Franklin Speaking Dictionary and Thesaurus
Category: Writing: spelling, conventions & word choice
Description: This hand-held electronic device allows students to input words (or suspected words) via keyboard and responds with a definition or definitions, synonyms, or - in the event of a misspelling - suggestions of similar words. Once a word has been selected, this device can also speak the word aloud in a synthesized voice. Finally, this device has a number of word games built in as aides to growth in student spelling and vocabulary.
UDL Principle: Representation of Information. This device helps by providing multiple routes (visual and auditory) for students to learn new words, synonyms for words they already know, improve their spelling, and familiarize themselves with how any given word is pronounced.
Benefited Groups: All students can gain from this technology, even if only as a tool for spelling and vocabulary work. It could be particularly helpful for students who have trouble physically reading text, or making connections between how words are spelled and how they are pronounced. Learning goals follow suite, being embodied largely in spelling, vocabulary building, and pronunciation.
Concerns: None that are too troublesome. Truly horrific spelling can leave the device with no helpful suggestions for what word is being looked for. There is a bit of a learning curve for users not familiar with such devices, though not a particularly steep one. Lastly, the digitized voice may prove difficult for some users to understand.
Other comments: I approve of this technology! Much more portable than a dictionary and thesaurus and useful for a number of goals. One final cautionary note would be to confident that students are familiar with traditional dictionary and thesaurus use before introducing this technology, and not to let speaking dictionaries cause those texts to ever leave the classroom.
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I picked the same technology (and I noticed a few others did too, must be a popular one!)I liked the point you made about making sure that studetns knew how to use a traditional dictionary and thesaurus first. I had that same concern. I'm glad you made the point about how it could be good for students who had problems physically seeing text,because I hadn't even thought of it being useful for students with a seeing disability.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that technology such as this are great once a student is already able to use a dictionary and thesaurus. The technology seems like a great tool and maybe even an activity students could do when finished with other school work. Especially because the games would be learning tools. Great post!
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