Video transcript
This is a video about using Polly, the text to speech reading tool that comes with the NZQA online digital assessment platform, and how to use it for the 2024 English Language Writing and Numeracy Assessments.
Polly Text to speech can be used by all students entered in the digital assessments and English Writing standard 32405, and English Numeracy Standard 32406, during the two assessment events happening in 2024.
Polly is built in to the NZQA online digital assessment platform.
Polly will support you if you need help with reading by giving you the option to listen to any text in the assessment being read aloud.
Headphones are needed when using Polly. You can use your own or you can use headphones provided by your school.
More information about using Polly is available on the Literacy and Numeracy page on the NZQA website or from your teacher.
How to use Polly, a demonstration
Here is a demonstration of how to use Polly. Polly is normally off, so it needs to be turned on if you want to use it.
You can do this by clicking on the Polly on/off button which is located in the top right-hand corner of the assessment window.
Once Polly has been turned on, it's available for the assessment. When you highlight text, the Polly toolbar will display.
Highlight the text and the assessment, then click on the play button on the Polly toolbar. The text will be played aloud.
Click on Pause to pause Polly. Click on Stop to stop Polly.
You can move the toolbar by dragging it using your mouse.
Click on the X to close the toolbar when you have finished listening. To turn off Polly at any time, click on the on/off button on the top right-hand corner of the screen.
Preparing for using Polly
Get yourself prepared for using Polly. You will need to use headphones.
You can use any headphones that work with your device. You can use your own headphones or headphones provided by your school, depending on any rules your school might have about headphones.
Check out the instructions for using Poly. These can be found on the Literacy and Numeracy page on the NZQA website. Or ask your teacher for the instructions.
Practise using Polly by using the term 4, 2023 Writing or Numeracy assessments available from past digital assessments on the NZQA website.
If you don't have a login to access the past digital assessments, talk to your teacher.
How to practise using Polly
Practise using Polly before doing the assessment for real.
Open the Past Digital Assessments page on the NZQA website. Find the term 4 English Writing or English Numeracy Assessments for 2023.
Open the assessment. Turn Polly on.
Practise using Poly to listen to the questions being read aloud. Also enter text into the response boxes and listen to the response being read aloud.
If you have any questions about using Polly, ask your teacher.