Word Processors

Word Processors (WP) and word processing software provide learners with a structured environment that can help them produce written material. Writing and editing can be a difficult task for learners. Some learners find the physical act of writing difficult.

Word processors help learners struggling with writing in many ways:

• Learners have the chance to write without being concerned about making errors during the writing process
• Errors are easily corrected and information can be reorganized and edited before printing the final product
• Software with a spell checker, grammar check and multimedia features can assist with writing activities. A built-in spell checker can help an individual find and correct misspelled words within the document. Additional support for spell checking may come from using TTS (text-to-speech) and TTS dictionary features with a Talking Word Processor.
• Other tools "add-ons" such as word prediction programs and/or abbreviation expansion can work along with a word processor for added support. 

Some common examples of word processing software are:

• Microsoft Word, MS Works, MS Publisher (PC/Mac)
• Corel Word Perfec
• t ClarisWorks/Appleworks/Simpletext (Mac)

Talking Word Processors

A Talking Word Processor (WP) is a word processor software program that has built in text-to-speech features that give auditory feedback of letter (character), word, sentence or complete paragraphs. Any selected text can also be spoken. These programs can help learners with their writing - e.g. notice omissions, dropped endings, etc . They also offer the multisensory experience of hearing the writing while seeing it on the screen. TTS Spell Check/Dictionary (TTS Dic.) and grammar checking features can be an important consideration that provides feedback during spell checking.