Using the Mouse
Learning to use a mouse or one of the alternatives such as a rollerball or joystick require a combination of motor, cognitive and physical skills that can be a considerable challenge to many learners. So where do we start?
Choosing the right device
There area number of different devices available and choosing the right one can make the difference between your learner struggling or making progress. If you’re using a mouse, ensure that it’s the right size for the learner’s hands. So often very young children are hampered by attempting to use a mouse designed for adult hands.
If a mouse is not appropriate, try a rollerball. Unlike a mouse, these devices stay fixed on the desk and can’t move around. The pointer is moved by rolling a large ball on the top of the device with fingers or feet. Rollerballs are especially useful for learners that have restricted movement. Joysticks too are fixed devices but are a little more difficult to use as the pointer can only be moved in straight lines. Joysticks work best for people who have quite poor fine motor skills. The final group of devices enable the mouse pointer to be moved around the screen by head or eye movement. These are specialist devices and you should always talk to your therapist before trying these with a learner.
Are you sitting comfortably?
Make sure there is enough room on the desk for the learner to move the mouse around. Try too to ensure the learner is sitting in a position that enables them to use the mouse without stretching or having to reach up or down.
Setting things up
By default, the mouse pointer is usually too small and moves too fast for someone who is just learning. Thankfully both the Windows and Mac operating systems allow us to make changes. Try making the pointer as large as you can and slow the pointer to a speed that you think the learner can cope with. If you’re not sure how to do this, you could ask your IT technician. Alternatively, see: www.abilitynet.org.uk/myway/Motor Windows.php
Getting Started
Start slow and give your learner lots of time to practise. The best way to do this is to use games or specialist software such as IT Mouse Skills. Specialist software breaks down the task of learning to use the mouse into smaller progressive steps. This ensures that the learner is not overwhelmed by having to do too much at once. For example you can use the options in the program to have just one object on the screen which responds when the learner moves the mouse pointer over it. Activities like this help the learner to develop their fine motor skills. Equally we can set the program to create new characters under the pointer when the button is pressed. These are key skills that your learners will need if they are to use a mouse or other pointing device properly.
Practice, Practice, Practice
There are lots of games you can use for extra practice and many are available to play for free on the Internet. Here’s a list of Inclusive Technology’s favourites:
Pop the Bubbles
http://www.helpkidzlearn.com/games/popbubbles.html
Click on the bubbles to pop them.
Gophers
http://www.helpkidzlearn.com/games/gophers.html
Click on the gophers as they pop up from their holes.
Big Bang Bugs
http://www.helpkidzlearn.com/games/environments.html
Click to create new bugs and move them around by dragging and dropping them.
Catch the Crocs
http://www.helpkidzlearn.com/games/catch_the_crocs.html
Click on the crocodiles as they appear.
Making Music
http://www.helpkidzlearn.com/creative/making_music.html
Click on the piano keys to make your own music.
Early Mouse Movements
http://www.helpkidzlearn.com/creative/mouse_movements.html
Move your pointer around the screen (no clicking required) to draw a picture and make music.
Remember to take your time and move the learner on only when you are sure that they have mastered the skill.