Abstract:

Learning to write, and learning orthography is an important task in education. This is the computer era and typing is important to learn, too. Program system Dictation, includes application Editor for preparing lessons by the teacher, and application Trainer that provide pupils with the ability to practice writing and typing in a virtual classroom where there is a blackboard, a notebook at the desk and teacher’s voice.
Application Editor is a conventional Windows desktop application intended for teacher's use in preparing lessons and managing pupils’ data. Teacher can record his voice data for lesson’s sentences or use text-to-speech system for dictation. Teacher can choose the next lesson for every pupil separately. Teacher decides if the lesson would be performed by dictation or transcription from the blackboard. Also, teacher has ability to track the pupils’ progress by examining their works with marked errors and analyzing test scores.
Application Trainer is a full screen Windows application with attractive look and simple user interface. It provides pupil to enter text by typing on keyboard or handwriting on graphics tablet. The Trainer has ability to find and mark pupil’s errors (missing, superfluous, and wrong letters). In training mode, pupil must correct marked errors to continue. In testing mode, the pupil receives his score and entered text with marked errors, immediately after finishing the test. Handwriting recognition has limits and cannot be expected to be perfect, especially in the case with cursive script. So, if text is entered by handwriting, the recognition is meant only to assist, not replace the teacher. This is the subject for study and further improvements.
Program system Dictation has ability to use file sharing on the classroom’s LAN for easy data exchange between teacher’s computer and pupils’ computers. There is no need to copy lessons files from teacher’s computer to pupils’ computers, or copy test results from pupils’ computers to teacher’s computer if LAN is presented, and File Sharing is enabled.

Keywords:

Dictation, typing, handwriting.