Dear CENMAC Community,

Image © Microsoft Teams

Thanks to Tobii Dynavox for the great webinar on how to use symbols and create virtual backgrounds for online meetings, training sessions or working with students. These can be used in a number of ways, for instance a ‘Now and Next’ background to explain what you will be covering in the session, a schedule of events, or a choice board for students. Tobii Dynavox also have a selection of ready-made PCS backgrounds that you can use here: 
 

www.tobiidynavox.com/en-GB/coronavirus-resources/pcs-backgrounds 

For any school staff using Microsoft Teams for their meetings, wanting to personalise their background: 

• Save the image you want to use as a .jpg file. 
• Next time you are in a Teams meeting and go to 'Show background effects' you can add your chosen image by clicking '+ Add new' in ‘Background settings’ and finding it in your saved pictures.
• Then simply scroll down to find it beneath the pre-existing Microsoft backgrounds and click 'Preview' or 'Apply'.

Next time you are in a Teams meeting and go to 'Show background effects' it will be there ready to use in ‘Background settings’. 
 

Also some tips on shortcuts when using Teams 

There’s nothing worse than spending 20 minutes trying to find the function you need when you’re in the middle of a meeting or working on a project. 

That’s why it’s a good idea to learn the keyboard shortcuts available in Microsoft Teams. 

Here are a few of the basics you need to know: 

• Go to Search (move straight to the search bar): Ctrl + E 
• Turn your camera off Ctrl+Shift+O 
• Mute yourself: Ctrl+Shift+M 
• Background blur: Ctrl+Shift+P 
• Zoom: Ctrl+= to zoom in or Ctrl+- to zoom out 
• Go to your files: Ctrl+6 

To get a complete list of all your keyboard shortcuts, enter /Keys into the search menu at the top of Microsoft Teams.

(Image above © Canva.com)

No Isolation

We have all had a taste of being in isolation now but for some of our students it will be for a lot longer than others. The AV1 Robot is the perfect answer, we are pleased to be sending our AV1s out to those in need. Please ask if you would like to find out more.  |   www.noisolation.com/uk

(Images © No isolation and Gallery AR)
 

 

Fun with AI 

One of our favourite AI apps is the seeing AI app. A free Microsoft app which reads and navigates the world around you. Download the app and point your handheld device at text, money, faces, objects and scenes

Gallery AR turns your surroundings into the art gallery. You just need to pick up the phone and find a wall. The iconic art paints will show in front of you!

Competitions  

CENMAC - Lockdown Archives

   © penmendonca.com

Some of you may have learnt new skills, been involved with new hobbies, or have found ingenious ways to stay connected and carry on with work or school. 

We are inviting all students who receive CENMAC support, and adults working with them, whether that is parents/carers or school staff to archive what life has been like during lockdown. Please choose the best way for you to tell us about what it has been like for you, and how your CENMAC equipment and support has helped. This could be a story, a recount, a poem or a piece of art. 

All students submitting their ‘Lockdown Story’ piece will be entered into a prize draw. 
So send your submissions to your CENMAC contact or to mail@cenmac.com by 1 July 2020 to be in with a chance to win. 

We will share your lockdown experiences in the July edition of the newsletter.
 

Black British History
100 Great Black Britons home school competition open to all age groups 

This competition can relate to any subjects within the national curriculum. It’s a fun and engaging way to teach children at home about Black British History and how it helped shape our country. 

This competition is sponsored by The National Education Union (NEU). 

For full details and resources visit: www.100greatblackbritons.co.uk  |  Deadline 30 September 2020

CENMAC Training

Online Clicker Training

Date: Wednesday 17 June 2020
Time: 10-11.30am
Trainer: Katie Finch, Crick Software
Eventbrite Link:  Online Clicker Training_CM4

Online DocsPlus Training

Date: Wednesday 24 June 2020
Time: 10-11.30am
Trainer: Katie Finch, Crick Software
Eventbrite Link:  Online DocsPlus Training_CM5

CENMAC Recommends 


Illustration © penmendonca.com
 

Our team share some great articles and links:

• A fascinating article describing the potential to use gestures to communicate via a device
  LINK: aaclanguagelab.com

TechEd CPD Fest Webinars: free to attend! 
As the need to stay alert and reduce travel and face-to-face contact continues, companies are becoming more creative in how they adapt their usual training and events. 



TechEd Showcase are delivering a series of CPD webinars, which will be taking place between the end of June and the beginning of July. 

There is a choice of 7 live webinars from a range of Assistive Technology Experts. Once registered, you will be sent a link with recordings which you can watch again. 

Visit: events.techedmarketing.com/teched-showcase-events to sign up.