.    First type the old password, which is “think” if this is the first time.  Xs will appear for each character.  If you enter the wrong password, you will see the message Invalid Password, please try again.  When you correctly type the password, you will see:

                        Change password for file 4

Old password: XXXXX

                        New password: _______

Press esc key to exit.

4.    Type your new password in the third row.  Use 5 characters.  Any letters and numbers can be used.  As you write this password, you will see the letter s and numbers.  When you type the 5^th letter or number, you will see the message Your password has been changed.

Change password for file 4

Old password: XXXXX

                        New password: abcde

Press esc key to exit

  The Keyboarding Timer is a tool used to evaluate keyboarding proficiency. It allows a user to type any keyboarding exercise and, when stopped, displays the elapsed time and words per minute (WPM) typed. The delete function is disabled during the Keyboarding Timer so that keyboarding mistakes can be evaluated. The text entered while using the Keyboarding Timer is appended to the end of the current file so that it can be reviewed, if desired.

1.    Press z+find. The following message will be displayed:  Typing Timer. Begin typing to start timer. Press caps lock to stop timing. Esc to exit.

2.    Start typing. The elapsed time will be shown as you type. Press caps lock to stop.

3.    When caps lock is pressed, the screen will give the elapsed time and the words per minute (WPM).

4.    To start the timer again, press enter.

To exit the Keyboarding Timer, press esc.

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THIS PAGE WAS LAST UP-DATED ON: 04/18/2005

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