Tech Tips : RRC Polytech: Student Accessibility Services Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:43:02 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 OrbitNote /accessibility/2026/03/12/orbitnote/ /accessibility/2026/03/12/orbitnote/#respond Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:41:00 +0000 /accessibility/?p=2654 Read more →.]]> OrbitNote is a tool that all students (and staff) have access to, and, for free. OrbitNote is included with access to Read&Write (which is also free, and also, awesome).

Need a reminder about what Read&Write is? Check out this info page on Read&Write at RRC Polytech!

What is OrbitNote?

While OrbitNote is its own tool, we have limited access to some of its features through our Read&Write account. In this blog post we are promoting OrbitNote as a tool to support students with reading (and having digital text read aloud).

Why are we Promoting OrbitNote Instead of Read&Write?

The desktop version of Read&Write is meant to be installed on a Windows device, or MacBook. Users of other devices, such as iPads, Chromebooks, or Android tablets, are not able to install the desktop version.

Therefore users of these devices are not able to install the desktop version Read&Write and have content from their device read aloud.

However, this is where OrbitNote comes in!

What can OrbitNote do?

Access to OrbitNote through the College’s Read&Write subscription gives access to the following features:

  • Read Aloud
  • Highlighters & Annotation Tools
  • Dictionary
  • Screenshot Reader
  • Screen Masking

Want to Learn More?

Within the Read&Write Tutorial in LEARN, there are modules on OrbitNote. Check them, and the Read&Write content, out!

]]> /accessibility/2026/03/12/orbitnote/feed/ 0 100th Blog Post! /accessibility/2026/02/26/100th-blog-post/ /accessibility/2026/02/26/100th-blog-post/#respond Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:38:00 +0000 /accessibility/?p=2588 Read more →.]]> This post will be our 100th Tech Tips: Work Smarter, Not Harder blog post!!! We started this blog back in September of 2022, and here we are over 3 years and 100 posts later. Thank you!

Top 5 Posts/Groups of Posts

5 – Tech Supports (and Other Supports) at Red River College Polytechnic

Tech Supports (and Other Supports) at Red River College Polytechnic blog post

4 – Fun Features of Microsoft Word

3 – YuJa Panorama

Learn what YuJa Panorama is, why it’s in LEARN, and how it can help you!
YuJa Panorama blog post

2 – Accessibility of Devices

1 – Accessibility of Applications

Bonus!

Subscribe to the Blog so that you never miss a new post! View this past Tech Tips: Work Smarter, Not Harder blog post on Subscribing to the Blog to learn how!

]]> /accessibility/2026/02/26/100th-blog-post/feed/ 0 Reading Supports for (the Upcoming) Reading Week /accessibility/2026/02/12/automate-your-study-environment/ /accessibility/2026/02/12/automate-your-study-environment/#respond Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:11:00 +0000 /accessibility/?p=2584 Read more →.]]> For the programs with Reading Week right around the corner, we wanted to do a quick post on the different reading supports we’ve previously featured on the blog… and some new ones!

Read&Write

Read&Write (also known as R&W), is an application available (for free) to all staff and students at Red River College Polytechnic. Features in the application support learners with reading, writing, studying, and more!

Immersive Reader

Immersive Reader is a free set of tools developed by Microsoft built into the latest versions of Word, OneNote, Outlook, Teams, and Edge (among other applications). If you are one of the many, who finds reading or retaining information when reading difficult, Immersive Reader may be for you!

Other Reading Supports

Here are some other posts and resources that may help you when reading:

Bonus!

Check out this Self-Directed Tutorial on Reading in LEARN.

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View this past Tech Tips: Work Smarter, Not Harder blog post on Subscribing to the Blog!

]]> /accessibility/2026/02/12/automate-your-study-environment/feed/ 0 Assistive Technology Supports for all! /accessibility/2026/01/22/assistive-technology-supports-for-all/ /accessibility/2026/01/22/assistive-technology-supports-for-all/#respond Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:52:00 +0000 /accessibility/?p=2573 Read more →.]]> Did you know that there are assistive technology supports that are available to all? …Well, we hope so if you’re a regular to this blog!

But if you happen to be a new blog reader or subscriber, let us start at the beginning…

What is Assistive Technology?

Assistive Technology, or AT refers to hardware, software, devices, tools, and strategies that support individuals in a variety of ways. Within the educational setting, AT supports learners by providing alternative ways of accessing or interacting with their course materials (example: text-to-speech, enlarged font, ergonomic devices).

Technology Available to all Students

Sounds great, doesn’t it?!

If you want to learn about the different types of Assistive Technology available to all students, check out the Assistive Technology page by Student Accessibility Services.

…Yes, this is a webpage by Student Accessibility Services, but if you venture to the bottom of the page, there is a section on “technology available to all students”. It’s even broken down into categories!

“Accessibility in Windows and Office Applications” Tutorial

Did you know that there is AT built into your (Windows) device as well as many common Office applications such as Word, PowerPoint and OneNote? Well, there are! And we even have a tutorial in LEARN that you can take to find out about these built in AT features!

Accessibility in Windows and Office Applications LEARN Tutorial

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View this past Tech Tips: Work Smarter, Not Harder blog post on Subscribing to the Blog!

]]> /accessibility/2026/01/22/assistive-technology-supports-for-all/feed/ 0 Welcome to 2026! /accessibility/2026/01/08/welcome-to-2026/ /accessibility/2026/01/08/welcome-to-2026/#respond Thu, 08 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000 /accessibility/?p=2569 Read more →.]]> Welcome back! We hope everyone had a restful Winter Break! As a welcome back, welcome to the New Year gift, we’d like to do a special post where we outline our favourite posts from 2025.

Let’s count down from 10 to 1!

Top 10 Posts from 2025

10 – Accessibility in Office Applications (Part 1)

Learn how to make your work in Office Applications more accessible!

Accessibility in Office Applications – Part 1 blog post

9 – Accessibility in Office Applications (Part 2 – Word)

Learn about accessibility in Microsoft Word.

Accessibility in Word blog post

8 – Accessibility in Office Applications (Part 3 – PowerPoint)

Learn about accessibility in PowerPoint.

Accessibility in PowerPoint blog post

7 – Accessibility in Office Applications (Part 4 – OneNote)

Learn about accessibility in OneNote.

Accessibility in OneNote blog post

6 – Quick Parts in Word and Outlook

Learn what Quick Parts are, and how they can save you time in Word and Outlook!

Quick Parts (Word and Outlook) blog post

5 – Microsoft Editor Browser Extension

Learn how to add Microsoft’s Editor to Edge for help with your spelling, grammer, and more!

Microsoft Editor Browser Extension blog post

4 – Pinning Applications in HUB

Learn how to pin your most used applications in HUB so they appear at the top of your list!

Pinning in HUB blog post

3 – How to Recover a Lost Document

Learn how to (potentially) save a lost document!

How to Recover a Lost Document blog post

2 – Autosaving

Learn how to set your Microsoft Office documents to autosave.

AutoSave Your Microsoft Documents blog post

1 – Make the Most out of Teams

Learn about 6 different features that will help you make the most out of Teams!

Make the Most out of Teams blog post

Bonus!

Subscribe to the Blog so that you never miss a new post! View this past Tech Tips: Work Smarter, Not Harder blog post on Subscribing to the Blog to learn how!

]]> /accessibility/2026/01/08/welcome-to-2026/feed/ 0 Make the Most out of Teams /accessibility/2025/12/11/make-the-most-out-of-teams/ /accessibility/2025/12/11/make-the-most-out-of-teams/#respond Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:03:00 +0000 /accessibility/?p=2565 Read more →.]]> We’d venture to guess that every student here at RRC Polytech has used Teams in some way. To attend a virtual class, meet with classmates over a group project, or meet with instructors or other staff at the College. Teams is a widely used application, but, there may be some features of Teams that you’re not aware of.

Features of Teams

There are quite a few blog posts we’ve done on features of Teams. Given that many programs are wrapping up for the year, we thought we’d wrap up our previous Teams posts as a congratulations gift. Ok, that was a little cheesy, even for this blog!

Farewell to 2025

This will also be our last post for 2025! We’d like to thank everyone for their continued support for the blog, and wish you all a well-deserved Winter Break!

Don’t forget you can subscribe to the blog so that you never miss a new post! View this past Tech Tips: Work Smarter, Not Harder blog post on Subscribing to the Blog to learn how!

]]> /accessibility/2025/12/11/make-the-most-out-of-teams/feed/ 0 Speaker Coach in Teams /accessibility/2025/11/27/speaker-coach-in-teams/ /accessibility/2025/11/27/speaker-coach-in-teams/#respond Thu, 27 Nov 2025 12:42:00 +0000 /accessibility/?p=2594 Read more →.]]> Speaker Coach is a built-in feature that offers private, real-time feedback to help you become a more effective communicator (at least in Teams meetings).

Why Use Speaker Coach

Speaker Coach helps you:

  • Avoid filler words like “um” and “uh”
  • Pace your speech appropriately
  • Stay inclusive by avoiding interrupting others
  • Improve clarity and engagement
  • …and hopefully, boost your confidence in speaking!

It’s like having a supportive mentor in your ear—without anyone else knowing!

How to Turn on Speaker Coach

  • During a meeting
  • Click the More actions (⋯) menu
  • Select Language and Speech
  • Select Turn on Speaker Coach

Speaker Coach works in both scheduled meetings and rehearsals (like PowerPoint Live).

Speaker Coach’s Feedback

To access your feedback after your meeting has ended:

  • Go to the Teams calendar and open the meeting.
  • Click Speaker Coach report to view personalized insights on your speaking habits.

Only you can see your feedback—so it’s a safe space to grow.

AI Usage Acknowledgement

This post was jointly written by Copilot and a human.

]]> /accessibility/2025/11/27/speaker-coach-in-teams/feed/ 0 AutoSave Your (Microsoft) Documents! /accessibility/2025/11/13/autosave-your-microsoft-documents/ /accessibility/2025/11/13/autosave-your-microsoft-documents/#respond Thu, 13 Nov 2025 13:00:00 +0000 /accessibility/?p=2548 Read more →.]]> If it’s happened to you, you know how frustrating it can be: when you’ve been working hard, and then something happens and you lose all of your hard work. Super sad face.

To keep this from happening again in the future – enable AutoSave!

Sign into OneDrive

In order to utilize AutoSave for your Microsoft files, you must be signed into OneDrive (or SharePoint online).

To sign into OneDrive:

  1. Open any Microsoft application (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc…)
  2. Select File
  3. Then Account
  4. Sign in with your Microsoft account (your RRC Polytech account)
  5. Once signed in, your OneDrive will appear as a save location

Enable AutoSave

  1. Open your document
  2. Save it to OneDrive
    • Select File
    • Then Save As
    • Then Select OneDrive
  3. In the top left of the ribbon toggle AutoSave on

Bonus Tip!

Don’t see the AutoSave option? Search for it in the search bar in the top middle of the ribbon.

AI Usage Acknowledgement

This post was jointly written by Copilot and a human.

]]> /accessibility/2025/11/13/autosave-your-microsoft-documents/feed/ 0 How to Recover a Lost Document /accessibility/2025/10/30/how-to-recover-a-lost-document/ /accessibility/2025/10/30/how-to-recover-a-lost-document/#respond Thu, 30 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000 /accessibility/?p=2546 Read more →.]]> It happens to us all, and it’s scarier than any costume you’ve seen on Halloween… you’re working on a document and, your computer crashes, Word freezes, something happens, and all your hard work is just, gone! AH!

But did you know there are things you can do to try and recover that work?

Option 1 – Previous Versions

If you have previously saved the file, and lost additional work, you may be able to recover a previous version of the file.

  • Locate the file in your File Explorer
  • Right click
  • Select Properties
  • Select the tab for Previous Versions
  • Select a previous version (if available)

Option 2 – Document Management

  • Open a blank Word document
  • Select File
  • Then Info
  • Then Manage Document
  • Select Recover Unsaved Documents

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View this past Tech Tips: Work Smarter, Not Harder blog post on Subscribing to the Blog!

]]> /accessibility/2025/10/30/how-to-recover-a-lost-document/feed/ 0 Live Captions in Teams /accessibility/2025/10/16/live-captions-in-teams/ /accessibility/2025/10/16/live-captions-in-teams/#respond Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000 /accessibility/?p=2560 Read more →.]]> Maybe you’re in a noisy environment, forgot your headphones, or simply prefer reading over listening, we suggest that you give Live Captions in Teams a try!

Live captions display, in real-time, a text version of what is being said in Teams.

How to Turn on Live Captions

  1. Join the Teams meeting
  2. Click the more (•••) icon in the top right-hand side of the window
  3. Select “language and speech”
  4. Then “show live captions”

Learn More!

Use live captions in Microsoft Teams meetings – Microsoft Support

AI Usage Acknowledgement

This post was jointly written by Copilot and a human.

]]> /accessibility/2025/10/16/live-captions-in-teams/feed/ 0