Files with this icon are in .pdf format

(short for portable document format).

Probably Already Installed!

When you double-click on .pdf files, they open with Adobe Reader, which is probably already on your computer.  If Adobe Reader is not on your computer, you will be prompted to install it from the Adobe website when you try to open one of these files. 

Download BC Science 8

The BC Science 8 textbook online version can be downloaded in .pdf format in short sections from the home version website. (You have to put in the CHSS username and password.)  YOU HAVE TO DOWNLOAD THE FILE AND SAVE IT TO YOUR COMPUTER OR USB DRIVE FOR THIS TO WORK.

How to Read Out Loud

After the document is downloaded, open the .pdf and choose Read Out Loud from the very bottom of the View Menu.  Click where you want to start reading.  To control the reading, use these menu items or their corresponding keyboard shortcuts.  Shift+Ctrl+C can be used to pause and then restart the speech.  

Choosing a Voice and Speed

You can set the voice and speed Adobe uses by going to the Start Menu/Settings/Control Panel/Speech.  (In Windows Vista, go to the Text To Speech Control Panel.) On the Text To Speech tab you can select from the voices currently installed on the computer.  

The quality of the voice will be very important for some students.  If you don't have any decent voices installed, you can purchase better quality voices from an extensive collection at NextUp for about $35 per voice.

Searching for .pdf Files

The quickest way to locate a particular title is to do a Google search on the title of the book plus .pdf.  You will be able to find free .pdfs for books on which copyright has expired ...classic novels, short stories, and Shakespeare for example. 

There are also many online sites, such as Planet .pdf, from which free books in the public domain can be downloaded.

 .pdfs on ARC

Some of the BC required textbooks and novels on ARC-BC are available in .pdf format.