Using the Technologies

From LiteracyTentWiki

Subject: [PD 3906] Watch This: Steven's Video
From: Jackie A. Taylor
Date: Thu Aug 6 08:49:31 EDT 2009

Good day or evening, all!

Please take 5 minutes today to view this short video of Steven Pritchard demonstrating the virtual literacy tools that Glenn, Anne, Heidi, and others have been discussing:

http://www.educ.drake.edu/webfiles/ivls.mov

(1 minute to load; 4 minutes to view)

Following this message will be a few email posts from Steven, written using some of the tools he demonstrates in the above video.

The video was produced by Drake University as a part of the Iowa Virtual Literacy Initiative (http://www.drake.edu/soe/projects/Iowa_Virtual_Literacy_Initiative.php) and was inspired by Glenn Young's virtual literacy vision and our plans to host this discussion here on the PD List.

I met Steven at the VALUE Institute, upon Marty Finsterbusch's request for me to join Steven in presenting on technology in teaching and learning. We presented on technologies available to practitioners today and the potential that technologies, such as text to speech, voice recognition software, and cell phones, can have for learners in providing accelerated access to information and in developing literacy skills.

During the presentation, Steven demonstrated how to use the tools you will see in the above video. We even experimented using the tools to post to a NIFL discussion list. While we weren't successful with the latter (lesson: never connect to the Internet using the pizza guy's wireless service in the building behind your conference hotel!), Steven's message below and in the posts that follow demonstrate his application of the tools.

When planning this Virtual Literacy discussion, I asked Steven if he would create a video demonstrating some of the tools. The above video is the result. I am pleased to share this video with you today; I hope it offers a slice of the experience I had in understanding the potential that these technologies hold.

A special thank you to Drake University for producing this video.

Jackie Taylor

Dear Jackie,

I am sitting in my living room speaking into a microphone headset that is attached to a laptop computer which has the Dragon naturally speaking installed on it.

I have wrote two books lovers of the flood and disabled thoughts, my wife did a lot of editing due to the way I hear the sounds of the words and type them, but Jackie with the help of this tool and many others that exist and that are out there on the market today we have the means to get people the GED's that they are so deserving.

I am 46 years old. I have considered going back to college. This Dragon NaturallySpeaking is on loan to me by the Drake University adult literacy Center here in Des Moines Iowa, it could help me get my associates degree and go on to become a pastor.

Jackie I think this is the first time ever I have personally felt that I might have a chance writing a paper in passing a test thanks to this $200 program. Think what I could do with just the Dragon NaturallySpeaking I could write school papers once I graduate a while once I graduate I never ever thought about once I graduate it's always well I can't graduate I never could graduate and never had the ability to pass a test. I've never been able to write a paper because the words get jumbled between my head my lips and my fingers you know me Jackie you know that I'm a good speaker I can wow an entire room full of people but in writing a simple e-mail to the head of the Fortune 500 company I look stupid, it looks like it's being wrote by a fifth grader. I haven't been taken seriously. I used to be the District training manager for training center here now I sold computer classes but when it came time to type a letter to principle of Wells Fargo, Blue Cross Blue Shield, or some other Fortune 500 company like I said before when I read it back it sounded like something a fifth grader might write or even a fourth grader. It sounded scooped I sounded stupid, but with the help of this tool Dragon NaturallySpeaking I'm seriously considering going back to college and getting my associates degree in pastoral rail leadership or in other words being an associate pastor, you're more than welcome to post this letter I'm writing to you. Now my only fear is not shutting up I could talk and talk and talk forever and every word I say is printed on the screen. Jackie thank you very much for all your help Glenn Young, and the Drake University adult literacy Center.

Sincerely,

Steven Pritchard

Subject: [PD 3907] Re: Some questions for "virtual literacy"
From: steven pritchard
Date: Wed Aug 5 18:40:08 EDT 2009

Dear Glenn

I am in my living room using the Dragon naturally speaking. This tool can help not just the blind but 46-year-old man and women who can speak clearly, but not type very well. This tech tool, the Dragon naturally speaking does not cost all that much money the rewards outweigh the few hundred dollars it costs.

Please note the Dragon NaturallySpeaking I'm using in my living room right now is on loan from the Drake University adult literacy Center. If we knew and I and others like us can get this tool into the of employers, and workforce sites all over the country then stop and think how many people that have a low literacy issue it will help.

Glenn you know me and you know my writing skills they're not the best but with the help of this Dragon naturally speaking it can help me Stephen Pritchard communicate in a much better way and in a more clear way then meet pushing buttons on a computer, everything I am saying to you and everything I have just said to you is being spoken into a microphone, head I have not had to touch the keyboard once I speak the commands I say the text this tool can help people with learning disabilities adult literacy low illiteracy skills the blind adults with autism, at least I believe this tool can do those things.

I have wrote the book lovers of the flood, and disabled thoughts, both books had to go through a lot of editing now with the help of the Dragon naturally speaking and what the Drake University adult literacy Center has done for me I will be able to write better and more profound and more touching books in the future. I have contacted the White House, technology department I have not heard back from the staff there. We need the support of the United States Congress and the White House what specifically in the White House and Congress do?

By teaching adults with low literacy skills and or giving them the skill sets necessary to get better paying jobs it will help increase the employment in this great country we live in the president wants to get people back to work we must give them the tools some of those tools exist now such as this tool I'm using in my living room of my home, the Dragon NaturallySpeaking other tools are the k reader mobile, and the use of the freeware that exists. Glenn you have helped me see how these technologies and these tools can help people and now my friend I want to show and inform others around the world including members of Congress and the White House how we can use these technologies by getting these technologies into the workforce we can put more people back to work we can educate adults, we can help get adults the GED which they need to get a good paying job or to go on to college and get a better paying job.

Sincerely,
Stephen P. Pritchard

Subject: [PD 3919] Re: Stephen Pritchard
From: Dave Middlebrook
Date: Thu Aug 6 10:06:07 EDT 2009

Hi Stephen, and everyone else,

I have read Stephen's posts and viewed the video. Amazing stuff. My first exposure with assistive and adaptive technologies was in the late 1980s. Since then the field has made great progress. The interesting thing is that people outside of the "disabilities" community—and I know that I am painting with a broad brush here—don't think that this stuff is for them. But it can be, doesn't have to be, but can be. Many of the best tools and teaching methods were originally developed to address issues of access and accessibility. I should add that many in the "disabilities" community—and, again, I am painting with a broad brush—are unaware of other technologies that are being developed that could be very helpful to them. It seems (to me, at least) that the fast pace of development of new technologies kind of keeps us all, to some extent, in the dark. It's just too much to keep up with. We miss so much. So much of what is being done simply doesn't find the right audiences.

I'm probably preaching to the choir here, but...here are three more resources. You might find yourself viewing some of the stuff that you'll see at these conferences as feeder-technologies for improving online PD for everyone. TED is a particularly good online PD resource. You need not attend the conference to benefit.

Thanks, Stephen, for sharing your experience with the tools that work for you.

- Dave

Dave Middlebrook
The Textmapping Project
A resource for teachers improving reading comprehension skills instruction. www.textmapping.org

Subject: [PD 3932] using the technologies
From: Janet Isserlis
Date: Fri Aug 7 09:11:53 EDT 2009

Stephen and all

Thanks, Stephen, for describing the processes you've used for speech-to-text. I'm wondering about how you go about explaining and describing this process to other adults who might be hesitant to try it, or to other people outside literacy work.

It seems there are so many potential (and already realized) useful applications for adults with low/no vision, reading challenges, etc. Have you been able to speak to other adults to help them learn more about all of this? Have you had opportunities to talk about this work in broader communities?

thanks

Janet Isserlis

Subject: [PD 3944] Tech
From: steven pritchard
Date: Sat Aug 8 15:51:56 EDT 2009

Hi yes that's easy. I do enjoy traveling around and explaining these tools, these tech tools.

Some adult students may only have a third or fourth grade reading level but they have the potential to go a lot farther, the first question I asked them is can you use an iPod and do you own an iPod,

Sure they say anyone can use an iPod, what about a nano do you have or have your reviews the nano was sure that's easy will what about sending e-mails once again the adult student says yes I've sent e-mails to my friends and my mother my brother and I asked you have any problems doing this will allow it's easy to have you always been able to do this have you always been able to send e-mails well no!

So how did you learn who taught you, like myself I see so no one showed you how to use an iPod no more about e-mail no about the nano now I just played with it so that the tutor helped you and you are allowed to play with the Dragon NaturallySpeaking do you think you could learn it.

Most adults have a fear of something or other some adults who have no literacy problem whatsoever have a problem learning or a fear of playing/learning something new whether it's a computer program or a remote control on your TV, it's fear that stopping us that the technology. We have to teach the tutors first we want the tutors at the various literacy centers around the country and around the world to feel comfortable with the Dragon NaturallySpeaking and the K reader mobile and the dial to do and the browse allowed in the other software programs and technology programs that exist.

A great man once said there is nothing to fear but fear itself, another great man even said by the end of this decade we shall put a man on the moon, but let's stop and think what it is we know about putting a man on the moon when John Fitzgerald Kennedy said that nothing! And if we were afraid to embrace these new technologies to get us to the moon we would have never made it my literacy friends. Let us embrace these new technologies and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me or the Drake University Adult Literacy Center .

Sincerely,
S. Prichard

Subject: [PD 3934] Re: using the technologies
From: Silver-Pacuilla, Heidi
Date: Fri Aug 7 12:23:16 EDT 2009

Hello Janet and Steve and all—

I also want to thank you, Steve, for sharing the video and the explanation of how you use speech-to-text. Both are very powerful!

As we can see from the output/the text, there is plenty of literacy work going on when someone uses voice recognition software. I think you can think of it as a technology-mediated Language Experience Approach. The user/learner speaks the text, the software recognizes with about 80% accuracy, then there is the back and forth process of correcting, revising, formatting and editing. This is facilitated for users by the text-to-speech option in the program (having what you just spoke read back to you). This is an incredible learning experience for adult new readers and writers who will argue w the program, "That's not what I said!", and realize "Oh, is THAT how you spell that word?" It's great fun to be part of. It removes the helpfully literate teacher out of the LEA process (writing the words as they are correctly spelled doesn't really expose misspellings) and puts that person in the role of a facilitator guiding the interaction.

There is a fairly strong research base on the literacy boost derived from using speech to text for students w LD. We should draw on that for adult ed.

Here are two things I've written about using accessible technologies for adult learners (particularly those w LD) that have the research referenced.

Getting Started with Assistive Technology, in the November 2007 Focus on Basics:
http://www.ncsall.net/fileadmin/resources/fob/2007/fob_8d.pdf Assistive Technology and Adult Literacy: Access and Benefits, from Vol 7 of the NCSALL Annual Review: http://www.ncsall.net/fileadmin/resources/ann_rev/silver-pacuilla-04.pdf

Janet, Heide, and other ESL specialists, I'd be interested to hear your take on how well this approach may or may not be advisable with adult ELLs at various stages of English proficiency.

Heidi Silver-Pacuilla

Subject: [PD 3935] Re: using the technologies
From: Robert Berdan
Date: Fri Aug 7 13:25:46 EDT 2009

We are finding that bring text together with speech helps develop oral reading fluency. Here’s an example, the first chapter of Greg Mortenson’s Three Cups of Tea:

http://cetl.edtech.csulb.edu/3cups

Another example is Lynne Cox reading the first chapter of her book Grayson:

http://cetl.edtech.csulb.edu/grayson

In each of these the text is parsed to highlight phrasally. The user can control the synchrony of the text and oral reading: tightly synchronized to read silently, following along with the computer voice. Or the highlighting can be advanced to allow the user to read aloud in chorus with the computer voice.

The user can also slow the reading with a control that stretches the pause time.

Bob Berdan
Technology Enhanced Literacy Project
California State University Long Beach

Subject: [PD 3936] Re: using the technologies
From: Gabb, Sally S.
Date: Fri Aug 7 14:44:41 EDT 2009

Thanks for this comment, Robert—do you mean comprehending text that is read orally—listened to? Sally Gabb

Subject: [PD 3941] Re: using the technologies
From: Robert Berdan
Date: Fri Aug 7 15:46:04 EDT 2009

Sally,

What we do might be thought of as "assisted reading". As the user changes the timing of the synchrony, the nature of the assist changes as well. In the default timing, the voice assist comes at or very near the timing of initial fixation on the successive words of the text. As the highlighting is advanced the assist shifts to reinforcing fluent prosody in the user's oral reading.

Bob Berdan

Subject: [PD 3943] Re: using the technologies
From: steven pritchard
Date: Fri Aug 7 17:46:13 EDT 2009

Hi all Steven here,
How's everyone doing tonight? Once again I'm sitting in my living room using the Dragon NaturallySpeaking a program which can be purchased at a number of stores in your hometown. The technology that I have been talking about and demonstrating to people works.

The cave reader mobile may work best for Bob or Jane or Sue but for Dave his purpose may be different this purpose may be to get his GED in which the Dragon NaturallySpeaking might help him more than the cave reader mobile.

The dial to do which is absolutely free to use might be best used for Sue who has a problem reading her pill bottles, Sue takes seven different pills in six bottles. Using the cave reader mobile and taking a picture of the bottle or the prescription will help Sue in knowing what the directions are.

John however just wants to pass his CDL license, John can have the department of transportation motor vehicles examiner read the test to him or John could take the cave reader mobile snap a picture of the text listen and watch it being read and answer questions on his own.

The dial to do... take Cindy she has a low literacy reading problem but is spending time with the tutor Cindy and her tutor worked together for one hour each week at the local adult literacy Center, Cindy meets with her tutor on Wednesday night for an hour, the tutor gives her an assignment Cindy goes home and by that weekend she has forgotten what the assignment was instead of calling the Tudor or the center she blows off going to next Wednesday night, if she used her dial to do cell phone on loan to her by the Center she could record the assignment as the tutor gave it to her.

Let's take John he is 46 years old speaks very clearly to others but John has a problem spelling as John meets with his tutor at the local literacy Center by using the Dragon NaturallySpeaking John sees the words in the proper way to spell them and with other forms of virtual literacy they can be read back to John in the male or female voice, many students learn best when they can choose to learn from a male voice or a female voice.

GED many students have not reached their potential of receiving their GED, but with the help of the local literacy centers and ally of tutors is my opinion that between the live tutor and the technology these adult students can obtain literacy skills above where they're at now, my goal to see that these adult students get their GED and or be placed in a workforce environment whereby they can obtain more than just a living wage.

Steven Pritchard

Subject: [PD 3947] Re: using the technologies
From: Steve Kaufmann
Date: Fri Aug 7 16:06:52 EDT 2009

Bob,

This is very impressive. The books are not easy. On the other hand the reader can stay on the same page until the meaning is clear. Our approach at LingQ is more geared towards vocabulary acquisition. There may be synergies. In any case, congratulations, a very pleasing learning environment.

Steve

Subject: [PD 3949] Re: using the technologies
From: Andrea Wilder
Date: Sat Aug 8 20:17:21 EDT 2009

Bob,

This is wonderful. I wish I had had this to use with my thai student, she would have blossomed.
I wish I had known about it.

What I will do now, though, is email the link to her.

Thank you so much.

Andrea

Subject: [PD 3958] Re: using the technologies
From: Robert Berdan
Date: Mon Aug 10 14:01:58 EDT 2009

Andrea, Steve,

Thanks for the comments. It’s true that these would not be first choice texts for English learners. They are books that have been annual choices from “Long Beach Reads One Book.” Folks associated with those events have been instrumental in getting us the permissions to publish these copyrighted materials on the web.

We are currently building “The Circuit,” a short story by Francisco Jimenez. The syntax and vocabulary there is rather simpler than either of these examples.

Bob Berdan

Subject: [PD 3959] using the technologies
From: Janet Isserlis
Date: Mon Aug 10 17:06:16 EDT 2009

Heidi and all

Apologies for the delay in responding to your question. Not sure that I can answer it ¬ but am very good at turning questions back into more questions.

I would wonder these things about speech-to-text for people whose first language isn't English:

  • Does a mechanized voice (without much inflection?) help or hinder listening comprehension?
  • Does the use of the technology itself get in the way for English language learners any more/less than it might for other adult learners?
  • Are there some applications that can be connected to technologies that people already use (cell phones, for example) - and can visual organizers help with podcast listening? How/different is pod cast work from the old cassettes with texts/support materials?

I wonder if others on the list with more hands on experience could share their views?

Janet

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