Elementary Students Use Voice-to-Text to Write

Using qualitative methods and a multiple-case study design, this study explored how four students in elementary school, with poor writing skills, poor handwriting skills, or a reluctant writer, responded to using voice-to-text (e.g., Google Voice Typing) to compose. Data were derived from semi-structured interviews, observations, documents, and audiovisuals. The study concluded that participants liked using Google Voice Typing to compose because it allowed them to think and say words quicker than handwriting words; helped with not forgetting what to say; made writing easier; and produced better compositions. Reasons participants gave for not liking Google Voice Typing to compose included: difficulty with editing, having to dictate the punctuation while composing, and when Google Voice Typing misrecognized their dictations. Compared to handwritten compositions, Google Voice Typing produced compositions with more words and more words per minute on rough drafts, more words and paragraphs in final drafts, a variety of sentences, fewer errors in conventions, and neater publications. Google Voice Typing eliminated the need to rewrite a final draft. Using a narrative guide impacted the time spent planning. Prewriting and editing were easier when handwriting; and drafting, revising, and publishing were easier with Google Voice Typing. Recommendations are made for giving children the optimal mix of writing conditions based on each phase of the writing process, how to use Google Voice Typing with the 6+1 Traits of Writing, and how to train children to use Google Voice Typing

A rare and exclusive endoperoxide photoproduct derived from thiacalix[4]arene crown-shaped derivative bearing 9,10-substituted anthracene moiety

A rare and exclusive endoperoxide photoproduct was quantitatively obtained from a thiacalix[4]arene crown-shaped derivative upon irradiation at λ=365 nm; the structure was unambiguously confirmed by 1H/13C NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The prerequisites for the formation of the endoperoxide photoproduct have also been discussed. Furthermore, the photochemical reaction rate could be greatly enhanced in the presence of the thiacalix[4]arene platform because it served as a host to capture oxygen

Functionalisation of bolaamphiphiles with mononuclear bis(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) complexes for application in self assembled monolayers

A novel ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complex connected competently to a bolaamphiphile, containing amide linkages to provide rigidity via hydrogen bonding in the monolayer, has been prepared. The ruthenium(II) complexes of this ligand and of the intermediates in the synthesis were prepared by modification of the coordinated ligands, demonstrating the synthetic versatility and robustness of this family of complexes. All ruthenium complexes were characterised by electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques and were found to have similar properties to the parent complex [Ru(bipy)[3]][2][+], and remain versatile photosensitisers, with well-defined properties, despite extensive substitution of the bipy ligand