Outliner

Outline & Speaking Notes

The outline builder and speaking note creator in Pops Classroom is referred to as Pops Outliner. The outline builder quickly and intuitively guides and teaches how to create a properly formatted preparation outline. The speaking note creator uses artificial intelligence to help create concise speaking notes that encourage internalizing a presentation and avoid reading from a full outline.

Classroom View:

Outline & Speaking Notesoutline.png
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Instructor FAQs

Can a student edit an outline after it's been submitted?

Yes, but only if it has been "Returned" by the instructor. Before it's been "Returned", the outline (and "Critical Thinking" tab) will be locked to new edits. However, speaking notes can still be created, edited, and deleted in order to allow for a student to prepare for their speech.



How do I grade an outline?

Once you’ve opened a student’s Speech Prep, you will see that on the left side will be their full sentence outline and, on the right, will be the preliminary plan for their speech goal and main points. If you click on the Instructor Notes tab, you’ll see that here you can enter the grades for the outline and/or speaking notes. You can enter grades by clicking in the blank box and typing the grade, or by clicking the up/down arrows. To comment on a student’s full sentence outline, you have two options. First, on the right side of your screen – on the Instructor Notes tab – you’ll see in the bottom left corner of that window a “+” icon. Once you’ve clicked that button, you’ll see that a comment box has been populated for you to type in. Once you’ve typed your comment, click the orange send button to send to the student. Second, if you’d like to reference a part of a student’s outline, you simply click on that part of their outline, then click on the yellow comment button in the bottom left of the outline window, and you’ll see a box populate with a reference to that portion of the outline. Once you’re finished reviewing a student’s Speech Prep, you can either return or mark graded. Returning to a student allows them to edit again and then return/resubmit the assignment back to you. Marking an assignment graded will submit the final grade to the student. You can still update a grade after marking graded by making your changes, then clicking “Update Grade”.



How can I comment on an outline and speaking notes?

You can leave a comment on your outline and speaking notes for your teacher in the "Comments" tab. Click the comment button at the bottom of the tab. Type in the comment in the box and hit the orange send button to post the comment. You can also leave a referenced comment (on a submitted outline only). From the "Build" tab, click into the box you'd like to comment on and then click the comment icon from the toolbar.



How can I print a student's outline?

To print a student's outline, open that student's assignment. Then click the "More" button in the top right corner of the assignment and then click "Print Outline." Your outline will open in a new window (make sure you have disabled your pop up blocker). Then click the "Print" button to open your device's printer settings. This feature is only available in the Google Chrome browser.



How can I print a student's speaking notes?

To print a student's speaking notes, open that student's assignment. Then click the "More" button in the top right corner of the assignment and click "Print Speaking Notes." Your speaking notes will open in a new window (make sure your pop up blocker is disabled). Click the "Print" button to open your device's printer settings. This feature is only available in Google Chrome.



How can I send the outline and speaking notes back to the student for them to revise?

To request revisions on an assignment, press the "Return" button on the assignment. The assignment will then be unlocked for additonal edits by the student. It is the student's responsibility to resubmit any revisions. You will be able to see the student's work even in the returned state.



How do I download a student's outline?

To download a student's outline, open that student's assignment. Then click "More" in the top right corner of the assignment and then click "Download." A information box will appear on your screen, follow the directions in this box and download the outline. This feature is currently only supported in the Google Chrome browser.



Student FAQs

What do the buttons in the toolbar do?

When a student clicks into a box on the outline builder, a toolbar like shown below will become available. Here's what each button/tool on the toolbar is used for, as well as the keyboard shortcut for each... Create New SubSection (Ctrl + Enter) - This button/tool creates a new line that is one indention/level in from the line that it is clicked from. For example, if this button/tool is clicked from an " A" line, it will create a " 1" underneath it and tabbed in once... A. 1. Create New Sibling Section (Shift + Enter) - This button/tool creates a new line that is on the same indention/level as the line that it is clicked from. For example, if this button/tool is clicked from an " A" line, it will create a " B" underneath it... A. B. Indent Section (Tab) - This button/tool indents the line that it is clicked from. For example, if this button/tool is clicked from an " B" line, it will indent/change it to a " 1", a subsection of " A". A. A. B. > 1. Outdent Section (Shift + Tab) - This button/tool outdents the line that it is clicked from. For example, if this button/tool is clicked from an " 1" line, it will indent/change it to a " B", a sibling section of " A". A. A. 1. < B. Create a new Speaking Note (Ctrl + Space) - This button/tool creates a new blank speaking note box in the "Speaking Notes" tab on the right side of the screen. You can then type any note that you'd like. Create a new Automatic Speaking Note (Ctrl + Shift + Space) - Using artificial intelligence, this button/tool creates a new speaking note box in the "Speaking Notes" tab on the right side of the screen that is automatically filled in with the main idea of the line/box it is clicked from. You can then edit the auto-generated text in the note. Comment on this Section (Ctrl + Space) - This button/tool creates a comment in the Grade/Comments tab on the right side of the screen that is label "In reference to [the section it is clicked from]". You then type your comment in the comment box, then hit the orange send button. Delete Selected Section/Point - This button/tool deletes a section AND any/all of the subsections below it, as well as any subsections below those subsections. You can always undo this action with the keyboard shortcut for under, Ctrl + Z.



Can an outline be edited after it's been submitted?

Yes, but only if it has been "Returned" by the instructor. Before it's been "Returned", the outline (and "Critical Thinking" tab) will be locked to new edits. However, speaking notes can still be created, edited, and deleted. If you need to edit the outline after submission, contact your professor or submit a request.



How do I submit my outline and speaking notes?

To submit your outline and speaking notes, click "Submit" in the top right corner. Once an assignment has been submitted, the outline can't be edited. Should you need to edit the assignment after submission, contact your professor or submit a request.



How do I create additional main points in my outline?

From the "Plan" tab, click into an existing main point and then click the plus sign (+) from the toolbar. A new main point will create in your speech plan and on the outline.



How do I create subsections on my outline?

Create New SubSection (Ctrl + Enter) - To create a new subsection, click into the box you'd like a subsection on and then click the subsection button. This button/tool creates a new line that is one indention/level in from the line that it is clicked from. For example, if this button/tool is clicked from an " A" line, it will create a " 1" underneath it and tabbed in once... A. 1.



How do I change the level a subsection is on?

To change level a subsection is on, click into the box you'd like to change then use the follow buttons... Indent Section (Tab) - This button/tool indents the line that it is clicked from. For example, if this button/tool is clicked from an " B" line, it will indent/change it to a " 1", a subsection of " A". A. A. B. > 1. Outdent Section (Shift + Tab) - This button/tool outdents the line that it is clicked from. For example, if this button/tool is clicked from an " 1" line, it will indent/change it to a " B", a sibling section of " A". A. A. 1. < B.



How do I create speaking notes?

To create speaking notes, click into the box of the outline you'd like a speaking note for (on the "Build" tab). From there, you have two options to create speaking notes, they are: Create a new Speaking Note (Ctrl + Space) - This button/tool creates a new blank speaking note box in the "Speaking Notes" tab on the right side of the screen. You can then type any note that you'd like. Create a new Automatic Speaking Note (Ctrl + Shift + Space) - Using artificial intelligence, this button/tool creates a new speaking note box in the "Speaking Notes" tab on the right side of the screen that is automatically filled in with the main idea of the line/box it is clicked from. You can then edit the auto-generated text in the note.



How do I download my outline?

To download an outline, click "More" in the top right corner of the assignment and then click "Download." A information box will appear on your screen, follow the directions in this box and download the outline. This feature is currently only supported in the Google Chrome browser.



How can I print my outline?

To print your outline, click the "More" button in the top right corner of the assignment and then click "Print Outline." Your outline will open in a new window (make sure you have disabled your pop up blocker). Then click the "Print" button to open your device's printer settings. This feature is only available in the Google Chrome browser.



How can I print my speaking notes?

To print your speaking notes, click the "More" button in the top right corner of the assignment and click "Print Speaking Notes." Your speaking notes will open in a new window (make sure your pop up blocker is disabled). Click the "Print" button to open your device's printer settings. This feature is only available in Google Chrome.



How can I comment on an outline and speaking notes?

You can leave a comment on your outline and speaking notes for your teacher in the "Comments" tab. Click the comment button at the bottom of the tab. Type in the comment in the box and hit the orange send button to post the comment. Please note, your teacher will not be able to see or reply to the comment unless the assignment has been submitted. You can also leave a referenced comment (on a submitted outline only). From the "Build" tab, click into the box you'd like to comment on and then click the comment icon from the toolbar.