[senco-forum] AlphaSmarts

Hi Phillipa

  Try looking at this for GCSE:
  http://www.jcq.org.uk/attachments/published/107/1.Access%20Arrangments%20regs%202006-2007%20final.2100706.pdf
You need section 2.5 which is about use of word processors.

  Among other things, it says:
  2.5.3.11 must not have any predictive text software or automatic spell checking, grammatical checking or thesauri unless the candidate has been permitted a scribe and the script has a
  scribe cover sheet attached ( please see Chapter 2, section 2.3.3)

  Amanda
  Secondary SENCO
  Cornwall
  Who spent a happy hour and a half after school tonight checking all the regulations!

Paul and Philippa Bodien <bodien at gmail.com> wrote:
  We purchased 2 AlphaSmarts last January to trial with the word prediction
software Co:Writer - and three Y5 boys have been using them. All three have
responded brilliantly. Class teachers, TAs and parents report a significant
boost in confidence, productivity, quality of and enjoyment in their written
work. It is quite inspiring!

It was the correspondence on the forum that led me to think of trying these
machines, so a big thank you to the contributors who advised their use.

We have some questions... have students been allowed to use their
AlphaSmarts in test situations? SATs? GCSEs? etc.. If so, what text
formatting restrictions applied? Are there any other guidelines? All
replies gratefully received. Jamie, are you out there?

Philippa

Amanda
Secondary SENCO
Cornwall