53301_Briscoe_lesson7_Blog7

REOL 533 01

Tacy Briscoe

4/16/11

Blog 7 Software

I chose a software program from texthelp.com called Read&Write Gold.  It is an award-winning literacy software program for reading, writing, study skills and research.  The program has Read Aloud with dual synchronous color highlighting, access to any curriculum and tools for that curriculum, literacy support and flexibility to access at school or at home.

The Reading and Writing section of the software is versatile and dynamic for instructing and tutoring students with disabilities.  Text to speech allows for text to be read aloud to the student.  The words can be highlighted and then read to them.  This is also capable for website reading and acrobat files.  There is a toolbar at the top of the page that allows for “play”, “stop”, “pause”, etc..  Another very useful tool is the dictionary, which reads aloud the definition.   There is also an “online picture definition” that a student can use when they don’t know a word.  They can click on the word and a panel appears with images for that word.  They program also helps with verb conjugations.  Translation for various languages is also available.  They can translate the words/passages and then hear it in that language. 

They Study Skills and Research section of this software assist students with their studying and research assignments.  They can use highlighters to find the main ideas of passages and vocabulary words.  They can then create Microsoft Word documents from the words in the passage to use for outlines, study guides, etc..   It can help explain and expand students’ vocabulary. 

The Read and Write Gold software program improves literacy skills and comprehension, encourages independence, helps with studying skills and gives diverse help for various areas of special education. 

The software would meet the technology standards for the ISTE NETS and Performance Indicators (NETS.S) 3. Research and Information Fluency and 4.Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Decision Making (http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Student_2007_EN.sflb.ashx). 

I do not have students but I have substitute taught for various special education classes and this would be so beneficial to those students who struggle.  I have a friend in the Houston area that teaches in an ESL charter school and I can only imagine how much she would get out of the translation section of this software.  It may be my Christmas gift to her J  I really think this would be an enjoyable and educational tool for students that want so badly to understand but really need that help and extra incentive.  They can have fun and learn not to mention be on the computer.