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TestTalker Frequently
Asked Questions
We have developed
a list of Frequently Asked Questions about TestTalker for our customers.
For more specific questions, please email us: WYNN at freedomscientific.com.
Click
on a question to go to the complete text:
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TestTalker
Overview
Educational
and Productivity Features
Document
and File Support
Technical
and General Questions
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TestTalker Overview
- What
is TestTalker?
TestTalker
is a software solution to help individuals be more successful
with test taking, worksheet completion, and with study materials.
It can also help people complete forms electronically.
- How
does TestTalker work?
TestTalker provides a computer version of a test, worksheet, or other form
that can talk. The material looks exactly like the paper rendition of the
material, but provides a bimodal approach to the materials: words are spoken
by a speech synthesizer while they are simultaneously highlighted. There
are two versions of TestTalker: Teacher Edition and Student Edition. Using
Teacher Edition, a teacher scans in the material and configures the electronic
answer blanks. The student takes the test electronically using the Student
Edition.
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to FAQs Table of Contents
Educational
and Productivity Features
- Does
TestTalker modify the test?
No.
Modifications change the test. TestTalker does not change the written
test. TestTalker is an accommodation that provides a bimodal presentation
of the unmodified written information. It does add electronic representations
of the answer blanks so the students can electronically complete
the test. But as it does not alter the test, it is an accommodation,
not a modification.
- If
I can't use TestTalker on standardized tests, how would I use
it?
TestTalker is valuable in helping students become better
prepared for test-taking. TestTalker enables students to become
familiar with specific testing formats. It provides a bimodal approach,
which enhances learning for many students and helps empower students
to feel successful. TestTalker also better prepares students for
taking tests on the computer. Considering the increasing popularity
of this method of test delivery, it serves as a tool for individuals
to practice completing tests by computer.
- Can
TestTalker be used to complete other types of forms, such as
driver's license tests and application forms?
Yes.
TestTalker uses advanced, reliable, form-filling features, so it
can easily be used to complete forms.
- How
does TestTalker compare to scan-and-read programs that currently
claim test completion capabilities?
TestTalker
has three important differences from other scan-and-read programs:
(1) Other scan-and-read programs do not support Multiple Choice
and True/False questions. TestTalker is the only scanning and reading
program that supports this type of question. (2) Most other scan-and-read
programs do not allow the teacher to resize fill-in blanks or add
his/her own answer blanks. TestTalker allows the teacher to add,
delete, move, and resize all answer types, including fill-in blanks.
(3) Some programs use fill-in blanks that do not have size limits.
This permits the student to actually type over existing text on
the test! TestTalker's answer blanks have teacher-selectable size
limits, thus ensuring that students will not overwrite other areas
of the test.
- With
other programs, the teacher does not need to do anything to
set up the answer blanks on the test. It's just available at
any time, automatically. Does TestTalker do this?
Yes.
TestTalker automatically detects underlines on a page and inserts
fill-in answer blanks. This will save teachers precious time. Of
course, with TestTalker, the teacher can also add other answer
blanks whenever needed.
Back
to FAQs Table of Contents
Document and
File Support
- What
type of questions does TestTalker support?
TestTalker
supports many types of questions: True/False, Multiple Choice,
Fill-in, and Extended Answer. To support True/False tests and Multiple
Choice tests, TestTalker provides answer bubbles for the student
to select with the mouse, similar to answer bubbles students select
on print tests using a pencil. To support Fill-in and Extended
Answer tests, TestTalker provides single-line and multi-line answer
blanks for the student to type their answers into.
- Does
TestTalker support PDF files?
Yes.
TestTalker includes a PDF (Adobe® Portable Document Format)
converter. You simply open the PDF file in TestTalker, and it becomes
available just as though you had scanned it in.
- Does
TestTalker support files a teacher has created in Microsoft
Word?
Yes.
A teacher can open a Microsoft Word file in TestTalker. TestTalker
will automatically recognize and insert fill-in blanks. The teacher
can add other answer blanks, just as though the document had been
printed and scanned in. This relieves the teacher of the chore
of scanning many documents.
- Can
TestTalker be used with Standardized or ScanTron tests?
There
is no reason TestTalker could not be used on text-based, standardized
tests. That being said, each state and district has specific rules
and regulations in regards to their standardized testing. Many
students who have I.E.P.s are entitled to specific accommodations.
TestTalker could support these accommodations. However, you will
need to check the regulations in your area. Currently TestTalker
does not support ScanTron tests.
- Can
I change the reading order in a document after I've scanned
it?
Yes,
you can change the reading order on any TestTalker file using our
new Dynamic Zoning feature. This allows you to define your own
zones (reading areas) on the page, in the unusual case where TestTalker
doesn't recognize the reading order correctly the first time. Using
Dynamic Zoning, you can define any area you want TestTalker to
read, in the order you want it spoken. You can also have TestTalker
ignore text and graphics that you don't want it to try to read.
Back
to FAQs Table of Contents
Technical and
General Questions
- Why
didn't you add these capabilities to WYNN, your other product?
Why have a separate product?
WYNN
and TestTalker have different purposes. WYNN is a software tool
to help people read, write, and study more effectively. WYNN is
a powerful program with many features to help struggling readers
and writers, such as word prediction, dictionary, and spell checking.
TestTalker is a software tool to help people prepare for and take tests and
worksheets, and fill out forms. Many of WYNN's features are not necessary
for TestTalker users. By creating a separate product, we are able to keep
the price lower.
- I
like these new features. Will we be seeing them in WYNN soon?
Some
of TestTalker's features will be added to the next version of WYNN.
However, just because a feature appears in one product, that doesn't
necessarily mean we will add it to the other. We will only add
a feature if its implementation is consistent with the needs of
the users of that product.
- What
are the technical requirements?
To
run TestTalker, your computer must meet the following minimum requirements:
- An IBM-compatible
Pentium or higher computer running at least 450 MHz
- Windows
95/98/Me, Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Windows XP
- 92 MB of
RAM
- A CD-ROM
drive
- A compatible
sound card with speaker
- (for Teacher
Edition) A supported TWAIN-compatible scanner
- A video
card and monitor capable of VGA video in 800x600, high-color
16-bit color mode or greater
- How
much does TestTalker cost?
TestTalker:
Teacher Edition retails for $399.00.
TestTalker: Student Edition comes in a 5-pack, which costs $249.00.
Back
to FAQs Table of Contents
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