Dragon Dictation

Dragon Dictation allows users to record and send written text in dozens of languages via email, Facebook, Twitter, SMS, or cut and paste. Simply tap record, speak, and dictate as many notes as you’d like of up to 60 seconds each. While there’s no formal language instruction, kids can benefit from its use as a tool for writing or assessing speaking. Dragon Dictation may be especially useful for kids with limited ability to write or type or with learning disabilities like dyslexia or dysgraphia.

Since many younger kids may not speak clearly, teachers will need to monitor accuracy. Also, kids need to learn to speak punctuation aloud (e.g., "I like cake period Do you like cake question mark"). If the app misunderstands a word, users can go back to that word, where they’ll be prompted to delete and re-speak or enter the word. Certain letters from some swear words are filtered out like "f--k" and "s--t," but others are not filtered like "hell" and "damn."

In the classroom, some educators have noted that Dragon Dictation can be a useful tool for communication, especially for kids with limited fine motor skills or other special needs. Kids with limited writing abilities can use Dragon Dictation to express their thoughts, complete creative writing projects, and read or share them with others. Going through the process of dictation and revision may help them develop their own writing, spelling, and punctuation skills too. This learning will need facilitation since there aren’t any formal lessons in communication or writing skills, and without it kids may let mistakes slide.