It's the start of a new school year! Lots of you are refreshing licenses, upgrading, using V6, Premium Linking, and Turbo. AWESOME!! Need any help?? Send any questions or comments to support [at] TypeWell.com . . . and send any compliments or fan mail directly to ME !!
-- Kyp
Here’s a tip from our newest contributor, Joanna Balz. She’s been transcribing for 4 years and lives in the DC Metro area. Welcome, Joanna!!
When you’re teaming a job, it’s a good idea to decide who will polish and edit the notes before sending the transcript to the client. Only one of you should send the polished transcript. If both of you show interest, try taking turns.
Joanna
Remember . . . sharing is caring!
Need to keep your skills sharp over the summer?
Practice lectures (video and audio) are available at iTunes U !!
--Kyp
This blog is smartphone-friendly!
Thanks to Blogger (and Kyp), you can now view Kyp’s Tips on your iPhone, Android or other web-enabled device.
Scan this QR code:
Or visit this link: http://kypstips.typewell.com/?m=1
You can still view the web version on your phone, too, if you want sort by category or do a search . . . See you “on the go” !!
Transcribers, keep your TypeWell account up-to-date . . .
Sign into your TypeWell account to update your email address and other contact info; manage your software licenses; and view your course history. If you trained online, use the original email address that you used during the TypeWell training to sign in (unless you already updated your account with a new email address after you finished the course). If you took the TypeWell course prior the online account system, you can write to Steve to set up your account and have your course transcript posted added to your online account.
Networking online . . . not just for social butterflies. It’s for professionals, too!!
In addition to the TypeWell Jobs Board, transcribers can set up a free, professional profile on LinkedIn. (See Chanel’s tip about professional networking).
In the drop-down menu of the search bar, select “Jobs” and then search for “TypeWell.”
Employers: Posting job announcements on LinkedIn is not free, but posting on the TypeWell Jobs Board is still free.
Forgot to check the Jobs Board? Just check your email instead !!
The TypeWell Jobs Board links to an external website where you can do a job search by keyword (e.g. “TypeWell”). To receive job announcements by email, you need to create a user account on that website and then confirm your email address. Once you’re logged in, you can create a new Job Alert. Specify your email address, keywords to search for, your location, radius to search (in miles), and email delivery preferences.
Once you save your Job Alert, you can “test” it to see current job postings that meet those criteria. When you’re not actively seeking work, you can “delete” or temporarily “pause” the search to stop receiving emails.
HINT: You can leave the Location field blank to find all jobs with a specific keyword. However, you can’t leave the Radius field blank, so just enter any number from 1-999.
Remember that new transcribers must have at least 50 hours of on-site experience before working in a remote setting.
Kate
ALSO: Review this post about professional ethics . . .
Our Google Group has a spiffy new look on the web!! But . . . it still works the same on email.
-- Kyp
Google Groups has a new, optional user interface designed to be more like an online discussion forum. This tip will help you make the most of the TypeWell Transcribers Google Group (if you choose to participate in the online discussions using your web browser, instead of via email).
NOTE: the TypeWell Transcribers group is only for people who have successfully completed the TypeWell course. It you’re not already a member of the Google Group but would like to join, just send an email message to Steve!
How to get to the new interface
Go to groups.google.com and sign in with the account you used to subscribe to the TypeWell Transcribers group. There you’ll see a list of all the groups you’re subscribed to.
Click on the link for the TypeWell Transcribers group. You should initially see the “old” user interface, which uses some Comic Sans font and the familiar “TypeWell blue” color.
On the right side of the page, you’ll see something like this:
Once you click the link to view in the new Google Groups, you’ll be taken to the “new” Google Groups interface: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/typewell
Edit your membership
Click “My membership” to edit your membership in the group. Choose how you’d like to receive emails, or select “No email” if you plan to view and participate in the discussion using your web browser.
You can choose to display or hide your photo and your name, and whether to link your group membership to your Google Profile (if you’ve set one up).
Read the discussion
On the left-hand side of the screen, you can always click “My groups” to view all of the groups you belong to. Once you click on the forum, a list of all Topics in that forum will be displayed. Our TypeWell Transcribers group has Topics dating back to 2007!
Click on any Topic to read its posts. The first (original) post for the Topic will be displayed at the top, and any replies or comments will be shown beneath it. That is, Topics read chronologically, top to bottom.
Respond to the discussion
Click on a “reply” link to respond to any post. To reply the whole group, click “Post reply.” A text box will appear. Type your reply, and click “Post.” Once approved by the group moderator, your reply will be displayed at the bottom of that Topic, where all members of the TypeWell Transcribers group can read it.
To reply to just the author of a post, click “Reply to author.” They’ll automatically receive your message via email, but your reply won’t be visible to the rest of the group.
Different views
Experiment with the new user interface! Learn more about the different screens by visiting Google’s help articles.
About the Forum screen: http://groups.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=1047658
About the Topic screen: http://groups.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=1047660
Prefer the old user interface?
You can switch back any time! Just go to the Overview page and you’ll see a link to “Click here to switch back to the old version.”
Prefer email?
You can still read and send posts via email, too! If you’re a member of the TypeWell Transcribers Google Group, you can post by sending an email message to: typewell@googlegroups.com
Kate
Don’t throw out that keyboard yet!!
Question:
When I tell my friends and family that I’m a transcriber, I often get questions about how TypeWell compares to speech recognition. Where can I learn more?
Answer:
Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) is a promising technology in many settings, but it’s not the best option for the classroom. The TypeWell website has some useful information about the challenges of speech recognition in a classroom environment, accuracy rates, voicewriting, and remote voicewriting. Read more here: http://typewell.org/speechrecog.html
See the “Send tips to your email address” box? It’s over there, on the right side of my blog page --->
Enter your email address. . . . then click the “Subscribe” button. . . . a pop-up window should open (this is the Email Subscription Request window). . . . type the text you see in that funny green font. . . . then click “Complete”. . . .
THEN check your email account for a message from Feedburner. . . . click the link in that email message. . . . my future posts will be sent to your email address. Easy peasy!
-Kyp
What’s the latest and greatest at TypeWell?? Major announcements, software releases, new web pages, etc. are listed at typewell.com/news !!!
Lots of info for indies on the TW website! Happy 2011!!
Many TypeWell transcribers have asked us for guidance about setting up their own business to provide TypeWell transcribing services. With the input of a number of successful TypeWell independent contractors, we've put together a webpage full of independent contractor information. Check it out!
School is COOL, but TypeWell works in other places, too!!
Q: How do I find non-educational transcribing gigs?
A: While TypeWell is designed for transcribers who provide communication access in classes and meetings, those transcribing skills are often used outside of educational settings as well. Many TypeWell transcribers provide communication access at conventions, “virtual” online conferences, places of worship, etc. TypeWell transcribers sometimes do non-realtime work, producing transcripts of recorded interviews, videos, medical or legal dictations, etc.
To find these types of jobs online, you can set up a professional profile at Elance.com (free), or a number of other job boards for freelancers (some of which are not free). Also, don’t forget about craigslist and the TypeWell Jobs Board. You might find opportunities by word-of-mouth, using references from other transcribing professionals, or by posting your skills on a site like LinkedIn (but first, read Chanel’s excellent tip about professional networking).
Remember that transcribers who want to do additional work must obtain/use their own computer and TypeWell software. Or, they must get permission in writing from their supervisor to use the school's equipment and software.
If you’re looking to add additional “gigs” to your TypeWell work schedule, do read the discussion on professional ethics and uphold your existing commitments to employers and consumers.
NEW FLASH!!! Book your ticket to the Pacific Northwest! This is THE seminar for TW transcribers in 2011 . . .
There will not be a WNCAP conference in 2011. The Text-Interpreting Professionals Seminar (TIPS), focusing on meaning-for-meaning services only, will be held instead.
Many of the same people who organized the past WNCAP conferences are working now to make TIPS be an excellent educational and peer-networking event. The TIPS planning team includes Jo Alexander of Oregon State University; Sharon Allen of Portland Community College; Kim Thiessen of Western Washington University; Kerri Holferty of Whatcom Community College; and Steve and Judy Colwell of TypeWell.
Just click this TIPS link and start making plans to attend!
-- Judy
The BCIT videos about TypeWell are now captioned!!
Post-Secondary Communication Access Services (PCAS) at BCIT produced a video about TypeWell, describing its use, benefits, and challenges. It shows how TypeWell is used in the classroom, and includes interviews with service coordinators, consumers, and professional TypeWell transcribers. Watch the video (in two parts) at:
Are you teaming or working alone? Do you know the site policies for your school or agency? Review these tips!!
things to consider when taking a new assignment
use the TypeWell program appropriately
setting the right tone with a new site or professor
And of course . . .
A great semester starts with great preparation!
prepare laptops for in-class use
why is my license renewal period short this time?
switching between peer-to-peer linking and WiFi
roller bags with sturdy wheels
transcriber essentials: 3-prong extension cords
Back from summer break? Knock the rust off with some practice lectures!!
The Khan Academy website, www.khanacademy.org, is a great place to find short practice lectures on just about any subject! There are over 1600 videos, all recorded by one person (Salman Khan), in practically every subject area of math, science, history, finance, economics, etc.
Most of Khan’s lectures are reasonably paced. If you’re a brand new transcriber, remember to take caution when practicing with any recorded media: don’t let yourself slip into using fragments, run-on sentences, or other bad habits just to keep up. You might want to download a trial version of Enounce’s MySpeed software, which allows you to slow down or speed up the playback of any flash-based videos online, including YouTube!
Kate
Before new classes start, clean out your old PAL abbreviations!!
More PAL tips to come . . .
