The Talking Computer Project

The Talking Computer Project is recommended in DfES Guidance as one of the successful Wave 3 interventions (PDF) for the National Literacy Strategy (in the report by Professor Greg Brooks: What works for Children with literacy difficulties? The effectiveness of intervention schemes).

Using talking word processors and carefully structured phonic-based sentences for about six hours work spread over four weeks, children have achieved remarkable improvements in reading and writing skills and in listening memory (a vital skill in education and life).

The Talking Computer Project uses accelerated learning techniques which exercise several senses for maximum recall and retention with minimum learning stress.

Have you seen results like these?

70 children ages 7-13. Approximately 6 hours intervention each. Source Martin Miles in “Computers & Dyslexia”, Singleton C (1994) Ed Computers & Dyslexia, BDA/ Univerity of Hull.

What people have said about the Talking Computer Project:

At the start of this project we were not fully convinced that something so simple could have such an effect on children’s learning. Having measured the effect on literacy skills we can now confidently recommend its use to all schools.

Jersey Advisory Service 1993.

Both of AcceleRead AcceleWrite’s studies produced highly significant gains, the Devon study just for reading, the Jersey study for spelling also. Both studies were small, but what is striking about the approach is how precisely targeted it was. Children read and re-read a sentence from a card until they could type it into the (talking) computer from memory with high accuracy. Thus the approach stressed the accuracy of both reading and spelling.

What Works for Children with Literacy Difficulties? The effectiveness of intervention schemes. Greg Brookes, DfES Research Report RR380 2002.

The Project has produced significant gains. It indicates that every school should seriously consider it as part of their special educational needs provision.

David Copeland, SpeLD Base, Applecroft School, Herts.

Try it for yourself:

Two of the developers of the Talking Computer Project, Vivienne Clifford and Martin Miles, have written a comprehensive guide called “AcceleRead AcceleWrite“. It gives teachers and parents all the information they need to help their own children. You do not have to be a computer expert at all to use these materials.

AcceleRead AcceleWrite includes:

1. how quite simply to get computers to talk (for PCs and MAC), and what extra software and hardware, if any, you need to buy;
2. all the materials needed on ready perforated, colour coded flash cards;
3. full how-to-do-it instructions, hints, tips and photocopiable record sheets;
4. explains the theory behind the approach.

The Talking Computer Project works for a whole variety of reasons. These factors include:

1. Multi-sensory: tactile, audio, visual, spatial;
2. Finely graded material;
3. Highly structured;
4. High success rate;
5. Regular revision;
6. Motivation & Feel-Good;
7. Individual attention;
8. Short & daily;
9. Immediate feedback.

Previously published in book form, AcceleRead AcceleWrite is now available in electronic format.