Functionality: ★★☆
- Scale:
- Not Applicable.N/A
- Ease of Use:★★★
- Works Well. The tool has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and personalize for both instructor and learner. Use is intuitive for both instructor and learner.
- Tech Support/Help Availability (for Instructors):★★☆
- Minor Concerns. Minor Concerns; No campus-wide technical support is available.
- Tech Support/Help Availability (for Students):★★☆
- Minor Concerns. Minor Concerns; No campus-wide technical support is available.
- Hypermediality :
- Not Applicable.N/A
Accessibility: ★★★
- Accessibility Standards:★★★
- Works Well. Works well.
- User-focused participation:★★★
- Works Well. Works well.
- Required Equipment:★★★
- Works Well. Works well.
Technical: ★★★
- Integration/Embedding within a Learning Management System (LMS) :★★★
- Works Well. Works well.
- Operating Systems:★★★
- Works Well. Works well.
- Web Browser:★★★
- Works Well. Works well.
- Additional Technical Requirements:
- Not Applicable.N/A.
Mobile Design: ★★★
- Access:★★★
- Works Well. Works well.
- Functionality:★★★
- Works Well. Works well.
- Offline Access:★★☆
- Minor Concerns. Minor Concern: Only available for the desktop version. For the mobile app versions on iOS and Android, offline access may be limited to certain functionalities, and some advanced features may require an active internet connection.
Usage and Account Set Up: ★★☆
- Sign Up/Sign In:★☆☆
- Serious Concerns. To use NaturalReader, users are required to create an external account or log in, especially if they want to access premium features or use the service across multiple devices. Personal information, such as email addresses, is collected during the sign-up process. This is necessary for account management and subscription services, which means that personal user information is collected and possibly shared as part of the service's operations.
- Cost of Use:★★☆
- Minor Concerns. Minor Concern. NaturalReader offers a limited free version that allows users to access basic text-to-speech features with free voices. However, many advanced features, such as access to premium voices, MP3 conversion, and OCR capabilities, require a subscription or one-time payment.
- Archiving, Saving, and Exporting Data :★★★
- Works Well. Works well.
- Data Privacy and Ownership:★★★
- Works Well. Works well.
Social Presence: ★★★
- Collaboration :
- Not Applicable. N/A.
- User Accountability:
- Not Applicable. N/A.
- Diffusion:★★★
- Works Well. Works well.
Teaching Presence: ★★☆
- Facilitation:
- Not Applicable. N/A.
- Customization:★★☆
- Minor Concerns. NaturalReader offers some level of customization, allowing users to adjust settings such as voice selection, reading speed, and pitch to better suit individual preferences and needs. These features can enhance the user experience and make the tool more adaptable to different contexts, including educational settings where specific accommodations might be necessary. However, the customization options are limited to these basic settings, and the tool does not offer extensive adaptability to suit broader classroom contexts or targeted learning outcomes.
- Learning Analytics:
- Not Applicable. N/A.
Cognitive Presence: ★★☆
- Enhancement of Cognitive Task(s):★★☆
- Minor Concerns. NaturalReader enables functional improvement in engagement with cognitive tasks by converting text to speech, which can aid in comprehension, retention, and accessibility, especially for individuals with reading difficulties such as dyslexia. By allowing users to listen to text rather than read it, NaturalReader provides an alternative method of engaging with content, which can improve focus and understanding.
- Higher Order Thinking:
- Not Applicable. N/A.
- Feedback on Learning:
- Not Applicable. N/A.