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WHAT’S A MOUSE GOT TO
DO WITH IT?
Presenter(s)
Linda Bidabe
Softtouch Inc.
17117
Oak Dr. Suite C
Day
Phone: 402-334-8477
Fax:
402-334-8478
Email:
roxanne@softtouch.com
Learning to use the mouse requires visual-motor skills, motor planning, motor coordination and eye-hand separation. Where do you begin to teach this complex skill? This tutorial session teaches mouse skills step-by-step for students with cognitive, learning and/or physical challenges, including students with autism. Participants will receive a tutorial and matching mouse training CD.
Do
you remember your first experience using a computer mouse or track pad? I do I
pushed the mouse around on the desk but didn’t know where to put my eyes. When
I looked at the screen I had to search to find the little black arrow. But
what’s a mouse got to do with the cursor? What’s the mouse got to do with
program?
Even though I knew how to use a computer keyboard; that ‘typing’ on the
keyboard made letters on the computer screen; that the arrow cursor could be
used to point to items on the screen; left to right and right to left; top to
bottom and bottom to top and diagonals, I had to step back to square one and
learn how to connect what my right hand was doing on the table with what was
happening on the screen and what does that button/switch/clicky thing on top of
the mouse do? This wasn’t automatic for me and it’s not automatic for many of
our students. Yet if students can learn to use the mouse, they can move beyond
single switch control.
This
hands-on session presents a new kid-tested mouse training program. Learn how to
teach mouse skills from a simple movement of the mouse on the table to the most
difficult task of click and drag and drop. This SoftTouch Steps to Learning
Computer Access Training Module is for students of any age who need to learn
how to use the computer mouse. The training module ensures that students are
successful at each step. Every step builds a skill. The next step builds on
what the student can do. You can use the tutorial to teach students mouse
skills step-by-step.
Students
learn to:
• move the mouse horizontally
• move the mouse vertically
• move the mouse diagonally
• move an object to one or more targets select and move objects click and drag
drag and drop
Students
will also learn how to make a choice with the mouse as well as how to use the
trashcan. Each training step results in an engaging activity for reinforcement.
Each training step includes:
• a training activity
• games to reinforce the step
Join
this session to learn how to use this mouse training module and how to teach
mouse skills. The methods and steps are appropriate to teach mouse skills to
students of any age however the activities in this training module are
age-appropriate to students from pre-school to grades 1/2.
Participants
will receive a complementary copy of the tutorial and training module.
Reprinted with author(s) permission. Author(s) retain copyright