Dragon Naturally Speaking '10

This tool is called Dragon Naturally Speaking and it is a tool that is used to help individuals create documents, emails, and spreadsheets simply by talking into the computer. The software is also used to help individuals control their PC by talking to it. They can open and end programs, use menues and even surf the web and never touch a key.







I think it could be adapted for an Early Childhood classroom so that students who are learning to spell and read can speak into the computer and see the words that they are seeing. The more text that students have around them the faster they will be able to learn how to read and this program is a great way to show kids exactly what they are saying and how it is spelled!







The students can use this technology to compose letters and notes to their classmates and family members, and even work on projects with it. Also, this tool can be used for those who have problems with writing and muscle weakness in their hands. They can use this tool to compose their homework and work on projects with. I think that this tool can be used for a wide range of students in all grade levels from Pre-K and up.







You can learn about this tool from various websites including:



1. Dragon Naturally Speaking '10 homepage



2. Wikipedia's page about Dragon Naturally Speaking



3. Amazon's review of the product







Above I listed some of the advantages of using this software, such as allowing students who have problems writing manually or typing to compose their work on their own, but I also have some worries about this awesome software program. What if students who do not have a disability come over dependent of this program and do not try to write for themselves? This is my biggest concern about this technology along with all technology. I fear that students will come over dependent of these tools and not learn to do things for themselves. Technology is slowly taking over everything we do in life, from going to the library and checking out a book to finding an encyclopedia to help you with your research. Students can now simply access the internet and find all the information they will ever need. Students need to learn how to do things manually without the help of technology incase one day the stuff that is suppose to make our lives easier does not work.

I believe that this tool could be very useful in the classroom if the administration could get over the cost of providing the software in the classroom. Students will be able to help themselves when it comes to typing or writing their work and they will get visual assitance from this program when learning how to spell and read!