OrbitNote allows students to listen to PDFs of textbooks, articles, and other course documents as well as highlight and take notes on the digital text. OrbitNote works on PDF, ePub files, and more in Google Drive, Google Classroom, websites in Chrome browser, and Moodle.

Installation

To install the software, choose Google Chrome Extension or the desktop/iPad versions, then follow the directions for installation below. 

Google Chrome Extension

1. Make sure you’re logged in to your Bethel email account
2. Download the Chrome extension on the Chrome Web Store
3. Add extension to your toolbar (video tutorial for reference) by clicking the Chrome extensions icon (gray puzzle piece) and selecting the pin next to the extension icon. 
4. Pin the extension to your Chrome toolbar by clicking on pin. It will turn blue once it is pinned.

Once the extension is pinned, click on the OrbitNote icon to open the extension's dashboard. Upload the saved PDF to OrbitNote. (If a document is in a format other than a PDF, it must be saved as a PDF.)

Highlight a paragraph and hit play button on toolbar to begin listening to the text. OrbitNote will read the text until pause or stop is selected. Use the stop button to move to another section of the document.

Additional resources:

• - Use highlighter feature to highlight portions of the text. 
• - Click button to collect highlights together into a Google Doc.
• - Use pushpin feature to insert notes on the document. A pushpin icon will appear where the annotation was made.
• - Click to add a typed or spoken comment, file, or picture.

OrbitNote Quick Reference Guide

Adjust settings:

Click ellipsis in the top right corner; go to settings.

• Change text size.
• Voice type and speed 
• Translate text into another language
• Create screen mask to eliminate on screen distractions to concentrate on one passage of the document.