Co Writer

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Co Writer Write Out Loud

• By Carol-Anne Dan

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Our Focus

• Adapted from the principals of learning we see
  these programs helping
• learners to see themselves as capable and
  successful
• Students to become self-directed in their tasks
• Students build contextual relationships through
  their expression
• Students that require a different approach to
  learning

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Outcomes, Curriculum and Issues

• Depending on the application you choose to
  integrate with these programs, a number of
  outcomes can be met.
• Our focus is on how these programs can support
  learners through technology integration
• The diversity of learners and changing learning
  styles of the integrated classroom require new
  supports
• The thing to remember is that we are using
  technology for concrete reasons (to enable
  learners) and not just for technology's sake

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WRITE-OUTLOUD

• A talking word processor containing various
  features for ease of use
• the talking toolbar displays commonly used
  options
• The menu buttons lead the user through a variety
  of further choices
• A range of uses for this program may include but
  are not limited to IPP students, reluctant
  writers, shy speakers, resource students, etc.
• This program may be used alone or in conjunction
  with a program such as Co-Writer.

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CO-WRITER

• This is a word prediction tool
• It can be used alone or with any other electronic
  writing program. I.e. Word Processor, Web
  Composer, Presentation Software, Database and
  beyond.
• As letters are typed, suggestions are offered
  until the user chooses one or continues to type.
• It writes sentences one at a time then sends it
  to the current program being used.
• It can use Flexible spelling to incorporate
  phonetic attempts at words.

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Accessibility

• WriteOutLoud CoWriter
• Can change text/background highlight
• color to support different learners
• Speech/text options allow for wider access and
  completion of literacy initiatives
• Students can communicate using Talk mode (a
  live text reader )
• Can change voices to male or female
• Final product looks like what other word
  processors would have created
• Can use with other programs
• Start to finish books

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Dictionaries

• CoWriter
• Topic Dictionaries
• Flexible Dictionary options
• Grammar Options
• Choose of words predicted up to nine
• Predict In-Line

• WriteOutLoud
• Accredited Franklin Dictionary
• Reads the definition
• Stop speech option
• Option to spell out loud, letter by letter

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STOPDEMO TIME
caught ya thinking of MC Hammer! Be honest!
We were!
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(No Transcript)
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YOUR TURN

• Time for you to experiment
• Using a Literacy based activity you will be lead
  through some of the common options of each
  program.
• Through a Math activity you will be lead through
  a second possible usage of the programs
• Have Fun!

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Final Thoughts

• Our focus tonight was to show how the programs
  WriteOutLoud and CoWriter could be used in the
  classroom. It was our intention to have
  demonstrated some of the benefits and useful
  applications these programs could provide you in
  your own classrooms.
• We did not do a formal evaluation on these
  programs but we have been provided with some
  useful instruments developed by our classmates if
  you would like to do your own evaluation.

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Mission Possible!

• We have shown two ways in which we could use
  these programs in the classroom environment.
  These are by no means the only ways to use them.
• Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is
  to come up with some other creative ways in which
  these programs could be used in the classroom.
• We will compile a list of the results and
  forward them to everybody afterward.

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To Help you Start your Mission

• For information on these programs contact
  Assistive Technology.
• Hrsb web site http//www.hrsb.ns.ca/program/servi
  ces/assistive-technology/