Training & Consultancy... Courses... Developing Switch Skills

Developing Switch Skills

Children with physical difficulties and those with profound and multiple learning difficulties often find it difficult to control their environment and to access traditional teaching methods. Switches are one technology that can help overcome some of these difficulties.

This course will look at why a learner might need to use switches, the kind of switches that might help, and how to ensure they are set up correctly. It will cover using switches with toys, electrical devices, communication aids and computer software.

We will also look at practical ways of introducing switch access and providing progression through the stages of switch control. This will include ensuring that your learner understands cause and effect – that their switch press is causing the result; developing skills of pressing the switch at the right time; and making choices using switches using scanning methods.

Colleagues attending this hands-on course will:

  • Understand the importance of choosing an appropriate switch and software to meet the needs of the learner.
  • Understand the importance of positioning both the learner and the switch.
  • Understand the key aspects of switch skills progression.
  • Learn how to adapt toys and mains devices for use with switches.
  • Learn how to adapt the computer for use with switches.
  • Learn teaching strategies designed to help the learner progress beyond cause and effect.
  • Explore how switch use can be embedded into the wider school curriculum.

This course will be of interest to school or college based colleagues working directly with learners experiencing problems with physical access or those with severe and profound learning difficulties.

Each delegate will receive a 1Gb memory stick preloaded with extra material relevant to the course. It can also be used throughout the day to save their practical work.

10:00 Welcome and Introductions

10:10 Session 1

  • Who uses switches, and why?
  • Try out the range of switches available, including more specialist varieties such as those operated by eye blinking etc.
  • Discuss positioning and mounting systems – where to get advice – making a switch user's passport to record their preferred methods.
  • Look at progression in switch use. Often, this is not linear, but more like a road map with different routes to the same destination!

11:00 Break

11:15 Session 2

  • Using switches away from the computer
  • How to adapt toys for use with switches, and the different modes of control available (momentary, latched and timed activation using a Toy Control Box).
  • Using switches with devices that work from mains electricity.
  • Using switches with voice output communication aids.
  • How to connect switches to the computer (using a Crick Switch Box) and using the settings.
  • Operating simple cause and effect software – we will try out Big Bang.
  • Using the options in Big Bang to facilitate switch access.

12:30 Lunch

A buffet lunch is provided.

Delegates will also have the opportunity to look at other hardware and Inclusive Technology software.

13:30 Session 3

  • The benefits of using familiar, motivating content in your switching activities, and a brief exploration of how to make your own.
  • How to ensure that your learners understand the concept of cause and effect – that their switch press is causing the result on-screen. The importance of patience and careful observation/assessment before moving on.
  • Using switch-building software, where learners need to press a number of times to achieve the desired result. The importance of looking and noticing changes. (We will use examples from the SwitchIt! series and SwitchIt! Maker 2.)
  • When to use two switch access.
  • Examples of two switch activities (turn taking, following on-screen switch prompts, choosing).

14:45 Break

15:00 Session 4

  • Switch timing skills – who might need to develop them, and how to adjust the program to suit the learner's needs (using Switch Skills 1).
  • About one-switch scanning – using errorless and empty cell activities with Choose & Tell and ChooseIt! Maker 2, to get started.
  • Two-switch scanning (with audience participation!)
  • The frustrations thzat can arise when using switches at this level.
  • Using switches to access an on-screen keyboard.
  • How 'forced order' sentence construction in Clicker 5 can help.

15:55 Plenary and certificates

16:00 Close

We can also run product based or general courses at your organisation, designed to meet your needs.
The team also offers consultancy.