Technology to Support Writing

According to Bunton & Barbetta writing is a very complex process whereby students are faced with the mechanics of writing, as well as, organization of ideas and content material. Fortunately, for educators there are technologies to support writing especially in the cases of struggling readers and writers. The technologies available are as follows:

• Digitized-text: adaptation of text digitally, for example, writing a letter using MS word
• Text-to-Speech (TTS): written text changed to spoken audio
• Word prediction: a software predicts words to be typed based on frequency of use and content (similar to predictive text on cell phones)
  
• Electronic reference: built in encyclopedia, thesaurus and dictionary
• Cognitive organizational: tools for the prewriting process
• Speech recognition: spoken words are translated to text or spoken words are used to control the computer and software
• Alternate writing: the use of alternate keyboards (e.g. keyboards with large letters) and portable word processors.