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On this page you will find some basic ideas to help you get the most from implementing a program with CCQ

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The CCQ Traveling Tutor:  Microsoft, HP and Interactive Speech Solutions working together to support students and teachers with a mobile learning program

The CCQ (short for Cool Conversations™ Quiz) Traveling-Tutor is being presented by ISS, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft’s Mobility Solutions for Education to provide schools with a mobile (in-class, on-the-go and at home) education system that provides for motivation, education and evaluation of students.  The system has been designed for maximum flexibility and will operate on any Microsoft operating system from desktop to pocket computer.  This integrated classroom and mobile learning tool may be used with or without a network connection to further meet the needs of a diverse population of students.  The program is also ideal for ESL students (and their families) with second language support provided in Spanish (other languages also can be made available). The CCQ program combines the three primary learning styles of auditory, visual and kinesthetic to enhance the student’s ability to learn and retain information.  This learning system extends beyond the classroom and does not require connection to the Internet to function, opening the opportunity to many students who may not have ready access to Internet-based programs outside the classroom.  Trials, comparative studies of conventional methods of teaching and learning show that computer-based interactive speech methods improve learning to read and write.  “When handheld computers are put in the hands of young learners, they become powerful, enabling devices.” stated David Whyley, Head Teacher and ICT Consultant with the Wolverhampton City Council, UK.   “Access to e learning in this way, has unlocked the potential of pupils. These “Digital Natives” have exceeded expectations once they truly access an anytime, anywhere, ICT-rich environment,” says Whyley.  He further states that “We really wanted to give kids cool devices that they would be happy to use and would find easy to use. We’ve also had feedback in the past that laptops are too big and bulky,” says Whyley. “There’s also an added personal safety concern when using laptops as it can make some children an obvious target for crime—you can easily tell if a child is carrying a laptop home.”  Feedback from the pupils involved in the two-year pilot has been extremely positive.  The initial success of the project has encouraged all involved to add momentum to the initiative and drive it forward in other areas. (from Mobile Education Case Study @ Microsoft.com)  The Interactive Speech Solutions / Microsoft “Mobile-Learning” program focuses on the positive impact that results from the one-on-one relationship between student and mobile teaching devices.  "Mobile Learning" delivers support for all students and their families. Every child can use Traveling Tutor's PDA as a personal teaching assistant at school, on the bus, at home, anywhere/ anytime.  In addition, ISS, Microsoft and HP are committed to working with school systems to customize this education solution for maximum effectiveness in supporting State and local programs.

The Cool C Quiz is a knowledge building application from Interactive Speech Solutions. This unique patent-pending software turns the computer into a virtual tutor that effectively supports the learning and retention of information.

Features and Benefits:

• Computer-based knowledge building combining the three primary learning styles of auditory, visual and kinesthetic for maximum effectiveness.

• Knowledge building Cool C Quiz study sets available for primary subject and grade categories.

• Content for each grade level developed by teachers and education professionals

• A Content Editor is provided to allow users to create their own quiz / teaching sets and customize the computer’s spoken content.

• Dual language version available for students with Spanish (or another language) as their primary language. Questions and clues are provided verbally in both languages with answers spoken by the computer in English.

• Score Board function to allow the monitoring of a student’s progress while letting users compete with their own scores and those of others.

• The computer’s programmed spoken responses provide dimension of personality and fun to provide a more engaging learning process.

A Cool C™ Talking, Traveling, Computer Virtual Tutor Computer Program

The use of interactive speech, produced by computers, can provide a “talking tutor” that tirelessly reads aloud, asks questions, corrects errors, continually assesses performance, and adjusts the reading level to the individual student. Controlled studies that compare the computer-based tutor with human one-on-one tutors and have a control group receiving regular instruction showed that the tutored group surpassed the control group in Word Attack, Word Comprehension and Passage Comprehension by significant amounts. Furthermore, the computer tutored group surpassed the human tutored group in 2 of the 3 measures.

(from “Progress in Interactive Speech Improves Literacy and Numeracy Instruction” © Louis V. Ruffino, P.E.)

Why Use CCQ?

School

• Aligned with national and state standards in reading, mathematics and the social sciences 

• Easily aligned with school improvement process

• Easy access for students and teachers. Can be used in centers, labs, and media centers

• Reduces the need for costly and intensive staff development

• Provides teachers and administrators data to assess students’ needs and guide classroom instruction

• Administrators can monitor student progress without teacher involvement

• Does not require continuous connectivity to the internet or school network

• Dual language support: English and Spanish

• Enables sustained success in academic performance and skill building appropriate to grade level
  
  Teacher and Student

• Improves Literacy and Numeracy Instruction

• Increases academic achievement in reading and mathematics

• Great learning tool for enrichment, ESL, and at risk students

• Supports the struggling students with the capability to catch up with grade level skills

• Builds reading fluency, vocabulary (sight word recognition) and comprehension for students all levels

• Creates a more level academic playing field for students who do not comprehend well enough to read grade level text independently

• Designed to supplement other teaching strategies employed in the classroom

• Provides study skills support: Cueing, prompting, reminders

• Provides a combination of visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning

• Provides a virtual tutor responsive to individual student needs

• Provides the educator and student with full editing capability to provide the ability to add existing course material or create their own

• Provides a Talking Tutor that reads aloud, ask questions, corrects answers, and assess performance

• Offers verbal delivery of questions, answers and background information

• Provides verbal tips and pre-programmed remarks, which assures an engaging learning experience for students

• Provides prompt feedback, individualizes student learning, and tailors the instructional sequence
  Students can use independently. Allows teacher time to work with other students

• Engaging Icons and easy to use

What’s required to use CCQ?

CCQ will operate on any Microsoft operating system from Windows 98® on. The program can be operated with a school network or independently. It is also available on handheld PDA type devices running Microsoft Mobile 5.0 and Mobile 6. The program requires that the computer have an audio card and either speakers or a headset to accommodate the verbal support CCQ provides.

CCQ is available in a “stand-alone” desktop version or a “network” version. The advantage of the network version is that all computers may be set up and updated on the network which greatly simplifies the set-up process. The network version also allows for centralized collection of student usage reporting data. Reporting data for a “stand-alone” desktop PC is stored locally on that device. The program does not require Internet or intranet connectivity.

How can everyone get the most benefit from CCQ?

• Develop a timeline for usage in school

• Determine what students/classrooms will benefit the most

• Model expectations for students until they understand how to use software

• Have students set goals and monitor their progress

• Maintain and monitor software use and progress by observing students utilizing program

• Do not use program data for students’ grades/marks on report cards/progress reports

• Adjust software usage as needed

• Schedule when (time) program should be used during the day

• Organize celebrations and recognize achievements and gains

• School leadership must be involved and value program

Software must be institutionalized into the school’s culture
What are key recommendations for successfully implementing the CCQ Virtual Tutor Program?

• Model for students in small groups how to access and navigate software

• Discuss benchmark focus on software and student goals for the week and/or quarter

• Place students in center rotation for at least 15-20 minutes during reading block

• Access reports, maintain and monitor progress. Create individual student data folders

• Discuss scores/progress bi-weekly with students during reading groups, adjust instructional focus and set new goals

• Share literature from classroom and school library related to software topics

• Discuss results/impact of software on reading achievement with teams during learning communities

• Share results with parents and administration

• Use results to re-teach skills in the classroom and during before and after school tutoring sessions

• Monitor students’ growth in fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension

• I.S.S. will coordinate set-up of CCQ with the school’s IT coordinator and/or teachers

• Training on CCQ use will be provided to teachers and other staff.