Tool #4—Dictation and Speech on Mac (Cheryl Hallowell)

Tool #4—Dictation and Speech on Mac

Cheryl Hallowell

    

Dictation and Speech is a built-in feature on Macs. When enabled, students can speak, and their words are miraculously transcribed into text—and I do mean miraculously! Have you ever watched seven and eight year olds type a story? Well, it’s not for the faint of heart. It is finger-pecking at its worst. I wanted the students to type their own stories in our blog, but after the first two, I was ready to surrender. After our last Adobe Connect, I was told about this feature and have fallen in love. It is not perfect, but it is so, so much better than watching my little learners spend way too much time looking for that elusive w or p.

Features:

·      Easy to use.

·      Free!

Classroom Application:

·      Students can get their own words into text without taking as much time as typing.

·      Frees up students to work do other work.

·      Frees up the teacher who now only helps the student edit mistakes.

Ranking:

·      Safety—4 There no student data involved.

·      Student Enjoyability—4 Students can access this feature without the teacher. There are no graphics.

·      Accessibility—4 This can be used on any computer on our COW (computers on wheels).

·      Feedback—1 This feature itself does not have any feedback capabilities, but using the feature enables students to post faster, thus opening up the opportunity for more feedback when used.

·      Higher Level Thinking—1 Any higher level thinking will be done prior to dictation.  

Team 2 Early Elementary Rubric Applied Dictation and Speech on Mac

	Does Not Meet the Expectations 1	Partially Meets the Expectations 2	Meets the Expectations 3	Exceeds the Expectations 4
Safety	*Student data can be readily accessed by anyone. *Students can receive or send messages to while using the tool. *Tool has ads or pop-ups.	*Student data cannot be easily accessed by others. *Students can send or receive message to others in the district while using tool. *Tool has ads or pop-ups.	*Student data is not accessible to outside individuals. *Students cannot receive or send messages while using the tool. *Tool has no ads or pop-ups.	*Student data (beyond first name and grade level) is not needed to use the tool. *Student data can only be accessed by invited individuals. *Tool has no ads or pop-ups.
Student Enjoyability	*Students are not motivated and engaged by this technology tool. *Poor graphics, poor entertainment value and the tool is not user friendly	*Students are motivated and engaged by parts of this technology tool. *O.K. graphics, some parts are entertaining and some parts are user friendly	*Students will be motivated and engaged to use this technology tool. *Great graphics, entertaining and user friendly	*Students will be highly motivated and engaged to use this technology tool. *Above and beyond graphics, entertaining and extremely user friendly
Accessibility	*Tool is likely to crash or close without warning. *Students are unable to find the tool without assistance. *Tool costs money to use.	*Students need assistance accessing tool (user name/password long or confusing). *Students need assistance following the directions for using the tool. *Tool is low cost or free.	*After appropriate instruction, students can access the tool independently. *Students can use the tool with little to no adult assistance. *Tool is free or low cost.	*Students can use the tool (app, site, or program) on different devices both at home and at school. *Tool is free or low cost.
Feedback (When Applicable)	*No feedback given. *No ability for teachers or peers to leave feedback.	*Irrelevant feedback given. *Limited ability for teachers or peers to leave feedback.	*Meaningful feedback available. *Ability for teachers and peers to leave feedback.	*Meaningful feedback available along with links to lessons/exercises to practice weak areas. *Ability for teachers and peers feedback.
Higher Level Thinking	*Communication tool has no clear goal that encourages students to use any of Bloom's skills beyond the first level (remember).	*Communication tool has a goal that encourages students to use at least one of Bloom's skills (remember and understand).	*Communication tool has specific goal and one or more supporting objectives that encourage students to use many of Bloom's skills, including evaluate and analyze).	*Communication tool has clearly defined goals and several supporting objectives that encourage students to use many of Bloom's skills, including create.