Word+prediction+software

   **Word Prediction Software is especially useful with students who have disabilities. This can include physical disabilities (an inability to physically write or type), or mental learning disabilities that prohibit students from reading and writing. Word Prediction Software decreases the number of keystrokes that a student has to make and by doing so helps students to generate text that allows them to keep up with the pace and flow of their thoughts and ideas. This software also helps students who have trouble spelling because they only need to know up to the first three letters of their target word.  Word Prediction made by some publishers can even help with auditory read aloud functions for students who cannot read well or do not comprehend what they read on their own  __Sources:__ http://www2.edc.org/NCIP/library/wp/Profile.htm http://jset.unlv.edu/19.3/tumlin/tumlin.pdf
 * 1. Who needs this assistive technology?

Word Prediction Software was invented and patented by John W. Miller. He collaborated with Microsoft Corporation. The patent number is 5261091 and was issued on November 9, 1993. His purpose was to use what he knew about computer’s memory capability and put is towards a more effective way of communicating.  __Sources:__ http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5805911.html http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5805911-description.html
 * 2. What is the history of the assistive technology?**

There are many benefits to Word Prediction Software. This type of program helps to motivate reluctant and struggling writers. Struggling writers can be empowered. They will have the confidence and the independence to use words that they never had access to before. Studies have shown that students who have used this type of software have shown an increase in their literacy level. Students who have used this type of software have shown:  a)  improved spelling  b)   <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">an increase in the variety of words used <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> c)  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">improved frequency and correct use of word endings <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> d)   <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> a more positive attitude about writing and want to spend more time doing so, and <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> e)  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">improvement in the speed of their writing. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> The beneficial features available with Word Prediction Software differ depending on the publisher. Here are a couple different publishers that offer unique additional features. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> 1.   __<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">Co: Write __<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> offers a specific software called Write:Outloud. Write:OutLoud is a talking word processor and writing software program for students in grades 3-12. With Write:Out:Loud your students will write more effectively, more often and have more enthusiasm to share creative thoughts on paper. This software provides auditory feedback for the students. This is beneficial for students who struggle with reading. It also offers valuable revising and editing tools increase the quality of student writing. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> 2. __<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">EZKeys/ Key Whiz: __<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> offers a built- in reader feature. This will allow even students who cannot speak to deliver speeches to the classroom. They can create their talk using their word processor and then the reader feature will allow the student to “speak” one sentence at a time by using keystrokes or switch activation. The student can even choose different delivery voices to communicate his/her message. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">__Sources:__ <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> http://www.donjohnston.com/products/write_outloud/index.html <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> http://www.words-plus.com/website/products/soft/ezkeys.htm <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> http://www2.edc.org/NCIP/library/wp/Profile.htm
 * 3. What benefits does the assistive technology provide?**

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">Although each type of Word Prediction software has some variations on how it works, they all have basically the same idea. The student will strike the first letter of their target word (the word that they are trying to spell or type). After the first letter is chosen a list of common words that begin with that letter will appear. For example, if the student typed the letter ‘b’ the following words might appear: <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> If the student’s target word does not show up on this list he or she may need to type a second or third letter. Say the student’s word was ‘because.’ He or she would need to type ‘be’ or ‘bec’ to find the target word. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> In the chart above you will see the student’s target word ‘because.’ In order to choose that word all the student would have to do is type the number ‘3’. This reduced the number of keystrokes for the word ‘because’ from 7 to 3. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">__Sources__: <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> http://www2.edc.org/NCIP/library/wp/Profile.htm <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">http://www.aurora-systems.com/
 * 4. How does the assistive technology work?**
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">1. boy || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">2. bike || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">3. blanket ||
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">4. bear || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">5. began || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">6. broken ||
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">1. began || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">2. before || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">3. because ||
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">4. below || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">5. bellow || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">6. beg ||

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">I personally would use this technology for writing workshop. The reality of the future of our educational system is classrooms that are inclusion based. Tracked classes are not going to be as prevalent with the remodeling of our current school system. I am going to have students with disabilities in my classroom and my job is to make sure that I make modifications accordingly. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> Students in my classroom will be able to use Word Prediction every step of the way in the writing process. I find one of the most useful features (of Co: Writer specifically) is the Draft Builder software. This is a great way for students to be able to construct better visual maps for them to organize their thoughts better in pre-writing. They will be better able to keep up with the ideas that flow through their heads. This will also help them to take better notes when I am giving mini-lessons on writing conventions before writing workshop time. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> During workshops each student will be in a different stage of their particular piece of writing. Some students will prefer to write their ideas down, but for those who cannot because of physical, mental or organizational disabilities; the Draft Builder will be perfect. During workshop time the students can go to in class computers (if available) instead of working at their seats. I will be able to go around the room and conference with each student briefly at the computer just as I would with the students that are sitting at a desk. Having the Draft Builder for pre-writing and the Word Prediction for producing texts will allow even my struggling students to feel independent and productive. The students using the software will also be better able to keep up with notes taken during whole class discussions and brainstorming sessions. In general, Word prediction, and Draft Builder combined will be great tools to ensure that each of my students has access to the words each of them wants to use for expression in a writing unit. The software will allow my students to write about the topics they want instead of being limited to what they know how to spell. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> Another use of this software for any classroom is using Word Prediction for testing accommodations. There are specific programs out there that will align not only with the state testing requirements, but also with the individual students I.E.P. __<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">Sources: __ <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">http://www.donjohnston.com/products/draft_builder/index.html <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">Atwell, Nancy. __In the Middle: New Understanding About Writing, Reading and Learning__. Portsmouth: Boynton/Cook Inc., 1998.
 * 5. Exemplary examples of how the assitive technology would be integrated into and English Classroom.

<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">

Home