Parrot Reading

Supplier: http://www.parrotsoftware.com

Type of exercises:

  • Sentence level reading comprehension
  • Paragraph level reading comprehension
  • Written word finding from written definitions
  • Identifying correct spellings
  • Whole word spelling
  • Auditory word recall

Developed with SLT: Yes



Theory based: No, based on clinician experience



Record own speaking attempts: N/A



Correction of own speaking attempts: N/A



Easy to use?: No. The user must click on an answer, then click again to input their answer and then click again to move onto the next question.



The internet subscription exercises are very slow to accept the answer making multiple activations possible and therefore confusing.



Customisation/personalisation: No



Error handling: None



Prompts/cues given: None



Record results: Yes



Tutorials: Yes, online



Free trial: Yes but not the complete program



Support: Via Livechat or the suppliers can take over the user’s PC. All support takes place 9am-5pm New York time.



Comments:

  • The online subscription allows access to all the modules available so as the user progresses they don’t need to purchase new modules. It feels like an app when downloaded on an ipad
  • The CD version has more functions than the internet version
  • The reading comprehension exercises require higher level semantics and US knowledge.
  • Remote access to results is possible as long as the SLT has the user’s login & password.

N.B:

    No practising of spelling skills, goes straight in at single word level with long, low frequency words

    Voice is American and computer generated

    No visual rewards for correct answers

 

Easy to use independently: No
Number of exercises: Large
Version: Other Languages Available, American English
Access: Keyboard, Mouse, Touchscreen
Record Results: Yes
Evaluation: Developed with SLT, Free trial, Remote results access, Theory based, Tutorials