FirstAuthor - A Writing Process Software Tool

描述(申请人提供)：教育改革倡议--2001年《不让一个孩子掉队法案》(NCLBA)--由布什总统于2002年1月签署成为法律，强调识字在所有儿童生活中的关键作用。写作是识字教学中一个重要但往往被忽视的部分。支持初学者需求的软件工具，特别是那些有特殊需求的人，在今天的市场上是买不到的。目前，还没有一个单一的工具来支持整个写作过程中的初学者，(2)支持跨年龄段的初学者，(3)结合关于写作发展和最佳教学实践的研究，(4)解决普遍设计的原则，以及(5)提供关于具有教学有效性的个别学生的有意义的结果数据。这个快速通道项目的目标是完成一个创新的综合写作软件工具FirstAuthor的开发，该工具可以应对上述五个挑战，在写作过程(计划、写作、修改和出版)中支持初学者写作，并对所有学生，包括有严重言语和身体障碍(SSPI)的学生开放。本项目将考察FirstAuthor对两组发育障碍学生的影响：1)轻度-中度认知障碍(MMCI)，2)身体障碍(PI)或严重言语和身体障碍(SSPI)。这个FastTrack项目的主要目的是展示FirstAuthor软件在以下方面的影响：1)写作过程中的独立性，2)写作数量和质量，以及3)写作态度。对于第一阶段和第二阶段，将使用重复测量的受试者之间的设计来研究软件工具的效果，学生年龄从7岁到14岁不等。FirstAuthor组将使用FirstAuthor软件来编写他们的写作样本，而Control组将使用纸和铅笔。在第二阶段，第一作者组和控制组将在每一次写作过程中收到一份高质量的指导程序。该项目将使用与策略指导相结合的过程写作方法，并基于对4-12年级学生有效的写作元素(写作策略、具体产品目标、预写、过程写作方法、模型研究和文字处理)(Graham&Perin，2007)。在第一阶段：1)对FirstAuthor进行改进，2)与MMCI的学生一起研究FirstAuthor的可行性，3)开发写作过程中的独立性测量。在第二阶段：1)将对FirstAuthor进行重大修改，2)将与MMCI、PI和SSPI的学生一起检验FirstAuthor的效果，3)验证写作独立性的衡量标准，4)引入高质量的综合写作教学计划。FirstAuthor项目的长期目标是通过提供软件工具和高质量的教学来改变学生，特别是发育障碍学生的写作教学实践，使这些人能够持续地、积极地改变他们的写作技能。在美国，一个重要的公共卫生问题是，大量学生的读写水平低于年级水平。通过培养未来一代在社会、学术和职业环境中越来越有能力的人，使那些努力成为更强大的读者和作家的学生将对社会产生广泛的影响。FirstAuthor是一个初学者作家软件工具，旨在教学和技术上的创新，将使写作水平低于年级的儿童获得他们成为合格作家和社会贡献者所需的支持。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The education reform initiative, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLBA) signed into law by President Bush in January of 2002, emphasized the critical role of literacy in the lives of all children. Writing is an important, but often neglected, part of literacy instruction. Software tools that support the needs of a beginning writer, especially those with special needs, are not available in today's market. Currently, a single tool does not exist that (1) supports beginning writers across the writing process, (2) supports beginning writers across the age span, (3) incorporates research on writing development and best practices of instruction, (4) addresses principles of universal design, and (5) provides meaningful outcome data on individual students that has instructional validity. The objective of this Fast-Track project is to complete development of an innovative integrated writing software tool, FirstAuthor, which meets the five challenges stated above, supports beginning writers across the writing process (planning, composing, revising, and publishing), and is accessible to all students, including those with with severe speech and physical impairments (SSPI). This project will examine the effects of using FirstAuthor with two groups of students with developmental disabilities: 1) mild-moderate cognitive impairments (MMCI), and 2) physical impairments (PI) or severe speech and physical impairments (SSPI). The primary aim of this FastTrack project is to demonstrate the effects of the FirstAuthor software on: 1) independence during the writing process, 2) writing quantity and quality, and 3) attitude toward writing. For both Phase I and Phase II, a repeated-measures, between subjects design will be used to study the effects of the software tool with students ranging in age from 7-14. The FirstAuthor group will use FirstAuthor software to compose their writing samples and the Control group will use paper and pencil. In Phase II the FirstAuthor and Control groups will receive a high-quality instruction program during each writing session. This program will use a process writing approach paired with strategy instruction and be based on writing elements shown to be effective with students in grades 4-12 (writing strategies, specific product goals, prewriting, process writing approach, study of models, and word processing) (Graham & Perin, 2007). In Phase I: 1) refinements will be made to FirstAuthor, 2) feasibility of FirstAuthor will be examined with students who have MMCI, and 3) the measure of independence during writing will be developed. In Phase II: 1) significant modifications will be made to FirstAuthor, 2) the effects of FirstAuthor will be examined with students with MMCI, PI, and SSPI, 3) the measure of writing independence will be validated, and 4) a high-quality, comprehensive writing instructional program will be introduced. The long-term goal for the FirstAuthor project is to change writing instructional practices for students, especially those with developmental disabilities, by providing software tools, paired with high-quality instruction that enables these individuals to make ongoing, positive changes in their writing skills. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE In the United States a significant public health issue is the vast number of students who read and write below grade level. Enabling students who struggle to become stronger readers and writers will have a broad impact on society by fostering a future generation of individuals who are increasingly competent across social, academic and vocational settings. FirstAuthor, a beginning writer software tool designed to be pedagogically and technically innovative, will allow children who are below grade level in writing to receive the support they need to become competent writers and contributors to our society.