On Thursday I went to a course about communication during the school day for those with communication difficulties. (Run by TalkLink) It was great timing as one of the children I work with had only the day before received his "Big Point" recordable communication devices. They are set of 5 coloured recording buttons that are very simple to use, only a flick of a switch and press to record a short message (up to 20seconds I think) and the same to play it. On Friday I found the perfect opportunity to put one of the ideas into place and give Jack his 'voice.' We had some notices to be delivered around the school, so I recorded a message for him "Here are your notices. Please give them out today." He was taken to each class and was able to press the button to play his message. I watched him in one class where the teacher didn't listen initially (she was giving instructions to her class and Jack pressed the button while she was talking...so there is a learning point for him about waiting and not interrupting!). Jack knew she hadn't listened and kept repeating the message until she stopped and listened. Great for a first attempt in that context! Jack and Stevie's Teacher Aides will use their buttons for 'conversations' and greetings between the children.
Jack is lucky in that he has good control of one hand and is able to use his other hand if he puts his mind to it. He should be able to physically use the buttons so we need to give him many opportunities to learn how to communicate with them as they are the stepping stones to higher level devices. Stevie has used buttons for a while, mainly as a way to share things between home and school. Her mum told me that Stevie now tries to 'talk' when the recording is made so it's great to hear her 'voice' as she realises that the buttons are for communicationg with. Her limited physical control will be what limits her until a device that she can operate can be located.
Another idea that I liked was for those children who make up a story orally and then can't remember it when they need to write it. They can use the same buttons to record their story and then replay it as necessary. I will borrow one of the buttons and trial it for this use.
The afternoon session explored Core Vocabulary, and was a good follow up to the ATANZ forum session by Gail Tatenhove. The presenter had obviously been to the same session but it was good to hear the message again. Funnily enough just the day before I was retyping the notes I had made when at ATANZ.
I also made a good professional contact as I was sitting next to a teacher from the Awatapu College Special Needs Unit. We discussed playground equipment!! She also gave me a few good websites to look at, so I need to get onto them.
I will look forward to the session on Literacy that TalkLink is hoping to run at some time. The practical nature of the ideas was really good.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Geddes Software
I went to a course today in Otaki to learn about the Geddes software that had been recommended to me.
Trevor and Helen Geddes are a couple with 5 children the youngest of whom was born with Down Syndrome and is also autistic. To help their son, Kevin, comunicate and learn, they created the software and now also market it. They're not out to make money, but to make the programmes available to those that need it.
We learnt to use 2 programmes (hands on) and had a demonstration of another.
StoryMaker 4:
A very easy to use interface enabling quick development of simple stories that can then be listened to or read on a computer or printed off. There is a database of over 4000 words to use, an extensive associated picture library and the ability to add words and images. All of the words also have associated sound recordings so that the audio track is instantly included. One fabulous feature is the ability to add video content as well. This can be short pieces split from a longer sequence as well as used as a complete sequence. The programme also creates an interactive activity using the words in the story.Incorrect responses are bland, rather than e.g.funny noises as some children deliberately want to hear the funny noises etc and can easily be distracted from the learning. There are plenty of options available for changing font and response times etc. You can also include a reward/reinforcement at the end of the story as well as on each page (the video inserts)
I have been making books for our children using PowerPoint and it can get quite tedious. This is a much easier to use programme with the added bonus of the interacive games. I like the library shelf type index and the fact that you can individualise users.
I would also use this with some other children in our school that have learning difficulties and can see it marrying in with the words used in the early words programme as another way of reinforcing those words.
There is also a sentence construction activity set and an extra "The Date" programme which helps to teach the days of the week etc.
Whil it will be a long time before our very high level special needs children would be able to us the interactive features, the easy to make books will be great.
Flashcards:
Another great programme. It enables you to create sets of flashcards using the extensive dictionary and pictures. There are options to create a drag and drop bingo type game using differing combinations of words and/or pictures. These can also be printed off. Again you can add your own words, pictures and video clips. i like that many of the pictures are photographs as frequently children (with special needs)don't recognise clip art or symbols whn thye are younger.
As all 3 of our special needs children enjoy their food, I intend to print sets of flashcards with their favourite foods so they can be shown to them when they are eating that food.
Pictures of their friends and family on flashcards will also be another must do.
My Time:
There was a quick demonstration of this programme which is used for making timetables etc. It looks just as useful as the other programmes. I'm looking forward to trying it out as one thing I haven't yet instigated with our children is the "Now - Then" picture prompts. watch this space!!
Overall a very valuable session and we will definitely be purchasing site licences for all of these programmes.
Spelling:
A programme under development, almost ready for purchase, looks like it also has potential.
I will visit their site when I have time as there is more information available
geddessoftware.com
October 2012: I went to a repeat of the Geddes Software course again as I didn't use it as much as I had wanted. The child who I really thought would benefit from the activities left our school only a couple of weeks after last years course. There is anothe child starting school early next year who chooses not to talk with many people. I think the Geddes software will be a good tool to find out some of her understanding. The afternoon session was an extension, the techniques needed to trim and insert video into the books.
One hitch that I didn't anticipate, was when I updated to a new laptop, the books I had made last year did not transfer over! Once I start using it on different machines, this should not be an issue.
Trevor and Helen Geddes are a couple with 5 children the youngest of whom was born with Down Syndrome and is also autistic. To help their son, Kevin, comunicate and learn, they created the software and now also market it. They're not out to make money, but to make the programmes available to those that need it.
We learnt to use 2 programmes (hands on) and had a demonstration of another.
StoryMaker 4:
A very easy to use interface enabling quick development of simple stories that can then be listened to or read on a computer or printed off. There is a database of over 4000 words to use, an extensive associated picture library and the ability to add words and images. All of the words also have associated sound recordings so that the audio track is instantly included. One fabulous feature is the ability to add video content as well. This can be short pieces split from a longer sequence as well as used as a complete sequence. The programme also creates an interactive activity using the words in the story.Incorrect responses are bland, rather than e.g.funny noises as some children deliberately want to hear the funny noises etc and can easily be distracted from the learning. There are plenty of options available for changing font and response times etc. You can also include a reward/reinforcement at the end of the story as well as on each page (the video inserts)
I have been making books for our children using PowerPoint and it can get quite tedious. This is a much easier to use programme with the added bonus of the interacive games. I like the library shelf type index and the fact that you can individualise users.
I would also use this with some other children in our school that have learning difficulties and can see it marrying in with the words used in the early words programme as another way of reinforcing those words.
There is also a sentence construction activity set and an extra "The Date" programme which helps to teach the days of the week etc.
Whil it will be a long time before our very high level special needs children would be able to us the interactive features, the easy to make books will be great.
Flashcards:
Another great programme. It enables you to create sets of flashcards using the extensive dictionary and pictures. There are options to create a drag and drop bingo type game using differing combinations of words and/or pictures. These can also be printed off. Again you can add your own words, pictures and video clips. i like that many of the pictures are photographs as frequently children (with special needs)don't recognise clip art or symbols whn thye are younger.
As all 3 of our special needs children enjoy their food, I intend to print sets of flashcards with their favourite foods so they can be shown to them when they are eating that food.
Pictures of their friends and family on flashcards will also be another must do.
My Time:
There was a quick demonstration of this programme which is used for making timetables etc. It looks just as useful as the other programmes. I'm looking forward to trying it out as one thing I haven't yet instigated with our children is the "Now - Then" picture prompts. watch this space!!
Overall a very valuable session and we will definitely be purchasing site licences for all of these programmes.
Spelling:
A programme under development, almost ready for purchase, looks like it also has potential.
I will visit their site when I have time as there is more information available
geddessoftware.com
October 2012: I went to a repeat of the Geddes Software course again as I didn't use it as much as I had wanted. The child who I really thought would benefit from the activities left our school only a couple of weeks after last years course. There is anothe child starting school early next year who chooses not to talk with many people. I think the Geddes software will be a good tool to find out some of her understanding. The afternoon session was an extension, the techniques needed to trim and insert video into the books.
One hitch that I didn't anticipate, was when I updated to a new laptop, the books I had made last year did not transfer over! Once I start using it on different machines, this should not be an issue.
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