[Moderator's note. Because Peg is a long-time contributor, I am passing on
her comments below since they clearly reflect a strongly held conviction,
even though not specifically about SR. I don't think anyone would really
disagree with the fact that some people can reasonably prefer one tool
over another, that some tools may be better for some individuals in some
situations or at specific developmental stages, and finally, that email is
not always the best place to express nuanced opinions. I don't really
think anyone means any personal offense in any case, but it should be a
reminder that broad pronouncements and generalizations don't always go
over well in email. (Or even in person--just ask Lawrence Summers.) I will
not post any further rehashing of Inspiration vs. Draftbuilder on such a
contentious basis, but am happy to post people's experiences with either.
If you have concerns pass them on to me directly: bfollansbee@edc.org.
Thanks. Bob]
I read your comments again, and I guess I do have to debate. This comment
in quotes below, is really insulting and so completely inaccurate about
Inspiration or "Special Ed." in general. If you have bones to pick with
the
people you work with, save it for them please.
"So many times special education seems to spend too much time on a tool
that is
an end in itself, rather than teaching students to use tools that will
be useful several years down the road and lead to independence at
developmentally appropriate times. "
I use Inspiration to set up courses and projects at the University level
both as an instructor and Ph.D candidate. Why the need to trash a program
others find very useful? DNS works perfectly (one word at a time even)
with
Inspration. All of this technology, is very adaptable and what works for
one may or may not work for another but to trash something that someone
may
find useful is not helpful. I hope everyone uses both Inspiration and
Draftbuilder and makes their own decisions about them.
Take good care, Peg B
----- Original Message -----
From: <spk2wrt@phoenix.edc.org>
To: <spk2wrt@phoenix.edc.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 5:34 PM
Subject: Re: Organizing software
>
> I like Draftbuilder better than Inspiration as an organizing software
> program, because I find that students must fuss so much with constant
> rearranging and reorganizing of the Inspiration bubbles that they lose
> momentum in getting their ideas written. Draftbuilder is available from
> donjohnston.com, and you can use Dragon Pro dictation boxes to dictate
> and correct all of your "written" work in Draftbuilder. It also has
> templates so that students can write book reports, 3 and 5 paragraph
> essays, narratives, etc. as well as utilizing the correct format for
> bibliographies. I have found that middle school students can use it,
> and high school and college students have also found it useful. Don
> Johnston has quite a few templates posted on their web site as well as
> with the program.
>
> It will also read back what is typed (or dictated) into it.
>
> The other thing I like about Draftbuilder (compared to Inspiration) is
> that it is a tool that is more similar to the way the "regular kids"
> learn to organize their written work and leads to the skills students
> will need to be more independent in high school and college. So many
> times special education seems to spend too much time on a tool that is
> an end in itself, rather than teaching students to use tools that will
> be useful several years down the road and lead to independence at
> developmentally appropriate times. I think it's sort of like spending
> years teaching dyslexic, dysgraphic students to type (even though they
> will never keep up with the pace of a college student) insteading of
> spending the same time teaching voice recognition technology. Some
> students I've taught VR have been subjected to years of keyboarding and
> still only type 2 or 4 words a minute with multiple spelling areas.
> ...Sorry for soapboxing!
> Jeanne
>
> --
> Jeanne D. Beckman, Ph.D.
> Developmental and Licensed Clinical Psychologist
> 840 Foxdale Avenue
> Winnetka, IL 60093
> Telephone 847-446-1251
> email: AT_Psychologist@jeannebeckman.com
> http://www.JeanneBeckman.com
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> Learning Disabilities Testing
> Assistive Technology & Inclusion Evaluation, Consulting, and Training
> Child, Adult, Marital & Family Therapy
> Consultation & Seminars to Organizations and Media
>
>
> spk2wrt@phoenix.edc.org wrote:
>
>>[Moderator's note. Inspiration and other similar "planners" or graphic
>>organizers are also great to use in advance of dictation via speech
>>recognition. Bob]
>>
>>Thank you so much for your response! Inspiration sounds like a great
>>program~
>>I'll definitely look into it!
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Alison Geraci
>>
>>Quoting spk2wrt@phoenix.edc.org:
>>
>>
>>
>>>I'm not sure if this is what you mean. But Inspiration is a graphic
>>>organizer software, that helps a student brainstorm ideas into a web
and
>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>with a click puts the web in outline format. From there with another
>>>click
>>>it hyperlinks the outline into MS Word or Appleworks (MACs) or you can
>>>export the outline form into a PP document with every main heading
>>>becoming
>>>a separate slide. It has both a screen reader and a text reader. Go
to
>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>http://inspiration.com/ to download a 30 day demo. The program is
about
> 60
>>>dollars. It is the best money I ever spent for writing and organizing
>>>ideas. Try that.
>>>
>>>Best Wishes, Peg B
>>>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: <spk2wrt@phoenix.edc.org>
>>>To: <spk2wrt@phoenix.edc.org>
>>>Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2005 3:11 PM
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 08:19:44 -0500
>>>>From: ageraci@purdue.edu
>>>>To: spk2wrt@phoenix.edc.org
>>>>Subject: [EDC-spk2wrt] Prompting software
>>>>
>>>>[Moderator's note. Hi Allison. I've never heard of such a thing--it
>>>>
>>>>
>>>would
>>>
>>>
>>>>have to be pretty smart, I think. The closest thing I can think of is
>>>>
>>>>
>>>the
>>>
>>>
>>>>use of TTS readback to prompt the student with what's BEEN written
>>>>
>>>>
>>thus
>>
>>
>>>>far, possibly providing enough cuing to proceed. Anybody else? Bob]
>>>>
>>>>I am interested in finding out if there is any type of software
>>>>
>>>>
>>>available
>>>
>>>
>>>>for
>>>>students with mild disabilities that is able to generate writing
>>>>
>>>>
>>prompts
>>
>>
>>>>based
>>>>on what a student has written. I am familiar with programs like
>>>>
>>>>
>>>Co:Writer
>>>
>>>
>>>>4000
>>>>etc. but haven't been able to find anything that actually is able to
>>>>
>>>>
>>do
>>
>>
>>>>this.
>>>>
>>>>Thanks,
>>>>Alison
>>>>
>>>>Quoting spk2wrt@phoenix.edc.org:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>[Moderator's note. Yes, that was me and I recall finally meeting you,
>>>>>Nettie. Anyway, I think the product will be out soon, but it is now
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>out
>>
>>
>>>>of
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>my hands. See my discussion in other messages today. As for the mic,
>>>>>Fraser was using it and had just purchased it the day before at
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>OfficeMax.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>I don't know what kind it was, but it WAS Bluetooth compatible. I am
>>>>>hopelessly old fashioned and am still attached. Maybe others know of
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>good
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>wireless mics? Bob]
>>>>>
>>>>>Hi Bob,
>>>>>
>>>>>I saw the demonstration of Word for Word at CSUN last year. (I think
>>>>>that is the product you are referring to). Do you know when the
>>>>>projected availability date is scheduled? Is this the same software
>>>>>that was demoed. I think you were one of the co-presenters - am I
>>>>>correct? If I am correct, I have been trying to locate the wireless
>>>>>microphone that was used. Any information would be greatly
>>>>>appreciated. I have a Toshiba with blue tooth and the SD card that I
>>>>>was told was necessary to use this wireless mic option. I liked the
>>>>>fact that you microphone was small and appeared quite functional.
>>>>>
>>>>>I own a Jabra wireless mic that I purchased to use with my telephone
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>but
>>>
>>>
>>>>>that does not seem to be working -- does not do the required synch
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>with
>>
>>
>>>>>the bluetooth SD card.
>>>>>
>>>>>If you are the same person who demonstrated the speech-to-text
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>software
>>
>>
>>>>>at CSUN and used the wireless mic, I would greatly appreciate your
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>help
>>
>>
>>>>>with this search. Thanks.
>>>>>
>>>>>Nettie Fischer, ATP
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>
>
>
>
> ____________________________________________________________
> To post a message to the spk2wrt list, send your message to:
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>
>
____________________________________________________________
To post a message to the spk2wrt list, send your message to:
spk2wrt@mail.edc.org. To reply to a message, simply use the reply button in
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