Don Johnston Incorporated, of Volo, IL, has released Co:Writer® 6, a word prediction tool that helps struggling writers break through spelling and grammar barriers to improve self-expression.
Co:Writer 6 acts like a personal writing assistant to predict words students wish to write, but cannot easily spell. As students write, Co:Writer presents the predicted words in a list that is read aloud. When the student hears the word they wish to write and select it, the word is placed in their document. The software uses sophisticated logic including grammar and context clues to create accurate word predictions, even if students spell words phonetically or inventively, like the word "elephant" written as "lfnt".
 This simple-to-use writing tool is targeted towards students with physical, cognitive and learning challenges and for students with autism spectrum disorders. Special educators and assistive technology teams have chosen Co:Writer for 18 years as a proven writing accommodation on students' Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
Co:Writer 6 includes several dictionaries that are age-appropriate for the beginning writer all the way up to college students who struggle to write because of dyslexia or physical disabilities. Hundreds of curriculum-aligned Topic Dictionaries also come with the program. Teachers and students can quickly customize their Topic Dictionaries based on daily instruction or a student's particular interests, preferences or hobbies.
The Co:Writer 6 writing tool floats as a small window on the computer screen and can be used in any computer program such as MS Word, Outlook, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and web applications like Facebook, Gmail, blogs, wikis and instant messaging services.
New and improved features of Co:Writer 6 include:
- Redesigned single-window interface is simple, discrete and intuitive.
- Human-sounding Acapela 6 speech engine helps students self-assess their writing.
- Word Bank breaks writer's block through the use of word lists and clouds.
- Two hundred Topic Dictionaries align with curriculum from dinosaurs to Jane Goodall to William Shakespeare to the American Revolution.
- A 30-minute tutorial gets teachers and students up and running quickly.
- Network-ready functions integrate seamlessly with school networks.
In 2008, an independent study published in the Journal of Special Education Technology, (JSET) demonstrated the writing performance of 5th graders using Co:Writer in Dayton Ohio Public Schools. Over a seven-week period, these students' writing skills improved in four key writing metrics: writing rubric scores, accuracy, spelling and number of words written. With Co:Writer, students achieved higher percentages of legible words, correctly spelled words, correct word sequences and consecutive sentences.
Co:Writer 6 runs on the latest operating systems including Mac OS 10.4+, Windows XP and Vista. Single licenses start at $325. An Unlimited Site License starts as low as $1900 per site and includes take-home privileges for students and teachers. The network ready Unlimited Site License includes rights to install on every computer in a school building and offers unlimited access to any student who could benefit from Co:Writer. A 30- minute tutorial (Think It, Try It, Choose It) comes with the software.
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