[nabs-l] in class writing

Fri Jan 11 05:02:27 UTC 2013

hi,
I am going to try and use what I have though as purchasing new equipment 
would be kind of hard.
I've always used my notetaker to take notes in class; 9 times out of ten I 
find it works fine.
Its just that some professors want to give  writing in class sometimes 
including my upcoming religion professor so I got to wondering what others 
did, even though I thought I already knew.

I have a pretty heavy laptop. I guess I could have gotten something thin or 
lighter, but well, it is what it is. Part of me also wanted a larger screen 
since I have some vision and may on occasion watch movies. I also wanted to 
view other stuff on it such as skype faces, therefore, I opted for a larger 
monitor making the laptop well, um,  bigger than most people have.
Keep in mind the laptop was not meant for school primarily as I utilize my 
notetaker for school material. I have tons of folders on it; a folder for 
each class.
So the laptop was purchased for multiple means.

However, Its nice to know more portable options exist.
I do agree that placing a device in a backpack does secure it much better 
than another bag would.

Hp ultrabook? Haven't heard of that. is that a netbook?
Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Kaiti Shelton
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2013 11:28 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] in class writing

Hi Ashley,

In addition to what Aleeha and Arielle have said about the importance
of having a mainstream computer device in class, there are several
ways in which you can make bringing one easy and convenient.

Sort of going off of Arielle's plug although slightly different, I
have an HP ultrabook and it's extremely light-weight with about 6
hours battery life.  Having something either very small or very thin
and light-weight would make it easier.

Second, the good thing about most college-style backpacks is that they
now have specific compartments to store laptops, IPads, or other
devices.  Most of these are padded pretty well too, so given that most
of the time a backpack would be either nearby or on your back they're
pretty safe.  The backpack is always a more secure option for keeping
things where you want them when you leave a room.  If I leave class to
do anything longer than a minute or so I will usually put my valuable
things in the backpack not because I think my classmates would steal
them, but just to make sure they're protected from accidentally
getting knocked off a table, or spilled on, or something else.  If
you're worried about technology being stolen this also adds another
layer of protection; they'd have to go into your bag to get it instead
of just swiping it off the table, which makes the attempt a lot more
noticeable to other classmates and the professor.  And even if
technology was stolen the sighted person that took it wouldn't know
what to do with it; I had a laptop stolen from a classroom when I was
in high school because the teacher forgot to lock up, and it was
turned in the next afternoon because the kid couldn't figure out how
to get past the log-on screen with the hot key I had set up.

On 1/10/13, Aleeha Dudley <blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello,
>      If you are concerned about the possibility of your laptop getting
> stolen, here are a couple of things to consider.
> 1. Most other students carry laptops, phones, and other electronic
> devices with them to classes. I don't think that someone would
> specifically target your laptop to steal, especially with many other
> students and your professor also in the classroom.
> 2. As others have said, you can get a flash drive, usually very low
> cost, and put a doc or text file of your work on that drive in order
> to exchange it with other students and/or your professor.
> A good thing to keep in mind as well that some others have already
> hinted at is to have a very open conversation with your professor
> either before classes start or during the very first week of classes.
> Ask what is to be expected from the class, the different possibilities
> for in-class assignments, and the possible work-arounds for any
> problems that you or your professor might forsee.
> Aleeha
>
> On 1/10/13, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi all,
>> I want to make another plug for netbooks. They aren't much bigger than
>> Braille Notes, so you can easily fit it in your backpack, and a
>> netbook can do just about anything a laptop can. Plus it only costs
>> about $300 and the built-in battery can last for up to six hours. I
>> think it really is a good idea for any blind student to carry some
>> kind of mainstream computing device to class, whether that is a
>> laptop, netbook, or even an I-device so that you can easily
>> communicate in writing with sighted professors and peers. Braille
>> Notes are great and can be a wonderful supplement to a mainstream
>> computing device, but the computing technology Braille Notes use is
>> neither mainstream nor up-to-date.
>> Arielle
>>
>> On 1/10/13, Deb Mendelsohn <deb.mendelsohn at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Don't you have a laptop that you could email in class to the professor?
>>> Maybe RSA should get you one with JAWS on it.
>>>
>>> Deb
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Jan 9, 2013 at 5:47 PM, Ashley Bramlett
>>> <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi all,
>>>>
>>>> Professors ask us students to do in-class writing sometimes. Typically
>>>> its
>>>> unannounced; its not like its on the syllabus but the professor knows
>>>> it
>>>> usually; I mean they know when they will assign in class writing.
>>>> Students
>>>> are given a certain  amount of time to write and then hand in the
>>>> writing.
>>>> They may share the writing with each other or the class as well.
>>>>
>>>> How do you handle in class writing assignments? Do you write them on a
>>>> notetaker or laptop you take to school? How do you hand it in since we
>>>> are
>>>> not writing on paper? So far, I’ve usually written outside class and
>>>> emailed the copy to the professor.
>>>>
>>>> I have good enough braille skills to read from my braille display to
>>>> other
>>>> students, but I don’t usually finish the writing.
>>>> I wish there was a computer lab in every building. Then I could walk
>>>> over
>>>> there, type my writing prompt and then email it to the professor.
>>>>
>>>> I look forward to ideas.
>>>>
>>>> Ashley
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> *Deb's Cell:  520-225-8244*
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-- 
Kaiti

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