Lyric Reader Architecture Components Examples of Lyric Reader Applications Lyric Reader Tool Suite Components Say Say Oh Playmate is an instantiation of the Lyric Reader architecture. The Lyric Reader architecture achieves the combination of consistent instruction and intrinsically motivating tasks by the interaction of three components: the pedagogical framework contextual framework word recognition tutor The pedagogical framework is responsible for providing the instructional core for all Lyric Reader systems. In addition, its existence assures teachers and parents that students using different Lyric Reader applications receive similar beginning literacy instruction. The contextual framework is responsible for personalizing Lyric Reader applications for target audiences. This is where each application is given its context. The contextual framework enables the creation applications geared to students music interests, for example, you could create a Prince of Egypt Reader or a Lion King Reader for kids who liked the Disney Movies. Or you could create a Spice Girls Reader for kids that listen to the music of the spice girls. The word recognition tutor is responsible for helping students detect their own errors, pointing out student errors, and giving orthographic hints. The pedagogical framework can be thought of as the engine of a car and the contextual framework as the car’s body and accessories. For example, when two people buy the same make and model they both get the same engine. However, each buyer personalizes the cars, for example, by deciding the color, number of doors, wheels, seat covering and stereo. Tools need to be developed to enable non-programmers to develop learning environments for audiences with whom they are familiar (for example see Table 1 below). This will enable developers to focus on developing new tools and products while enabling people familiar with the audience and content of the proposed systems to bring their knowledge to bear. However, this presents a problem. While these designers will be familiar with the target audiences, and therefore able to contextualize the learning environment, it is likely that many will be pedagogical experts. Thus, many will be unable to build from scratch a contextualized learning environment that is pedagogically sound. Table 1: Examples of Possible Lyric Reader Applications Title Aladin Reader Christmas Reader Rockin' Reader Spice Girls Reader User group Kids who saw the move Aladin songs Kids who know Christmas songs Kids who like Rock songs Kids who like Spice Girls Music/ Content Song from Aladin Christmas songs Rock/Alternative popular songs Popular songs Cover Story The Aladin Characters forgot the lyrics to their songs. They need to remember them in order to make the movie turn out right Your neighborhood friends want to make a little money going Christmas caroling and you need to help them. Your friend is in a garage band and wants to learn a new song from you. Your group of friends has picked you to direct them in preparing an act for the school's Talent Show User's Role You are a top student so you was picked to help lead the class while the music teacher is absent You are a kid in the neighborhood You are a kid who wants to help out a friend You are a student directing a group of friends Mission Teach the Aladin characters how to sing the songs Teach your friends to sing a song Teach your friend's band a song you know Teach your friends to sing a song and dance Setting Scenes from Aladin A family room with tree and fireplace A garage A dance studio Guide The Genie A neighborhood grandma who knows the lyrics An older kid who also knows the songs An older girl from the middle school who is a great performer Listen to lyrics The music teacher performs the song The grandma sings the song for you The older kids plays the song from a tape The older girl helps you watch the video of the Spice Girls Reconstruct lyrics The student must write the song on the board for the students The kid must write the song out using scraps of gift wrap (?) The older kid has started writing down the words to the song in a notebook, you must fill the rest in so the band can learn the song The student must pin up the words on the bulletin board Construct new songs The student can write new songs on the board The kid can write new songs in a song book? The kid can write new songs in the notebook Pin up new songs on the bulletin board Perform The target group performs the songs at the rehearsal The group of kids performs the songs (practice and at a neighborhood doorstep) The band performs the song The target group performs at the Talent Show Lyric Reader Tool Suite There are five components to the suite: content builder interface constructor tutor task creator engine The engine contains the core of the pedagogical framework: the BRAVO methodology (Bridging Readers’ Acquisition of sight Vocabulary via Oral language). It is also responsible for instantiating the Lyric Reader shell with the data entered via the other four tools. A user of the Lyric Reader tool suite has access to all of the components except the engine. The content builder allows the designer to create the cover story, student role and mission. In addition, the content builder is used by the designer to enter in song lyrics. The interface creator allows the designer to create the interface. The task constructor scaffolds the designer in selecting the appropriate activities. Finally, the tutor allows the designer to adapt the language of the helper to the language practices of the target group.