Assistive Technology: Text to Speech

Overview

Text-to-speech (also called speech synthesis) technology is an excellent tool for helping students access text that they cannot read or for editing their writing. By repeating a cycle of writing, spell checking, listening, and revising,students can learn to help themselves improve their writing.

Listen to teacher Lois Ancell-Nichols as she describes her use of text-to-speech in the writing process.

Using Text-to-Speech

In Safari

1. Highlight text in Safari

2. Select Edit / Speech / Start Speaking

3. Highlight text in any app, press key combo to hear text read out loud.

Teaching Strategies

1st Writing Sample: Drafts 1-4

The following text represents the first four rough drafts of two pieces of 4th grade student writing. The first student is an ELL student. The second student's first language is English.

After each draft, the student used a spell checker and then used text-to-speech to listen to what had been written. Corrections were made as a result of the students hearing their writing being read to them. Following the fourth draft, the student conferenced with the teacher for additional feedback.

1. Ar school is the best school because we hab parltis. We hav fil trips. And fun boks. Wen we have partis we play gams. We drink soda. We se moves. We et pizza We et doritos. Wen we have fil trips we ken now nuw plases. We ken se nuw plases. When we read mave we can lern nuw things. For ol thos resens i think that aer school is the best,

2. Are school is the best school because we have parties. We have file trips. And fun books. When we have parties we play games. We drink soda. We sea moves. We et pizza We et doritos. When we have file trips we ken now new places. We ken sea new places. When we read ma vie we can learn new things.  For ale those reasons i think that are school is the best.

3. Are school is the best school because we have parties. We have fild trips. And fun books. When we have parties we play games. We drink soda. We sea movies. We eat pizza. We eat doritos. When we have fild trips we ken now new places. We ken sea new places. When we read mavie we can learn new things. For all those reasons i think that are school is the best.

4. Are school is the best school because we have parties. We have field trips. And fun books. When we have parties we play games. We drink soda. We sea movies. We eat pizza. We eat doritos. When we have file trips we ken now new places. We ken sea new places. When we read mavie we can learn new things. For ale those reasons i think that are school is the best.

2nd Writing Sample: Drafts 1-4

1. I thinke adog is the best pet in the whol yunebers. A dog can play and it protect youre hause and ther funy. A dog can play frisbe it can ibene tug a war and fece and sacer and basketball A dog protect youre hauce by barken scaring and baiting and tacoling and raning orand the persen. A dog is funy a dog ets funy and he plays and he barks and he plays sacer and he scars funy. So if you wan to mesorand whit a dog. I worent. So do you hu hu......

2. I think a dog is the best pet in the who June burrs. A dog can play and it protect you're house and there funny. A dog can play frisbee it can even tug a war and fiche and sacker and basketball A dog protect you're house by bar ken scaring and baiting and tackling and raining around the person. A dog is funny a dog eta funny and he plays and he barks and he plays cache and he scars funny. So if you wan to mess around whit a dog. I weren't. So do you huh huh......

3. I think a dog is the best pet in the whol unabers. A dog can play and it protects you're house and there funny. A dog can play frisbee it can even play tug a war and fach and even play sacker and basketlbal. A dog protect you're house by bar ken and scaring and viting and even tackling and roning around the person. A dog is funny a dog eats funny and he plays and he barks and he plays cach and he scares funny. So if you want to mess around with a dog. I wodent, so do you huh huh......

4. I think a dog is the best pet in the whol unabers. A dog can play and it protects you're house and there funny. A dog can play frisbee it can even play tug a war and fach and even play sacker and basketball. A dog protects you're house by bar ken and scaring and biting and even tackling and running around the person. A dog is funny a dog eats funny and he plays and he barks and he plays catch and he scares funny. So if you want to mess around with a dog. I woden't, so do you huh huh......

Articles

• How can speech synthesis help your students?

• Who can benefit from speech synthesis?

• Giving Voice to Student Writing: Exploring the Uses of Speech Recognition and Speech Synthesis in a Writing Curriculum. Activities for Word Processing with Speech Synthesis. "The manual also contains a set of 12 lessons using speech synthesis with word processing. The first six lessons provide an overview of how to use speech synthesis in writing. The remaining six lessons provide a short course in process writing" (lessons are on pgs 26-49; PDF available through ERIC; Note: Computer Use Log is on pg 21).

• How Computers Change the Writing Process for People with Learning Disabilities

Research Basis

Speech Synthesis

• Using Technology to Enhance the Writing Processes of Students with Learning Disabilities, Journal of Learning Disabilities, v29, n4; p344-54. July 1996. PDF file

• The Impact of Computer-Supported Writing Instruction on the Writing Quality of Learning-Disabled Students. Final Report; 1989. (Full text from ERIC; PDF file)

Word Processing

• Promise in Impermanence: Children Writing with Unlimited Access to Word Processors.

• An AlphaSmart for Each Student: Do Teaching and Learning Change with Full Access to Word Processors?

Composing and revising are key to improving student writing. Citations/full text articles are available through EBSCOhost.