exemplar activities

Unit 5 Activity 7 - SwitchIt! Maker - Exemplar 2

For this module I decided to use the SwitchIt! Maker programme to create a cause and effect resource for one of my less able pupils. I wanted to make a photo album for Jack using this programme and a digital camera.

Jack is quite reluctant to work at the computer. He prefers to have space around him and, therefore, being so close to something such as a computer monitor would really upset him. He does watch what is happening around him, e.g. on a television or computer screen, so one of my first considerations was that Jack would get far more out of it if it could be used on a smartboard. He could access it the most through the touch screen which I believe he would use provided that he had some space around him and no other pupils. He would also enjoy seeing photos of himself on a large screen and listening to the accompanying dialogue.

I did take the other pupils into account as many of them really enjoy looking at photos, etc. Many students would be able to access the resource through the use of the mouse or keyboard. Quite a few students also use one or two switches. Some of the more able students would enjoy reading the text whilst others could follow the words on screen and listen to the commentary. I know that I would have to go into "Access" to change the options in order to use this programme.

My first port of call to help me to get beyond the "Let's make a picture" page on the computer screen was an experienced colleague who just happens to be in charge of ICT in school! I was very impressed with what he had created for two of his less able students. He showed me how to create a photo album, insert the text, record any dialogue - basically how to use Switchit Maker as I did not have a clue!

Having recently begun to use the digital camera this was a fine opportunity to put my efforts into practise. First of all I used the digital camera to take a series of pictures of Jack during his ICT lessons. During these lessons he has been learning to recognise and use a variety of household objects such as freezer, fridge, microwave and toaster. He has also been using the lift, pressing the buttons to make it go up or down. A great source of motivation for Jack (as for most students!) is food, so he has been making toast or crumpets.

After taking a load of photos I created a file in which to store them and noted down the numbers of the photos I wished to use. Then, I went into Switchit Maker and clicked on Edit. I clicked on "To change picture" and then had to locate my file of photos in the hard disk C drive. Inserting the text was fairly straight forward (even by my standards!) although I had to remember to press the return key to ensure that the text stayed there. The final sequence in the operation was recording the words which wasn't so easy as I had to beg to borrow a microphone first. Also, recording each sound as a separate file was a little cumbersome.

All in all I was pleased with my first book and am certainly hooked now. I shall be using Swtchit Maker to make many more personal resources for my students, I'm sure!

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