Overview:

• Audio recorders include a variety of technologies used to record your voice.

• Audio recorders are often built into devices(ex. Microsoft, Apple) but can be accessed on websites or downloaded as apps.

• Audio recorders can be used to assist students with writing challenges. For example in brainstorming, they allow students to focus on ideas instead of writing mechanics and conventions. Furthermore, they can aid in the editing/revision process and allow students to refine the voice in their writing, and can be used for student self-reflection and for feedback from instructors.

To see Audio Recorders in action, check out this video: https://youtu.be/_Y-MpcmGN_Y

Research

Laidlaw & O’Mara (2015)

• This paper explored examples of how iPads and iPods were used in classrooms by children with various challenges.

• The authors note that audio recorders can circumvent graphomotor problems for both written compositions and note-taking.

Liu, Navarrete, & Wivagg (2014)

• This case study  explored an initiative to provide 24/7 access to iPod touches to teachers and English Language Learners over the course of two years. Participants included two middle school teachers and their students, and two elementary school teachers and their students.

• The authors concluded that iPod touches offer valuable support for language learning. However, they note that audio recorders may present environmental concerns. Specifically, students need a quiet, private place in order to speak out their ideas and to ensure that these are comprehensible and teachers will need to ensure that all of the necessary hardware is available (e.g., chargers).

Lafford & Lafford (2005)

• This paper explores and evaluates various technologies used in task-based foreign language learning activities.

• The authors note that may be issues with hardware configuration when using audio recorders, especially when recordings need to be transferred between devices

Research Quick Facts

Advantages

• Effective in circumventing problems for children with writing learning disabilities

• Can allow students to participate more fully in their classrooms, especially those that struggle with graphomotor problems and writing fluency (Laidlaw & O’Mara, 2015)

• Allows students to repeat information as often as necessary when used to record teachers or lectures (Harrison, 2013)

• May be more time efficient in circumventing graphomotor problems than teaching handwriting (Harrison, 2013)

• Easily accessible, as many students already have access to an audio recorder on their smartphone or computer

Disadvantages

• Teachers will require training in order to use this tool effectively (Liu et al., 2014)

• May be impractical to use in a school setting

• There may be issues with hardware configuration, especially when recordings need to be transferred between devices (Lafford & Lafford, 2005)

To Consider

• Students will require a private, quiet location in which to use audio tools

• Voice recognition and text-to-speech may be even more effective than audio recorders as they allow students to speak out their ideas and translates this speech into text, and reread their ideas after

Insights from Practice

For students with strong oral language skills, it can be helpful for some students to speak their ideas through aloud to help them process and plan. Unlike voice recognition you do not need to be conscious of text structure as you are dictating. You can input these recording into transcription software to convert these recordings into written text if desired.