The program was supposed to tell you to bring a computer with Boardmaker Plus or Boardmaker with Speaking Dynamic Pro. If you want to quickly try to download a demo of the software, go to:

http://www.mayer-johnson.com/downloads/trials/

Boardmaker Classic – North America – you have to create a user name (free) and log it

Creating Accessible Interactive Activities for Curriculum Access with Boardmaker Plus or Boardmaker with

Speaking Dynamically Pro

Tennessee Association for Assistive Technology Conference November 29, 2012Murfreesboro, TN

Mari Beth Coleman, Ph.D. University of Tennessee

mbc@utk.edu

Blanche Jackson Glimps, Ph.D. Tennessee State University

bglimps@tnstate.edu

Melissa Martin, M.A. University of Tennessee

mmarti86@utk.edu

In this hands-on instructional session, participants will learn how to use features in Boardmaker Plus or Boardmaker with Speaking Dynamically Pro to create interactive activities for students who need alternative physical access to academic curricula. Session leaders will provide a brief introduction to alternative access and then provide step-by-step instructions guiding participants through building interactive boards which would allow students using alternative input devices (e.g., trackballs, joysticks) access to academic instruction. Session leaders also will introduce participants to creating and using scanning features so activities can be accessed by students who use switches for computer access. Examples of activities from several curriculum areas (e.g., reading, writing, social studies) will be provided to give participants ideas for creating accessible activities for their students.

Session Description

1. Participants will see examples of accessible instructional activities in different subject areas (reading, writing, math, social studies) which may give them ideas on adapting activities for their students who need alternative physical access or who use augmentative communication to access academic instruction.

2. Participants will learn how to find premade interactive activities on the Boardmaker Share site.

3. Participants will learn how to use basic interactive features in Boardmaker Plus (or BM with SDPro) including message windows, speech features, and linking boards to create simple, accessible learning activities for students who need alternative physical access.

4. Participants will learn how to set up scanning patterns and use scanning features in Boardmaker Plus (or BM with SDPro) to create learning activities or speech boards for students who use switches for access to instruction.

Learner Objectives:

Barriers to Literacy for Students with Physical Disabilities

Decreased access to materials due to motor limitation

Restricted communication

Health factors, fatigue & endurance

Experiential deficits & differences in concept development

Interaction of additional disabilities

Psychosocial, attitudinal & environmental factors

Reading & Writing

Overcoming Barriers

AT

Stumbo, Martin, and Hedrick (2009) found, for individuals with physical disabilities, that “appropriately chosen and implemented assistive technology” (p.108) is crucial for increasing the level of participation in education, employment, and independent living to levels similar to peers without disabilities.

Common Core Standards & Accessibility

TN has adopted the CCSS.Access to these new standards may be difficult for

students with physical disabilities. Technology can provide accessibility for these students

through the use of software and programs, and online resources.

http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards

Boardmaker – print out low tech activities

Boardmaker with Speaking Dynamically Pro – exceptionally customizable AAC software

Boardmaker Plus – BM with SDPro minus a few features (different voice options, no word prediction)

Boardmaker Products (Mayer-Johnson)

Boardmaker Plus / SDPro Interactive Features

Easy Features Speech (single message, combined messages, random messages) Dynamic (Linking) boardsMoveable buttonsPopup boards Symbolate (similar to Writing with Symbols/ Symwriter)

Advanced FeaturesVariables Launching programsPlaying moviesMacros (combinations of functions) Others

https://www.boardmakershare.com

Boardmaker Share Site

Examples of activities forReadingWritingMath Social Studies

TutorialQuick basic board creation (basic Boardmaker skills are assumed)How toAdd speech features (message windows, spoken preview, speak text, type

text)Create scanning patterns for switch users Set up boards so they changeCreate moveable button activities (If time) Use variables and macros

Next

GO TO PROGRAM!

Thank you for attending!!! Website: http://web.utk.edu/~mbc/mbc_materials

If you have any questions:

Mari Beth Coleman mbc@utk.edu

Blanche Jackson Glimps bglimps@tnstate.edu

Melissa Martin mmarti86@utk.edu