Text-to-Speech

Using the text-to-speech support during the editing process can be very beneficial for struggling writers.  For instance, allowing an individual to hear back what he/she has written can help to catch errors that may have been made.  Also, for students who are auditory learners, converting text to speech can further assist in editing the document.  As a teacher, I have used text-to-speech support in my classroom.  In one instance, a student, who had great difficulty with his handwriting, was allowed to type a non-fiction animal report for a writing assignment.  In addition to printing out the report and allowing him to edit it with colored pencils, he also used text-to-speech to listen to his document.  This accommodation can be beneficial for all students as an added level of proofing their work.  I feel that the text-to-speech tool is very useful as part of the editing process.

Peet, W. (2004) Why, how, and for whom we need to use talking word processors. http://www.drpeet.com/whyhow.htm

Spell Checker

Personal Observations & Feelings
I believe that using spell checker has its advantages and disadvantages.  One benefit to spell checker is its ability to help students who struggle with spelling compose more legible documents.  This is especially important if the document written will be graded by an instructor.  A drawback to spell checker, however, is its possible tendency to create lazy writing habits in students.  In other words, if a student knows that spell checker is available to edit his/her document, the student might not put as much effort into using proper spelling practices.  This habit could cripple a student's ability to learn to properly spell certain words.

My Position
Despite spell checker's possible drawbacks, I believe it is a useful tool in the classroom. As an assistive technology device, spell checker allows students who struggle with spelling to express themselves more clearly.  It can also be beneficial in helping students discern what spelling patterns and words they continually misspell.

References

Stanberry, K., & Raskind, M. (2010). Assistive technology tools: Writing. Retrieved from  

        http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology/960-writingtools.gs

Sorrentino, J. (2008). Is spell checker creating a generation of dummies? Retrieved from http://www.education.com/magazine/article/spell_check/