WordTalk

Documents

Authors Rod Macaulay, TASSCC Unit, Aberdeen City Council

To enable children with literacy difficulties to engage in language work independently.

Objectives

MS Word, Textbridge or other OCR package, WordTalk, Dragon Dictate, Intellikeys Keyboard.

Software

Description To find out if using WordTalk with other software packages could create a system where children with language difficulties could access the curriculum independently.

Learning Areas Additional Learning Needs

Levels Years 3 to 18

WordTalk, ALDKeywords

Project Overview

WordTalkTeacher Planning and Management

Background and Planning

Classroom Images

Click the documents below to help you understand the context of this exemplary learning project:

Background & Planning: A picture of the origin and objectives of the learning project, including the manner in which the project was planned and managed.

Classroom Images: Images of the classroom to give you a better feeling for how the project was implemented. They include pictures captured from a video. A short transcript from the video appears on slide 4.

Evolving WordTalk: Illustrates how WordTalk and its uses have developed since the original project.

Documents

Evolving WordTalk

WordTalkTeaching Resources

Click the documents below to view the teaching resources used in the teaching of this learning project:

Project Resources lists the equipment and software used in this project.

WordTalk Introduction is a brief introduction with graphics on how to use WordTalk.

WordTalk Pictures contains pictures of a student affected by literacy difficulties, particularly spelling, using WordTalk to listen to spelling suggestions.

School Perspective is a short report by Margaret Maclean who was the appointed member of staff from Aberdeen Grammar School who was involved in the project.

Documents

Project ResourcesWordTalk

IntroductionWordTalk Pictures School Perspective

WordTalkAssessment and Standards

Original Project: This describes the ongoing informal assessment of the Aberdeen Grammar School project.

3-14 Assessment: Since WordTalk has “evolved”, it has become a common classroom tool. This is a formal assessment checklist for 5-14 level C assessment. This is cross curricular encompassing English and ICT. This is especially helpful to pupils who are assessed in SEN bases and Special schools.

Transcript from Maurice Video: A short video was made of Maurice using the WordTalk and Dragon Dictate. As the file was too large to include in this VCT, I have included a transcript of the concluding interview with Paul Nisbet of the Call Centre Edinburgh.

Documents

Original Project WordTalk 5-14 Assessment

Transcript from Maurice Video

WordTalkTASSCC Summerhill Centre Aberdeen

TASSCC (Technological Assessment and Support Service for Children and the Curriculum) provides a service for children with learning or communication difficulties which can be helped by using computer technology.

Training in

TASSCC