Boardmaker

__Quick Information from Boardmaker trainings held for Teachers and Paraprofessionals__ __ **What is Boardmaker?** Boardmaker is a tool for staff to use to prepare materials. It consists of a large library of over 3000 Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) in either black and white or color, which can be made into symbol cards, communication boards, worksheets, overlays or other materials. Grids may be already prepared (e.g., sized to match the overlay design for well-known communication devices) or self created. Self created and personalized boards require using the drawing facility in the program. Self-prepared boards can be saved as a template for future use. __ = __To Use: SELF MADE BOARDS__ =
 * 1) __Open Boardmaker__
 * 2) __On introduction screen choose **NEW BOARD.**__
 * 3) __From the **VIEW MENU** select “**REDUCE TO FIT**”__
 * 4) __Resize window (if needed)__
 * 5) __To make a cell for a picture, select the **CELL TOOL** (which is a large square on the left tool bar)__
 * 6) __Move the cursor to the spot where you want to begin the cell. Drag the mouse to create a picture cell. Use rulers to make it a desired size.__
 * 7) __To make multiple cells the same size, use the spraying tool. The spraying tool is the icon on the left tool bar with **4 squares.** Click on the spraying tool, and then move the cursor back to the cell that was previously created. Click on that cell and drag to the lower right corner of the screen.__
 * 8) __To add the picture to a cell- Click on the man icon to go to the picture library.__
 * 9) __Type the name of the picture you want. Click on “FIRST) if you don’t see the picture that you want, click on “next”. Keep doing this until you find the one that is needed. Try Synonyms.__
 * 10) __When you find the symbol that you want…. Check the word that will be displayed.__
 * 11) __If you would like a different name, highlight the lower name box and delete, add your name.__
 * 12) __To add picture click the little man on the box you want.__

= __To use: TEMPLATES__ = __1. Open Boardmaker. 2. On introduction screen, chose templates. 3. Select templates for **Communication Devices.** 4. Select the Appropriate Device. 5. If you don’t know the device (look on the device for name or call me) 6. **Proceed as above with adding symbols.**__ E.Panek 2006
 * Tricks of the Trade__**
 * **Deleting buttons**
 * Select button by clicking and highlighting the square.
 * Hit delete
 * **Deleting multiple buttons at once.**
 * Hold control button while selecting buttons
 * Hit delete
 * **BACKGROUND COLOR**
 * 1) On Left Tool Bar, select icon with color squares.
 * 2) A palate will open. You can select color from there.
 * **Changing borders (of symbol boxes)**
 * 1) Click on symbol
 * 2) On Left tool bar select icon with
 * **SHAPE**
 * 1) Draw Button as listed in the first section.
 * 2) Highlight the button.
 * 3) Click icon with shaped “lines” on left tool bar.
 * 4) A pull down menu will come up with choice for shapes.
 * **Adding Text without Button.**
 * 1) Click **A** icon on Left Toolbar.
 * 2) Use cursor and select desire location of text.
 * 3) Text and Font can be changed on upper tool bar under TEXT pull down menu.
 * **SPRAYING MULTIPLE ICONS**
 * 1) Make a single icon “box”.
 * 2) Choose symbol
 * 3) On left tool bar select the icon with 4 squares.
 * 4) Click on icon you made and drag to the right.
 * 5) This will spread multiple icons, you can choose the amount.