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How-IT-Works Seminar Programme
The ever-popular How-IT-Works ICT seminars are a great way to keep abreast of new developments, discover the latest products and to find inspiration for using technology to support your learners.
They are free to attend and you don't need to book places.
Note: How-IT-Works seminars are organised independently and in addition to the NASEN seminar programme at Special Needs North.
Monday 24th May 2004
Tuesday 25th May 2004
| Suite A | Suite B | |
| DynaVox BECTa funding and the DynaVox difference: an impact analysis Presenter: Yvonne Bennett Highfurlong School in Blackpool is a local centre of excellence catering for children with learning difficulties and physical impairment. It has taken full advantage of the Communication Aids Project (organised by BECTa), for children who have a significant speech impairment. This seminar focuses on the impact of CAP funding on a previously "no-tech" school and the successful implementation of hi-tech solutions from DynaVox. It will discuss the positive outcomes from the coalition of a dedicated special school and the industry's leading supplier of communication aids. Individual case studies will demonstrate the very successful care pathway Highfurlong and DynaVox have adopted. There will be an opportunity to talk with Yvonne of Highfurlong School and James Rowe (SLT with DynaVox) on how this pathway may be replicated across the region. |
11:00 | Quality Enabling
Devices Light-tech solutions that support key learning objectives at home and within school Presenter: Nadine Farris An introduction to the new and extensive Learning Resources within the QED range. These include well-established light-tech devices, a new curriculum-based step-by-step programme, 'Integrating Communication and Education', and examples of how to effectively use puppets to encourage and motivate individuals to express themselves. This seminar will include an overview of new non-electrical products that inspire creative interaction. |
| Prentke Romich
International Minspeak© in the twenty first century - a language development model Presenter: Paul Harkness The twenty-first century saw the dawn of a new era in AAC. New funding arrangements presented the opportunity for greater language development - obtaining a communication aid sooner, youngsters are able to explore their world earlier, developing their learning and increasing their vocabulary to further explore their environment. Bruner (1990) stresses "..language is acquired through use.." Minspeak© has responded to this challenge with the development of its MAPs. From first words, through all levels of language development, Minspeak© has evolved with a new series of increasing-sized MAPs to accommodate this developmental journey, ensuring no re-learning is needed as a person moves from one MAP to another, and keeping our existing 128 LLL MAP as the ultimate goal. Bruner, J. (1990) Acts of Meaning, Harvard University Press, Cambridge |
12:00 | Techcess Using DaeSSy wheelchair mounts Presenter: Ian Bullock Attaching wheelchair mounts is not straightforward. Positioning of an AAC device on a wheelchair mount can be crucial to its successful use. A safe, secure and robust mounting system is vital to protect the device and user. Some new models of wheelchairs - especially Tilt in Space and aluminium or titanium framed wheelchairs - offer fewer obvious suitable points for attaching a mounting system. All in an environment where there are no formal guidelines or common best practice to help purchasers. This presentation will demonstrate how we use the DaeSSy Mounting System to achieve the optimum mounting solution to fulfil your requirements. |
| Sensory Software
International Integrating communication with computer access Presenter: Paul Hawes Many users of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices also need access to other systems for recording, environment control and educational software. Combining all these on a tablet PC has become an increasingly popular option. To get the maximum benefit from this integration, the user needs software that can handle all these functions without the need for intervention from helpers. In this session, we will look at The Grid - software that can work as a full screen communicator with text or symbols and as an on-screen keyboard. We will also look at suitable hardware for this type of use. |
13:00 | Becta CAP in Practice Presenter: Mick Thomas With the Communication Aids Project now over two years old, this is a chance to find out about the wide range of equipment that is being provided and to see what effect it is having on pupils' lives. Also with over two years still to go, it is an opportunity to feed into proposed developments and to shape the future of the Project. |
| Sherston
Software How educational software can support children with special educational needs Presenter: Sarah Helton This seminar will explore how and why educational software can support children with special educational needs. We will discuss how software can aid learning for those with physical, sensory, language, behaviour and attention difficulties. The seminar will also look at how Sherston software meets the needs of children with special educational needs and there will be a demonstration of Sherston's new products for SEN. |
14:00 | Crick
Software Technology for the inclusive classroom - Clicker and ClozePro Presenter: Ruth Hamson The seminar will look at Clicker 4 and ClozePro from Crick Software. It will show how learners can be supported in a range of curriculum areas and at how the programs can be used across a wide ability and age range. The focus will be on practical classroom ideas from early literacy to secondary level. The writing support elements of Clicker will be demonstrated. The multimedia features will also be explored, with particular emphasis on the creation of reading materials. You will also be shown how to use ClozePro to create cloze activities quickly and easily. |
| Resource
Education ICT and Literacy: some hints and tips Presenter: Trevor Millum Trevor Millum's book 'ICT and Literacy', published by the National Association for the Teaching of English, will form the basis for this session. It will include ideas to stimulate writing, reading and the study of language at word and sentence level, together with some handy hints and tips on making the most of your computer in literacy lessons and support work throughout the curriculum. |
15:00 |
| Suite A | Suite B | |
| Force Ten Braille and graphics with the Tiger Braille Printer Presenter: Norman Lilly If you want the quietist embosser in the world to print your Braille, tactile diagrams and pictures directly from applications like Microsoft Word and Excel, the new range of Tiger Braille Embossers from The Force Ten Company take the experience of Braille embossing to the Max! |
11:00 | Sight and Sound
Technology Access technology for the visually impaired Presenter: Jonathan Rouse This seminar will show various accessibility programs that allow visually impaired users to access common applications such as Microsoft Word, email and the internet. These programs, Zoomtext, Magic and JAWS can run on standard PCs, and will allow people with sight problems to use a PC to the same extent as a sighted user. We will show the software in different applications, both with and without speech output. |
| Don Johnston Special
Needs Supporting struggling writers Presenter: Jamie Munro Draft:Builder is an organisational writing tool that explicitly walks pupils through the planning, note-taking, and rough drafting phases of the writing process. Write:Outloud is a talking word processor with supports and functionality designed specifically for pupils with special needs. Co:Writer 4000 is a linguistic word prediction program that works in conjunction with any application that receives text. Learn how they can work together to form a complete writing solution for pupils with special needs. |
12:00 | Inclusive
Technology Developing switch skills Presenter: Melanie Jones Discover fun and exciting ways to help your switch users progress from cause and effect activities to making choices. Gain an overview of different types of switches and look at how they should be positioned. You can also see the Big Bang software and new SwitchIt! titles with popular themes like the weather, farm animals and people who help us, and find out how they can help develop early language skills. The latest choice making software including Let's Go To Town and Choose and Tell: Nursery Rhymes will also be demonstrated. |
| Epar
Software Software that saves time for schools Presenter: Peter Smith / John Bell Almost all schools now have a network and computers in every classroom, but many schools do not realise how these valuable resources can be used to save teachers, admin staff and the SMT hours every week. For years there has been no software available specifically for the demanding special needs school environment. Fortunately, this has now changed, and we will show you how modern software can complement your existing systems to benefit the whole school. |
13:00 | Becta How to avoid prosecution under SENDA Presenter: Sal McKeown The new disability legislation gives new rights to disabled people but it also places new demands on schools and LEAs. This seminar will cover the anticipatory duties which schools need to consider. It will also provide guidance on good practice, which will help to inform planning and enable schools to develop the least restrictive environment possible. This will go some way towards helping schools to avoid lengthy and expensive legal cases. |
| Widgit
Software Widgit's new resources for inclusion Presenter: Angie McGlashon Widgit Software is well known for its symbol programs such as Writing with Symbols. We are now launching a new suite of software called Communicate. Communicate: In Print is the first in this series and is a symbol supported desktop publisher. In this seminar we will demonstrate how this fabulous new program can be used to produce colourful resources such as books, worksheets and newsletters. We will also be demonstrating Communicate: Webwide, the very first symbol browser. Open virtually any website in symbols, text only or in normal view. A perfect program for all abilities to access the web. |
14:00 | Liberator Switching to communication Presenter: Martyn Maltby The development of switching skills in individuals with profound and multiple learning difficulties opens up a whole new world of potential learning opportunities. One the most important of these is the acquisition of communication skills. This seminar will show you how even pre-intentional learners can develop switching skills and an understanding of the concept of cause and effect. It also covers how they can use this as a springboard to developing the ability to make choices and other more advanced communication skills. These are tried and tested practical ideas and suggestions for the busy teacher in a busy classroom. |
| Toby Churchill adVOCAte+: Speech and environmental control in a single compact device Presenter: Adrian Hibbert Toby Churchill Ltd, manufacturer of the Lightwriter text-to-speech communication aids for people with speech disabilities, will demonstrate their new adVOCAte family of digital-recording communication aids. This low cost symbol-based communication aid has the option of Environmental Control providing control of other equipment and computer access. This provides speech output and Environmental Control in a single compact device which can be accessed by direct selection, 1- and 2-switch scanning, and up to 4 external switches. |
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