The Theory and Practice of the development of
Switch Skills
in Individuals Experiencing Significant Learning Difficulties.
This course is concerned with the development of good practice in the development and use of switches as a means of control for Individuals Experiencing Significant Learning Difficulties. As this topic is extensive, the course is in THREE (3) parts; Day One, Day Two and Day Three. Each Day may be attended separately on different occasions by staff. However, it should be noted that, as each course builds on the information covered in the preceding training, it would be unwise to attend a latter course without attending the former!
Switch Skills One: Single Switch, Awareness and Control. (Select for details)
Switch Skills Two: Two Switches, Scanning and PowerPoint. (details below this page)
Switch Skills Three: Practical Exercises. (Select for details)
Switch Skills One: Single Switch, Awareness and Control. (Select for details)
Switch Skills Two: Two Switches, Scanning and PowerPoint. (details below this page)
Switch Skills Three: Practical Exercises. (Select for details)
Switch Skills TWO
Progressing Skills
Switching Skills TWO covers three areas that were not covered in the Switch Skills One training module:
The Switch Skills Two Course develops an awareness of the issue surrounding good practice in continuing the development (from Switch One) of awareness and control through the use of switches.
Switch Two continues to develop the set of objectives from Switch One.
To attend a course near to you or to arrange a course specific to (and at) your establishment please go to the Ability World Website here. Please note that terms and conditions apply to all training.
- Moving to two (or more) switches;
- Scanning;
- Switching in PowerPoint.
The Switch Skills Two Course develops an awareness of the issue surrounding good practice in continuing the development (from Switch One) of awareness and control through the use of switches.
Switch Two continues to develop the set of objectives from Switch One.
To attend a course near to you or to arrange a course specific to (and at) your establishment please go to the Ability World Website here. Please note that terms and conditions apply to all training.
Description of course
The Switch Two Course: Progressing Skills builds on the work covered in Switch One:Awareness and Control to provide good practice in:
- progression from a single switch through the introduction of additional switches;
- the development and understanding of scanning skills;
- ideas for using Microsoft's PowerPoint program with a switch within Special Education.
The course outlines possible routes for the introduction of further switches, details scanning systems and approaches to the introduction of scanning to a Learner, and provides participants with a range of ideas for using MIcrosoft's Powerpoint in the classroom as an educational tool for those with significant learning difficulties via switch access.
Some hands-on experience is provided throughout the course. The course continues to develop the set of switch objectives began in Unit One. It is strongly recommended that all participants on the Switch Two Course should have completed the Switch One module. The Switch Three course ties it all together with set practical problem type exercises that participants have to solve in small groups. The Switch Three course details link can be found at the top of this webpage.
Depending upon available time, the following areas of practice are likely to be covered on the Switch Two Course in some depth:
- Adding a further switch
- Scanning systems
- PowerPoint: Remote switch control
- PowerPoint: Ideas for the Special Needs Environment
- PowerPoint: Single switch scanning
Course Handout: Please note, to conserve paper and be a little greener, there is no course hand-out as such. However, the entire Switch Two Course PowerPoint presentation is available as a download free of charge (see below). Furthermore, additional downloads are available to those attending the course.
Download Course Presentation: It is possible to download the Switch Two PowerPoint Presentation from the Switch Skills Page of this website free of charge. Please use the appropriate download button located near the bottom of the Switch Skills Page. Note that the course presentation will not perform as the presentation on the actual course although it is exactly the same. This is because the links to videos, sounds, and other, external, smaller presentations will not function (as these are contained on the Talksense computer). However, the download contains all the other information presented on the course. Those attending the course will be eligible for additional materials.
Course Outline
Participants should aim to arrive between at the time set by Ability World (Typically between 8:30 and 9:30) for registration and tea/coffee. The course will commence at 9:30 prompt and the presenter will not delay for late comers. Times below are an approximate guide to the day and may vary considerably. Where the course is closed to outsiders, times may be decided by the booking agency.
At the close of the course (typically at around 3:30 pm - 4:00pm), participants may leave or stay for further tuition depending on the requirements of the venue and at the discretion of the course tutor. Additional materials, assistance and support may be given to course attendees by e-mail in the weeks following the course as necessary.
The course will describe and detail the progression of switching skills building upon the theory and practice covered in the Switch One Unit. Course participants will be guided through considered good practice in the introduction of further switches, the use of switches to control scanning access, and in the use of PowerPoint as an educational tool. By the close of the course (at approximately 3:30-4:00 pm), participants should have some good ideas how to improve the practice with the use of switches in their environment.
Areas Covered include:
Depending on the time, all the above areas will be covered. However, if there are questions, issues, clarifications, required by the course participants this can slow the course progression considerably. This being the case, some of the PowerPoint options may not be covered. After the course closes, there may be time for further study (depending on the requirements of the venue and at the discretion of the course tutor) for those that wish to remain. However, this will be purely voluntary and all course attendees are free to leave at the official close of course.
At the close of the course (typically at around 3:30 pm - 4:00pm), participants may leave or stay for further tuition depending on the requirements of the venue and at the discretion of the course tutor. Additional materials, assistance and support may be given to course attendees by e-mail in the weeks following the course as necessary.
The course will describe and detail the progression of switching skills building upon the theory and practice covered in the Switch One Unit. Course participants will be guided through considered good practice in the introduction of further switches, the use of switches to control scanning access, and in the use of PowerPoint as an educational tool. By the close of the course (at approximately 3:30-4:00 pm), participants should have some good ideas how to improve the practice with the use of switches in their environment.
Areas Covered include:
- Switch Access to Computers;
- Progressive Pathways;
- Timing Access: Developing Temporal Awareness;
- Timing Access: Automated and Step Scanning;
- Timing Access: Games;
- Introducing a Second Switch: Method and Management
- Introducing a Second Switch: The Null Approach;
- Choice Switching: Making a Choice using Switches;
- Choice Control: Establishing Control through the use of switches;
- Scanning: Teaching;
- Scanning: Template Approach;
- Scanning: Boxing Clever;
- Scanning: Teaching Rows and Columns;
- Scanning Terminology;
- Switch Grading;
- Accessing PowerPoint via a switch;
- Ideas for using PowerPoint in the Special Education Classroom;
- Single Switch Scanning with PowerPoint explained.
Depending on the time, all the above areas will be covered. However, if there are questions, issues, clarifications, required by the course participants this can slow the course progression considerably. This being the case, some of the PowerPoint options may not be covered. After the course closes, there may be time for further study (depending on the requirements of the venue and at the discretion of the course tutor) for those that wish to remain. However, this will be purely voluntary and all course attendees are free to leave at the official close of course.
Course Objectives
Course Participants will be able to …
- Adapt a computer for switch access;
- demonstrate an increased awareness of the available Learner pathways for switch use;
- differentiate between the various forms of scanning options available;
- assist a Learner to move from the use of one to two switches;
- enable Learner control of others through the use of switching;
- develop an approach to the introduction of scanning for a Learner;
- progress Learner scanning skills;
- understand the terminology utilised for the control of switch scanning;
- develop a grading scheme to analyse switch progression;
- access PowerPoint remotely via a switch;
- state several ways in which PowerPoint may be use to support teaching and Learning;
- set up a single switch scanning option using PowerPoint.
What level of ability does the course address?
Any potential switch user with any level of Physical Disability and or Learning Difficulty.
The course aims to provide participants with an awareness of good practice in this challenging area of provision.
This course is suitable whether working at any age with children or adults.
It can be tailored to specific client groups.
Attendee skill level
People attending this course are strongly recommended to have completed the Switch One Skills Training Course.
Experience with working with Individuals Experiencing Significant Physical and or Learning Difficulties is useful but also not essential.
Requirements
There are no special requirements for those wishing to attend this course apart from an open mind and a little creative thinking! However, those wishing to attend this course are strongly recommended to have completed the Switch One Skills Training Course.
Screenshots from the Switch Two presentation
Quotes from those attending the previous switching courses:
"I thought I knew a lot about switching until I went on this course" (A.H. Herts)
"One of the best courses I have ever attended." (J.M. Scotland)
"I left with my head buzzing with Ideas." (S.C. Birmingham)
"Good fun. He knew his stuff." (D.W. Peterborough)
"I think my whole school should attend this course." (J.H. Southampton)
"I think that my classroom practice will improve as a result of the course." (A.N. Manchester)
"Brilliant!" (D.B. Nottingham)
"One of the best courses I have ever attended." (J.M. Scotland)
"I left with my head buzzing with Ideas." (S.C. Birmingham)
"Good fun. He knew his stuff." (D.W. Peterborough)
"I think my whole school should attend this course." (J.H. Southampton)
"I think that my classroom practice will improve as a result of the course." (A.N. Manchester)
"Brilliant!" (D.B. Nottingham)
Click the symbol to return to the top of the page
Left mouse click on the up key symbol on the left to return to the top of this page.
To check on the availability of a course near you or to book a course for your venue please contact David at Ability-World.