What got me thinking about using speech recognition software with kids? I've just recently started using speech recognition software for writing articles. It's fun. It's fast. Best of all, it saves my arthritic hands. Now, I want to share it with everyone, including my grandkids. Why and under what circumstances would you want to use speech recognition with your kids? Imagine the limitless possibilities. Here are five right off the top of my head.
Preschoolers could write a book. Wouldn't it be fun to sit down with your preschooler and help them write their own book? They could simply tell their story into the microphone. The words would magically appear on the page. You could help them with the prompts. When their story is finished, all you need do is print it. Voila. Your preschooler is now a published author.
What's another way preschool kids could use speech recognition? It could be used to teach young kids the spelling of common words. Is there a word they'd like to know how to spell? Why not let them play with the speech recognition software as encouragement to learn to read? Of course, you'll have to supervise to see that the software gives the correct spelling.
Older kids could use speech recognition for their homework. Many teachers are now requiring kids to produce typed assignments. Kids who type slowly could finish their homework more quickly with speech recognition. Of course, it might be a good idea to encourage keyboarding lessons as well. That way the quicker method becomes a backup rather than being used daily.
Communication can be a problem with older kids. They don't always let you know where they are going, who they are with, or when they expect to be home. With speech recognition software in place, they can dash off a quick note before leaving the house. They might even have fun doing it. Then, they can just print it off and tape it to the fridge.
Is your older child struggling in literature classes? Do they have a natural talent for storytelling? Voice recognition software could help them get their story out. It can also help older kids for whom English is a second language. The spoken word is often simpler to learn than the written word. Why not let older kids experiment with voice recognition to see how it could help them learn or write?
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