1. Content-free Software for Writing

2. Categories of Software
Reinforcement (Drill & Practice Software)
Interactive Books (Talking Stories)
Content-free Software
Exploratory Software
Reference Software
Assessment Software
Access Tools / Software

3. Content-free Software
Allows user to enter own content
Benefits
Use in many areas of curriculum
Develop own materials to meet indiviual needs of students
Helps students to overcome barriers to learning

4. Content-free Software
Types:
Word Processing Programs
Writing Frames
Talking Word Processing Programs
Word Prediction
Word Bank
Planning and Organising
Desktop Publishing / Art & Design Applications
Multimedia Authoring Systems
Presentation

5. Word Processing Programs
Enables user to produce wide range of professional looking products
Benefits:
Writing can help students develop word recognition and reading skills
Highly motivational as students can express themselves without being worried about appearance
Text can be moved, changed and copied easily

6. Word Processing Programs
Benefits (cont.):
Facilitates drafting and rewriting processes
Spellchecker allows students to concentrate on content rather than spelling
Picture or graphic can facilitate those with reading difficulties

7. Word Processing Programs
Prerequisites:
Basic knowledge of sentence building, sequencing, punctuation, etc.
Basic keyboard skills
Some mouse skills

8. Word Processing Programs
Examples include:
Appleworks
Creative Writer
Microsoft Word
Young Writer’s Workshop
My World 2
Write on for Windows

9. Word Processing Programs (Writing Frames)
Supports students through the writing process by providing prompts and sentence beginnings
Highly motivational as students can use frameworks to structure and complete a piece of writing
Students can concentrate on content
Written work is relevant to given topic

10. Word Processing Programs (Writing Frames)
Examples include:
I Can Write 2
The Big Editor
Frameworks

11. Talking Word Processing Programs
Include an inbuilt speech synthesizer that reads back text
Can be set to read every letter, word, line, sentence, paragraph or whole screen
Benefits:
Allows students to monitor their work
Auditory feedback assists students in correcting their spelling, grammar, syntax

12. Talking Word Processing Programs
Examples include:
Clicker 4
Granada Writer
Inclusive Writer
Textease 2000
Texthelp! Type & Talk
Write Outloud
Writing with Symbols

13. Word Prediction
Run in conjunction with a word processing program and suggests words as text is entered
When user types first letter of a word, a list of words appear
Benefits
Suggests words so students can concentrate on context rather than spelling
Remembers words that student uses most frequently

14. Word Prediction Examples include: Co: Writer Penfriend Predict IT
PredictAbility
TextHELP! Read and Write

15. Word Bank Allows the teacher to input lists of words
Student can hear the word by pointing to it with the mouse
Benefits
Teacher can chose words that individual students have difficulty with
Can input topic words, sentence starters, etc.

16. * Talking word processors that include word banks
Examples include:
Wordbar
Granada Writer*
Clicker*
Textease 2000*
* Talking word processors that include word banks