Education

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of DOVACK, a FORTRAN package to support individualization of initial and remedial reading instruction by the language experience approach. For teaching initial and remedial reading to diverse populations on a broad scale, and for teaching standard English, the DOVACK System utilizes multisensory devices and the computer to individualize the language experience approach. Pupils dictate, from real and vicarious experiences, instructional materials that are transcribed by an aide for input to the computer. The computer processes each pupil's own lessons for independent study with dictation equipment, periodically obtains for each pupil from the pupil's own computer-stored word bank random sample vocabulary recognition tests, and after every test, compiles and prints pupil-criterion-referenced reports, including individual reports, class summaries and current norms, and graphs plotted with pupil IDs. To teach standard English for alternative situational use without disparaging the language and culture of the pupils and to provide individually pertinent materials for making the transition to conventional reading matter, the teacher and others prepare third-person narrative versions of each pupil's dictations. Unique data-collection and compilation procedures, designed for process and product evaluation, can be used for broad-scale research. Workshops are necessary for the teachers.