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 Training and Technical Assistance Center
Old Dominion University
(T-TAC ODU)

Assistive Technology Network E-News
Volume 2, Issue IV
March/April 2006
Publication information: Copyright "ATN E-News" 2005, 2006. All Rights reserved. Copies may be distributed without alteration electronically free of charge. This newsletter may be reproduced without alteration, for non-commercial purposes without prior permission. "ATN E-News" does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.
Welcome to the Assistive Technology Electronic Newsletter designed to provide educators with tips and tricks when integrating technology in the classroom.

Contents: 

  • Find the Hidden Picture (PowerPoint Switch Use)
  • FREE - Training CD
Find the Hidden Picture (PowerPoint Switch Use) 

One of the easiest uses of MS PowerPoint is setting up a slide presentation for a student to view by pressing a switch and/or the enter key.  Many educators use this method for students with significant disabilities. It can be used to teach use of a single switch as long as the activity is motivating for the student. It is easy to design a template with puzzle pieces covering a picture. As the student presses the switch, the puzzle pieces disappear revealing a picture. To make the activity personal and motivating, insert a picture of the student, a peer, family member or pet. If you’d like to try it, here are the instructions:

  1. Open MS PowerPoint and start with a blank slide.
  2. On the toolbar, go to “Format”, and then select “Background”. 
  3. Click on the inverted arrow for a drop down menu, and then select “Fill Effects”.
  4. Click on the tab “Picture”, and then click on “Select Picture”. 
  5. Find and highlight the picture you want as the background, and then select “Insert”. In the dialog box, click OK and in the final dialog box select “Apply to All”. 
  6. Cover the picture with AutoShapes. You can use any design you want.
  7. If you’re looking for puzzle pieces, go to “More Autoshapes”. 
  8. Make a duplicate slide by going to “Insert” on the toolbar and selecting “Duplicate Slide”. On the duplicate slide, delete a puzzle piece. 
  9. Repeat steps 8 and 9 until the picture has been uncovered.

If you would like to start with a template, go to http://www.ttac.odu.edu, select “info topics” and scroll to the AT section.
FREE- Training CD

TASH has a free Step-by-Step guide to Assistive Technology CD available.  The CD topics are Switch Selection and Switch Mounting.  For a copy, go to http://www.tashinc.com
Notices:

We are looking for Great Ideas!  If you have used an assistive technology activity successfully in your classroom, send it to jmitchell@ttac.odu.edu.  If we use it in our e-newsletter you will receive a gift.

Know of an educator who might enjoy receiving this monthly newsletter?  Just send them to http://www.ttac.odu.edu/esubs/forms/atn.htm where they can subscribe.