My Teaching Journey: Voice Recognition Software

Technology integration in the learning environment is optimal for all students, but especially those who require extra aids. An assistive technology that I have further explored is voice recognition software. I hope this information will help you to become more familiar with this technology. After researching this software, I know that I will be advocating for it in my future classroom.

“With the advances of voice recognition technology, students with learning disabilities are now able to become more independent as writers, readers, and learners.” -www.landmark.edu/institute/assistive_technology/voice_recognition.html

What it is: Voice recognition software is essentially speech-to-text, as well as text-to speech; it enables people to talk aloud and have those words dictated directly onto the computer. Although it was formally mostly seen in the health care system, it is commonly being implemented in the learning environment. Voice recognition is trained to recognize the specific user’s voice and then transcribes what the person says aloud into an electronic computer document.

Who it Can Help: These programs are suitable for speakers of any age and any language. It aids people with fine-motor difficulties, poor spellers, penmanship problems and other learning disabilities. It can also assist English Language Learners and people who cannot read. Ultimately, it can be useful for anyone from children who have motor constraints to those that would just enjoy listening to lengthy documents.

Classroom Implementation: Students can use this program to turn oral language into written text and vice-versa, make commandments to computer and have text read aloud. This can be useful for taking notes, writing papers, reading documents and directions and even during tests.

Pros:

Multi language capability

Independence for users who cannot read or write without assistance

Both Windows and Macs have this system already included

Spells every word correctly

Compatible with e-mail, desktop, documents and other applications

Can record and recognize up to 100 words per minute

Reads text back to user

Can transcribe large amounts of words and text

Eliminates poor spelling and penmanship

Cons:

Not always appropriate to use in a classroom