At The Education Show 2010, Texthelp Systems (stand F68) is showcasing Schools Access Software Suite; a specially developed assistive technology package designed to provide continuity of support and access for learning for students. Already supporting over 270,000 students with special educational needs (SEN) through the Government’s Home Access scheme, Texthelp is now extending this provision to schools and local authorities to help all students become motivated, independent learners. The bundle includes Texthelp’s award-winning Read&Write GOLD for Schools software, MindView mind-mapping and iZoom screen magnification tools.
Visitors to the show can also check out Texthelp’s (www.texthelp.com) Fluency Tutor tool; new online software to improve oral reading skills in early learners, and the latest version of Read&Write GOLD for Schools.
Designed to help increase engagement and self-sufficiency for learning, Schools Access Software Suite will help SEN learners to develop their creativity and achieve their full potential both inside and outside of the classroom. A major element of the package; Texthelp’s Read&Write GOLD for Schools software, has been designed specifically to address the needs of students with reading and writing difficulties. The software works discreetly in the background on all mainstream Windows applications to assist pupils with their reading, writing and research.
Read&Write GOLD for Schools’ text-to-speech functionality improves comprehension levels and access to the curriculum for students and contains features such as spelling support, a talking dictionary, word prediction, study skills, a translator tool and a fact-mapper that enables users to produce a visual representation of ideas. It encourages independent and inclusive learning while helping all pupils achieve greater access to the curriculum and improves access to Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) and Digital Exams.
MindView is a visual study aid tool based on mind-mapping theory that assists students with the research, organisation and planning of projects across the curriculum. MindView’s different layouts allow students of all levels to personalise how they structure information to enhance creativity, clarify thinking and improve memory. The tool’s strong integration with MS Office means that mind maps can be converted to an outline in Word or a PowerPoint presentation with a simple mouse click.
iZoom is an easy-to-use screen magnification and reading package integrated into a single application. Students with a visual impairment can use the tool to enlarge and enhance the appearance of the computer screen to read emails, web pages, word documents, course materials, exams and more.
Texthelp will also be showcasing the new Fluency Tutor tool, the latest online software to improve oral reading skills in early learners. Children as young as five years old can log-on to Fluency Tutor at school or at home and practise their reading. The tool enables learners to listen to passages being read aloud before they record themselves reading and submit assessments to their teacher for marking. Feedback is provided to the pupil through a series of easy to understand graphical displays.
Fluency Tutor also benefits teachers through the provision of an innovative method of developing and assessing the oral reading fluency levels of their class. The software allows teachers to select the right text difficulty level of exercises for each pupil and to monitor a reading running record of their progress. Teachers can evaluate the fluency errors made, words correct per minute score and level of prosody (expression of reading) for every pupil.
Fluency Tutor delivers significant fluency gains for students and also facilitates the provision of targeted individualised instruction. The software has been designed to be fun to use and will provide motivation to improve oral reading skills.
For further information please contact Elaine Emerson, Marketing Manager on Tel: 028 9442 8105, Email: fluency@texthelp.com or visit our Website: www.texthelp.com/fluencytutor
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Cork Institute of Technology (CIT), formerly the Regional Technical College, Cork, was opened in 1973 and currently has in the region of 12,000 registered students with approximately 2,000 new entries year on year and 1,237 academic staff. The Institute boasts many top class facilities including its award-winning Library & IT Building and was named as the Institute of Technology of the Year 2006 in The Sunday Times University Guide for Ireland.
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