Training Courses
All training courses are devised and delivered by Tony Jones and are based on teaching experience in variety of educational establishments since 1975.
Training courses from TalkSense take two forms:
- the first type of (closed) course can be delivered to schools, colleges
or other institutions wishing to book a day's training specifically
for their establishment;
Download Booking Form
- the second are courses open to individuals who may attend any of the courses
advertised below.
Download Open Booking Form
Course Dates and Venues can be found here.
To book a course please contact Tony Jones at TalkSense using the appropriate booking form (see above) .
Terms and conditions for courses can be found here. Multiple bookings may attract a discount.
Links to the courses can be found below. Click on the section title or the symbol for the course to move to the chosen training course page for further information. If you have further questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Training courses from TalkSense take two forms:
- the first type of (closed) course can be delivered to schools, colleges
or other institutions wishing to book a day's training specifically
for their establishment;
Download Booking Form
- the second are courses open to individuals who may attend any of the courses
advertised below.
Download Open Booking Form
Course Dates and Venues can be found here.
To book a course please contact Tony Jones at TalkSense using the appropriate booking form (see above) .
Terms and conditions for courses can be found here. Multiple bookings may attract a discount.
Links to the courses can be found below. Click on the section title or the symbol for the course to move to the chosen training course page for further information. If you have further questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
V-Pen and V-Software Training & Implementation
The V(oice) Pen is probably the most exciting development in Assistive Technology for special education and AAC for all ages in many years. Now paper itself can talk! Create a paper learning resource or a communication board (symbols and or text), print it using a standard colour printer on standard paper, and then, when used with the V-Pen, it will speak, sing, recite poetry, ask questions, ...
Learn all about all the aspects of this exciting new technology with a day's course from Talksense. Talksense was involved in the development of the V-Pen and its related softwares and is therefore best placed to deliver the training on this unique system.
The course covers the V-Pen technology, the Voice Symbol and the Voice Ink software, as well as implementation ideas and issues. See the V-Pen pages for more details on this amazing product. Click on the V-Pen symbol for further details of the training course.
Please note that Talksense does NOT retail this product. It can be purchased in the UK through Ability World.
Voice Symbol
This course is for those wishing to learn about building communication overlays using the Voice Symbol system. Such overlays can be used as standard communication overlays BUT, when used in conjunction with the V-Pen, can also speak.
Voice Symbol does not need specialised paper, or specialised printers, or specialised ink: it will work with most laser printers (although some are more compatable than others) and many ink jet printers. The magic is contained in the way the software controls the way that the ink is utilised on the paper.
The Voice Symbol software is simple to use and understand and yet very powerful. The course will cover every aspect of its use and participants will get plenty of hands on experience. For further details click on the Voice Symbol logo to the left.
Voice Ink
This course is for those wishing to learn about building educational materials using the Voice Ink system. Such materials can be used in conjunction with the V-Pen so that the paper can speak. Import any Microsoft Word document into Voice Ink and print it. The paper now can be read with the V-Pen! Not only the text can speak but also the images too: indeed, the images can play a song, recite a piece of poetry ...
Voice Ink does not need specialised paper, or specialised printers, or specialised ink: it will work with most laser printers (although some are more compatable than others) and many ink jet printers. The magic is contained in the way the software controls the way that the ink is utilised on the paper.
The Voice Ink software is simple to use and understand and yet very powerful. The course will cover every aspect of its use and participants will get plenty of hands on experience. For further details click on the Voice Ink logo to the left
Voice Ink does not need specialised paper, or specialised printers, or specialised ink: it will work with most laser printers (although some are more compatable than others) and many ink jet printers. The magic is contained in the way the software controls the way that the ink is utilised on the paper.
The Voice Ink software is simple to use and understand and yet very powerful. The course will cover every aspect of its use and participants will get plenty of hands on experience. For further details click on the Voice Ink logo to the left
PowerPoint For Learning Difficulties
PowerPoint can be used in many ways. It is one of the most fantastic tools that teachers of Specal Needs have in their armoury. It is possible to craft solutions for individuals and groups that are stimulating, educational, age appropriate and can be accessed directly or via a switch. One of the best things about this tools is that you probably already have the software, you just need to be shown how to get the most from it! Don't overlook this tool; find out for yourself just how versatile it can be! Powerpoint can be made to scan such that Learners who require switch access can also benefit from its use. It's great for Learners at all levels of ability including those with Autism.
The course covers many ideas for using PowerPoint in the Special Needs classroom with Learners experiencing PMLD and beyond as well as hands-on training such that course participants will leave be able to create their own PowerPoint Presentation.
The course covers many ideas for using PowerPoint in the Special Needs classroom with Learners experiencing PMLD and beyond as well as hands-on training such that course participants will leave be able to create their own PowerPoint Presentation.
Switching to Success: Switching to Communication
"I didn't know there was so much to learn about best practice in using switches" JS Bournemouth
"I recently attended your training 'Switching to Success' which I found incredibly informative." SH SLT
A switch may be a doorway to access the world for those experiencing Learning Difficulties and indivuals with Physical disabilities alike. It is therefore really important that staff are aware of best practice and apply it in their work in the classroom.
Ths course attempts to cover every aspect of the development of the use of switching for Learners at all levels of ability. Starting with the range of switches and covering such aspects of switching as switch rules, establishing cause and effect, teaching with toys and troubleshooting problems, the course builds a set of objectives for use in developing switch skills in Learners.
What is the best type of toy to use with switches and why?
What can I do about the Learner who keeps tapping the switch over and over?
How do I tell if my Learner has understood the concept of cause and effect?
What is the best switch to use and how can I keep it in the right position?
What;s the best way of moving from one two two switches?
With lots of audience participation, the course attempts to aswer these questions and more.
"I recently attended your training 'Switching to Success' which I found incredibly informative." SH SLT
A switch may be a doorway to access the world for those experiencing Learning Difficulties and indivuals with Physical disabilities alike. It is therefore really important that staff are aware of best practice and apply it in their work in the classroom.
Ths course attempts to cover every aspect of the development of the use of switching for Learners at all levels of ability. Starting with the range of switches and covering such aspects of switching as switch rules, establishing cause and effect, teaching with toys and troubleshooting problems, the course builds a set of objectives for use in developing switch skills in Learners.
What is the best type of toy to use with switches and why?
What can I do about the Learner who keeps tapping the switch over and over?
How do I tell if my Learner has understood the concept of cause and effect?
What is the best switch to use and how can I keep it in the right position?
What;s the best way of moving from one two two switches?
With lots of audience participation, the course attempts to aswer these questions and more.
Multi-Sensory Referencing & Objects Of Reference
This is a course designed for those working with the most cognitively challenged Learners. Multi-sensory Referencing is a system for developing awareness of time and space in individuals experiencing Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties. The system is not a single technique but, rather, comprises a number of integrated approaches that, together, create an environment that is supportive of understanding and learning. These 'approaches' include:
- Objects Of Reference
- Sensory Cueing
- Environmental Engineering
- Tangible Symbol Development
- Virtual Synesthesia
These approaches are explained and discussed at length such that course participants will be better able to implement an MSR scheme and promote good practice in their own establishment.
- Objects Of Reference
- Sensory Cueing
- Environmental Engineering
- Tangible Symbol Development
- Virtual Synesthesia
These approaches are explained and discussed at length such that course participants will be better able to implement an MSR scheme and promote good practice in their own establishment.
Symbol Strategies
What is best practice in using symbols? How can symbols support learning. What vocabulary should we be teaching and why? What are the symbol rules? iWhich is the best symbol set? Can symbols really support literacy?
These and other questions are addressed during this course. All the symbols used in this website were developed by the presenter as part of a 45,000 set of symbols to support all aspects of learning. However, this course is not about this set of symbols or indeed, and particular set of symbol but where to start, how to use, and build Learner skills.
What is the meaning of the symbol on the left? What form of iconocity does it use? How can it best be taught? Can it be used to represent two separate vocabulary items? If so, how?
These and other questions are addressed during this course. All the symbols used in this website were developed by the presenter as part of a 45,000 set of symbols to support all aspects of learning. However, this course is not about this set of symbols or indeed, and particular set of symbol but where to start, how to use, and build Learner skills.
What is the meaning of the symbol on the left? What form of iconocity does it use? How can it best be taught? Can it be used to represent two separate vocabulary items? If so, how?
Learning Through (Switch Adapted) Toy Play
For nearly all children toys are extremely motivating. For those children experiencing learning difficulties perhaps coupled with physical disabilities and additional sensory impairments even simple toys can be made to be of great educational benefit. The trick is not necessarily in the toy itself but in how the toy is presented and how it is used.
Turning on an alligator in one session and a yapping dog in another other over a period of months is not demonstrating progress. The child that hits and switch and turns on a yapping dog is not necessarily demonstrating cause and effect skills. The child that smiles when a toy moves on activating a switch is not necessarily demonstrating understanding. The child that 'chooses' one toy from two is not necessarily demonstrating a conscious choice.
How do you switch adapt a toy? How can you make the toy operate for only a few seconds? How can you add a sound effect to accompany your switch adapted toy? How can you tell whether a child has grasped the underlying concepts so that progress can be made? What do you do after the child can turn on a barking dog? What is the best type of switch adapted toy and why? How can we use toys to teach concepts of history, geography, numeracy, literacy, etc? How can we begin to assess a child's understanding of the concepts being taught?
Through the medium of switch adapted toy play this course attempts to address these question to enable course participants to gain the most from thier practice with children.
Turning on an alligator in one session and a yapping dog in another other over a period of months is not demonstrating progress. The child that hits and switch and turns on a yapping dog is not necessarily demonstrating cause and effect skills. The child that smiles when a toy moves on activating a switch is not necessarily demonstrating understanding. The child that 'chooses' one toy from two is not necessarily demonstrating a conscious choice.
How do you switch adapt a toy? How can you make the toy operate for only a few seconds? How can you add a sound effect to accompany your switch adapted toy? How can you tell whether a child has grasped the underlying concepts so that progress can be made? What do you do after the child can turn on a barking dog? What is the best type of switch adapted toy and why? How can we use toys to teach concepts of history, geography, numeracy, literacy, etc? How can we begin to assess a child's understanding of the concepts being taught?
Through the medium of switch adapted toy play this course attempts to address these question to enable course participants to gain the most from thier practice with children.
Working with the AbleNet BigMack
This course covers a multitude of ideas for working with as well as good practice guides to the BIGmack, LITTLEmack, BIGstep and LITTLEStep systems from AbleNet. These ideas are illustrated in this website on the BIGmack page. The BIGmack os an ideal tool for the Special Needs classroom but sometimes staff are unaware of considered good practice and the versatily of this system. The BIGmack course attempts to cover such issues in a day packed with ideas and experiences that will benefit all attending.
Did you know that the BIGmack was a timing system?
Do you know how to adapt a toy to work with the BIGmack?
Do you know how the switching rules apply to the BIGmack?
Are yor BIGmacks promoting passive or active Learners?
Then book this course today!
Did you know that the BIGmack was a timing system?
Do you know how to adapt a toy to work with the BIGmack?
Do you know how the switching rules apply to the BIGmack?
Are yor BIGmacks promoting passive or active Learners?
Then book this course today!
Understanding Understanding
Ass-u-me makes an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me' and assumptions of understanding are commonplace amongst staff working with individuals experiencing Learning Difficulties. Claims of cognisance on circumstantial evidence are not helpful to the learner who is put onto a progressive pathway before being ready. They are not helpful to staff who wonder why the Learner is not retaining lessons 'learned'. Individuals experiencing learning difficulties often are very skilled in reading contextual cues and providing the 'answer' even without undertsanding the question. More often than we like to admit, staff give the game away by providing both conscious and unconscious cues to which Learners become attuned Staff so want the learner to succeed that they don't often stop to check if the Learner has really understood a concept and make assumptions of understanding based on very scant evidence.
This course explores current classroom interactions and asks how we can be certain that a Learner has grasped the information we are trying to impart. It attempts to debunk the myths that staff working in special education sometimes believe and replaces them with better practice such that we can be fairly confident of Learner understanding and, hopefully, make sound progress.
This course explores current classroom interactions and asks how we can be certain that a Learner has grasped the information we are trying to impart. It attempts to debunk the myths that staff working in special education sometimes believe and replaces them with better practice such that we can be fairly confident of Learner understanding and, hopefully, make sound progress.
IMPACT: IMPlementing Augmentative Communication Training
IMPact is both a manual and a course. A copy of the manual is provided with the course or may be purchased separately.
The IMPact course covers the implementation of Augmentative and Alternative Communication and attempts to guide participants away from pitfalls and traps. It uses a set of cartoons to illustrate concepts and covers the following areas of study:
- No Tech Communication Systems
- Low Tech Communication System
- HIgh Tech Communication Systems
- Vocabulary Selection
- Sign and Symbol
- Working with Switches
The IMPact course covers the implementation of Augmentative and Alternative Communication and attempts to guide participants away from pitfalls and traps. It uses a set of cartoons to illustrate concepts and covers the following areas of study:
- No Tech Communication Systems
- Low Tech Communication System
- HIgh Tech Communication Systems
- Vocabulary Selection
- Sign and Symbol
- Working with Switches
Language, Learning, and Living
Language, Learning and Living (LLL) is a well-established Minspeak Application Program existing in a range of overlay sizes for the various devices in the PRC range of equipment. By learning to use LLL an individual is empowered through rapid access to communication in order to be able to speak in real time. An investment in the time to learn the system pays huge dividends in Learner inclusion and a significant improvement in opportunites for social integration. Tony Jones is the author of LLL and therefore there can be no better tutor to teach others this AAC communication system!
Get the best tuition in LLL for your child ... TalkSense offers private tuition to Learners of LLL. Contact Talksense for details
Get the best tuition in LLL for your child ... TalkSense offers private tuition to Learners of LLL. Contact Talksense for details
Discovery
Discovery is an extensive Augmentative Communication program available through Liberator Ltd existing in 60 and 144 location versions for AAC Users who want that little extra vocabulary power. Within Discovery, categories display a range of nouns and, from the nouns within each category, it is possible to generate appropriate verb and adjectival forms. For example, go to the WEATHER page by activating the umbrella symbol and hit the rabbit running in the rain to generate the word 'rain'. However, what if you wanted to say 'rainy' or even 'raining'? Again, go the weather page but this tme activate the adjective key (DAN) before you hit the rabbit: 'rainy' is generated. Go to the weather page and activate the green (verb) 'swing' (ING) key before pressing the rabbit: it will generate 'raining'. Once these simple rules are mastered, it is possible to generate thousands of word forms easily and without any new learning. Learn the Discovery rules and master the system and build an extensive vocabulary set. Discovery training covers all aspects of the Discovery and is delivered by its creator.
Get the best tuition in Discovery for your child ... TalkSense offers private tuition to Learners of Discovery. Contact Talksense for details
Get the best tuition in Discovery for your child ... TalkSense offers private tuition to Learners of Discovery. Contact Talksense for details
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TalkSense apologises for any inconvenience.
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