Rebecca’s On-screen Protractor for Adobe Reader XI

Rebecca's On-screen Protractor for Adobe Reader XI

Schools can download PDF versions of the Scottish Heinemann Maths primary books, and also TeeJay maths textbooks, from the Books for All Scotland Database at . Learners can use the built-in annotation and drawing tools in Adobe Reader to type in answers and complete exercises on-screen. Learners can also use the built-in Analyse tool to measure dimensions of objects on-screen. However, there is no equivalent of an on-screen protractor for measuring angles, and so Rebecca, CALL's dynamic digital illustrator, has created one. Here's how to use it.

1. Download the "My Protractor.pdf" file from .

2. Open Adobe Reader and click the Comment at the top right of the toolbar, then click on Annotations to show the various annotation tools.

3. Click on the arrow to the right of the Stamp tool and choose Create Custom Stamp.

Click Browse and find and open the My Protractor file. Click OK.

4. Type a new category for your stamp such as "Maths Stamps", and name your stamp as e.g. "Protractor". Click OK.

5. Click on the Stamp tool and select Add Current Stamp to Favourites.

6. To use your protractor, click on the Stamp tool and then click the protractor.

7. Now click on the page and your protractor will appear. You can move it around and re-size it by clicking and dragging the handles in the corner.

On-screen Protractor

8. If you see the identity setup dialogue box to the right, fill in your name, tick Don't show again and then click Complete. This means that you will not be asked the same question again.

Graph paper for Drawing

Many drawing tasks require squared paper and so we have created PDF files of `graph paper' with different sized grids. You can download these from .

? 1cm square paper ? 5 mm square paper ? 5 mm square paper landscape ? 2 mm square paper ? 1 cm dotty paper (useful for 3D drawings) ? 1 cm dotty offset paper ? 1 cm dotty and offset paper

Measuring Dimensions

? Go to Edit > Preferences > Units and set the units (mm, cm, inches) ? Adobe Reader X: click View>Tools>Analyze. The Analyze Tools will appear in the Tools

to the right of the page. ? Adobe Reader XI: click Extended at the top right. To measure using the Ruler,

? click on the yellow Ruler button, ? click on the start and end of the element you

want to measure. ? Move the mouse and then click a third time to set

where you want the actual measurement indication to be shown. ? Right-click on the measurement and then click Properties if you want to change colours etc. To stop measuring, press the Esc key on the keyboard.

Other software for drawing and measuring

The built-in drawing tools in Adobe Reader are convenient but fairly basic: some programs with more or better tools for drawing are:

FX Draw

Draw and type equations into MS Word; for secondary; free for students with special needs.

Textease Draw Drawing tool for late primary and early secondary. Onscreen ruler, protractor, calliper and angle measurer. ?42 single user licence.

Splash City!

Maths and drawing tools specifically designed for learners with disabilities; for ages 4-7; 7-1; and 11+; ?125 single user licence.

Smart Notebook Drawing and eqautions; onscreen ruler protractor and compass; if you have a Smart Board, Smart Notebook is free.

? CALL Scotland 2014

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