Return-Path: <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g9VFWsX26673; Thu, 31 Oct 2002 10:32:54 -0500 (EST) Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 10:32:54 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <LOBBKPEEECPHKCHMLJMGIEALCFAA.jhorsman@idirect.com> Errors-To: alcrsb@langate.gsu.edu Reply-To: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Jenny Horsman" <jhorsman@idirect.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:2356] RE: software that is user friendly X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2911.0) Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 3355 Lines: 76 I rarely manage to find two seconds to post to this list, but I couldn't resist joining in to this practical discussion as I just saw a very interesting demonstration of a language lab for high school students with severe learning disabilities. They used a series of general software, mostly developed for people with disabilities - and had them interlocked so that you could use them together in different ways - but each one seemed very useful: Kurzweill - you can scan in any document and it appears exactly as it does in the source book or document, it can then read it out loud at the speed you choose highlighting the sentence and actual word that is being read.... You can add notes to the document and students can work with it in a range of ways to develop all sorts of study skills. Inspiration - allows you to type in a series of ideas and it will group them in different ways to create a web, a list etc. so that you can see how to build writing - the document can then be exported to Word (I thought this could be brilliant for developing writing and thinking skills) Dragon Naturally Speaking - this allows you to speak into the computer and have what you say appear in print - it can be used with all the other software to make it possible to turn speech into writing. It requires "training" to recognize each voice which can take a while. Read and Write - this program will read out loud the words you are typing in - EXACTLY as you write them (I thought this would be fascinating in adult literacy to help students read exactly what they wrote and recognize their own mistakes). It can be set to read a finished piece, or read anything else, a website, a document of any sort..... It has a spell check and reads the alternate suggestions out loud too. Text Ease - Is a straightforward desktop publisher which makes it possible to integrate pictures and text. It reads the text out loud too. I was very inspired by all of these, like Word they are practical tools for doing what you want to do. The results they are finding in schools is that by bypassing the difficulties with reading and writing, but having students continually seeing and hearing the connections between spoken language and print they are seeing huge leaps in reading level and in interest and self esteem. I am curious whether people have tried using these sorts of voice/print software in their programs - and if so what sort of impact they have had? Jenny Horsman Spiral Community Resource Group www.jennyhorsman.com jenny@jennyhorsman.com -----Original Message----- From: nifl-womenlit@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-womenlit@nifl.gov]On Behalf Of Daphne Greenberg Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 2:47 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:2352] software that is user friendly Folks, A member of our listserv has emailed me with the following question and I would like to pose it publicly in case someone out there has an answer! Here is the question: I'm ready to start a literacy program for former welfare recipients during the evening hours. Any suggestions for software that is user friendly for women with limited computer skills? Daphne Greenberg Associate Director Center for the Study of Adult Literacy Georgia State University University Plaza Atlanta, GA 30303-3083 phone: 404-651-0127 fax:404-651-4901 dgreenberg@gsu.edu
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