‘Inspirational’ and ‘amazing’ are just two of the comments that have been made to me following your presentation. Two of the schools that I visit have already made plans for the things that they are keen to implement since hearing you (and it’s only Thursday morning)! Our members have varying levels of expertise and experience yet everyone found new ideas and were enabled to reflect on their practice."

Ian last presented in Australia at the Inclusive Learning Technologies Winter School in 2006. Feedback from
delegates indicated that he was the most popular presenter at that conference!

Click HERE to learn more about the Inclusive Learning Technologies Conference 2010

access using a switch or touch-screen. A range of SWITCHES were shown and Ian explained why you should take advice from an occupational therapist if you are unsure about which switch to use or where to position it to ensure the child can operate the switch repeatedly. He also warned of the dangers of 'decorating' a switch with fur for example to make the switch more interesting to touch, explaining that to do so may only frustrate the student's understanding of cause and effect.

Ian then showed a range of software designed to promote the understanding of cause and effect including BIG BANG, SWITCHIT FARM and some of the SWITCH VIDEOS from this web site. He explained how they might be used together with off computer switching activities such as using BATTERY OPERATED TOYS or MAINS CONTROLLERS to help generalise the student's understanding. Ian then went on to describe some of the difficulties educators and therapists face when assessing a students understanding of cause and effect. A video was shown of a child using a switch and delegates were invited to share their opinions on the child's understanding of cause and effect.

The session continued with Ian describing a suggested progression of switching skills beyond the cause and effect level. This progression included completing a sequence of events by switch building and Ian explained how to get the most from this stage. Using stories punctuated by switch presses such as those in the SWITCHIT SERIES of programs, SWITCHIT FARM & SWITCHIT HYGIENE, ensures that that the student is aware that each activation of the switch moves the story on towards completion. Ian talked about how you might make your own stories and activities for use at this stage by using SWITCHIT MAKER 2.

The session ended with Ian discussing learning outcomes for switch users and how our aim for each student may be different. For some it will be an opportunity to extend influence and control over their immediate environment, for others it will be making choices through switch scanning. For everyone it means increased independence in learning, communication and leisure.

Useful Links
Free Resources on the development of switch skills
SENSWITCHER - Program and Teachers' Notes
FREE Switch Games and RESOURCES
FREE Single Switch Games for more able switch users
SwitchIT! Maker 2 Web Site - Free player and resources

such as SENSWITCHER and SWITCHIT MAKER2 which are guaranteed to grab your student's attention. Ian further explained how once you have your student engaged, how you might move them on to early control by touching the screen. Ian explained that IWBs did not need special software and that any program that can be worked with a mouse click can be used. He demonstrated this by showing simple programs such as BIG BANG and some of the SWITCHIT SERIES and explained how they too might be used on an IWB not only to teach cause and effect but also as a wider social skills / turn taking activity.

The session continued with Ian talking about some of the skills needed to use an IWB effectively and how tools such as MOUSE SKILLS and JIGSAW MAKER 2 can help students develop targeting and drag and drop skills as part of a structured 'small steps' teaching program. IWBs have the potential to free student's from the cognitive and physical rigors of using a mouse, freeing their creativity and enabling them to focus on the software and not on manipulating the mouse.

The session ended with a discussion about the accessibility of IWBs and Ian talked through some of the problems he had encountered during his time at Priory Woods. These included problems with shadows, children 'fixating' on the bulb and access for very small children or those in wheelchairs. Ian demonstrated a new INTERACTIVE PLASMA DISPLAY which overcomes these difficulties without compromising the many benefits of using IWBs in the special ed classroom. He described how with the addition of some wireless equipment such as the JELLY BEAMER, the IWB could be at the centre of an Inclusive Classroom where everyone is included.

Useful Links
Learning at Your FingerTips
FREE Teaching resources for use on an IWB

This 'hands on' session demonstrated how SWITCHIT! MAKER 2 could be used to make a range of accessible activities using your own photos, images and sounds. Attendees used laptop computers to make musical slide shows, simple games and talking story books quickly and easily using a variety of media.

Delegates were particularly interested in making switch accessible 'POP VIDEOS' similar to those to be found on this web site. Ian demonstrated how these can be made by using MICROSOFT PHOTOSTORY 3 together with

SwitchIt! Maker 2 . He explained how images and sounds can be found on the Internet using sites such as GOOGLE IMAGES and FINDSOUNDS.COM. Ian warned of the dangers of using image search web sites without first checking what pictures will be displayed.

Ian explained that activities create in Switchit! Maker 2 were completely accessible to all assistive input devices and therefore perfect for use in the 'Inclusive Classroom' as described in his earlier IWB session. He also explained that activities created with SwitchIt Maker 2 can shared using the FREE PLAYER version of the program available at the SWITCHIT! MAKER 2 WEB SITE.

Useful Links
A step by step guide to making POP VIDEOS with SWITCHIT! MAKER 2
A useful search engine for finding sound effects
Google Images