Descriptor is the Lexercise online game for Station 5 (vocabulary).  As with the other Lexercise games, the words used in the game are those from the client’s current Word Bank, selected by the clinician when setting up the client’s current Practice Plan.  Descriptor requires a Word Bank containing at least 10 words.

The player hears a spoken definition and then is challenged to select the matching written word from a set of words printed on falling asteroids.  The definition is spoken by Tracy, a computer-generated voice, much like the voices used in automated telephone answering systems.

The player makes a choice by clicking on a word/asteroid. A correct choices is signaled with a bell and the word expanding to center screen; an incorrect choice is signaled with a buzz and the word vanishing. The player can continue to choose words from the remaining asteroids – a total of three times – before they sink below play level. If no choice (or no correct choice) is made, the game announces the correct word and puts the definition back into play for a later round.

As play continues, the game adjusts to match the player’s performance in three ways: speed, number of choices and number of points.

• Speed. A correct choice on the first click decreases the fall-time of the asteroids by 3 seconds (to a minimum of 8 seconds). A correct choice on the second click does not change the speed. A correct choice on the third click (or no correct choice) increases the fall time by 3 seconds (to a maximum of 20 seconds).
• Number of choices. A correct choice on the first click increases the number of asteroids by one (to a maximum of 8 asteroids). A correct choice on the second click does not change the number of asteroids. A correct choice on the third click (or no correct choice) decreases the number of asteroids by one (to a minimum of 3 asteroids).
• Points. Points are assigned as the game evaluates the player’s combined speed and accuracy. A correct choice on the first click earns 15 points at “fast” speed (8-12 seconds), 12 points at “medium” speed (13-16 seconds) and 10 points at “slow” speed (17-20 seconds). A correct choice on the second click earns 5 points. A correct choice on the third click earns 2 points. No choice, or no correct choice, earns the player no points for that round.

As with the other Lexercise games, the words populating Descriptor are chosen by the clinician from those available at the client’s current Lexercise scope and sequence Level, The clinician can also control the game time, with options ranging from one minute to ten minutes (three minutes is the default).

The clinician and/or the parent can use the error words from the child's online game in a face-to-face, direct instruction procedure. This combination of online and face-to-face practice is powerful and effective.