This study evaluated the impact of synthesized speech as a supplement to written instruction in drill-and-practice lessons used by two young students with mild disabilities. Using a multi-element design to compare student performance across two instructional conditions, i.e., Voice Plus Text vs. Text Alone, students participated in CAI on a daily basis. An analysis of the error rate for each child indicated that both students made fewer errors in the Voice Plus Text than in the Text Alone condition. The implications of this performance pattern for software selection and instructional design are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AxelrodS.McGregorG.ShermanJ.HamletC. (1987). Effects of video games as reinforcers for computerized addition performance. Journal of Special Education Technology, 9, 1–8.
2.
BaumgartD.Van WalleghemJ. (1987). Teaching sight words: A comparison between computer-assisted and teacher-taught methods. Education and Training in Mental Retardation, 22, 56–65.
3.
BehrmannM. (Ed.). (1984). Handbook of microcomputers in special education. San Diego: College-Hill Press.
4.
DavisK.Y.BudoffM. (1986). Using authoring in education. Cambridge, MA: Brookline Books.
5.
FrankA.R.WackerD.P.BergW.K.McMahonC.M. (1985). Teaching selected computer skills to retarded students via picture prompts. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 11, 179–185.
6.
GreenJ.O. (1984, February 23–28). B.F. Skinner's technology of teaching. Classroom Computer Learning, 10–12, 29.
7.
Helsel-DewartM.Van Den MeirackerM. (1987). The intelligibility of synthetic speech to learning handicapped children. Journal of Special Education Technology, 9, 38–44.
8.
IaconoT.A.MillerJ.F. (1989). Can microcomputers be used to teach communication skills to students with mental retardation?Education and Training in Mental Retardation, 24, 32–44.
9.
IsenbergR.S. (1985). Computer-aided instruction and the mainstreamed learning disabled student. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 18, 557–558.
10.
Johns Hopkins University. (1985). Multisensory authoring computer system (software program). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University, Division of Education.
11.
KerchnerL.B.KistingerB.J. (1984). Language processing/word processing: Written expression, computers, and learning disabled students. Learning Disability Quarterly, 7, 329–335.
12.
LallyM. (1980). Computer-assisted development of number conservation in mentally retarded school children. Australian Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 6, 131–136.
13.
LallyM. (1981). Computer-assisted teaching of sight word recognition for mentally retarded school children. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 85, 383–388.
14.
Luetke-StahlmanB. (1988). Does computer software help hearing-impaired students learn?Education and Treatment of Children, 11, 239–251.
15.
McGregorG.AxelrodA. (1988). Microcomputers in the classroom: Teaching students with severe handicaps to use a computer. Education and Treatment of Children, 11, 230–238.
16.
MitchellP.R.AtkinsC.P. (1988). A comparison of the single word intelligibility of two voice output communication aids. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 4, 84–88.
17.
PanyanM. (1984). Computer technology for autistic students. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 14, 375–382
18.
PrinzP.NelsonK. (1985). “Alligator eats cookie:” Acquisition of writing and reading skills by deaf children using the microcomputer. Applied Psycholinguistics, 6, 283–306.
19.
UlmanJ.D.Sulzer-AzaroffB. (1975). Multielement baseline design in educational research. In RampE.SembG. (Eds.), Behavior analysis: Areas of research and application (pp. 377–391). Englewood Cliffs. NJ: Prentice-Hall.
20.
WargerC.L.MurphyL.B.KayB.R. (1985). The use of microcomputers with autistic adults: Planning, implementation, evaluation. Teaching Exceptional Children. 18, 52–56.
