How do I use basic cause-and-effect games within Mind Express on my WinSlate?

There are several basic games already programmed into the Mind Express Spark Portal! These cause-and-effect activities involve little to no strategy - they simply allow users to understand that their access method can control what happens on the screen (when users touch an onscreen item or select an item with a switch, the game will react with a visual and/or sound).

You can access these games from the Portal, or by programming a game onto a specific button within a vocabulary file.  Programming a button to open a game can be useful for a user's favorite activities so that they can access them more easily right from their language pageset.  More information about how to do that can be found here:  How do I program a button to open a different pageset?

This article will walk through how to use and access these games from the Portal!

---

1. If you are not already in the Portal, go to the "Portal" within the Mind Express Spark profile by selecting "Menu" in the upper left corner and then selecting "Portal" from the dropdown.  If you are already in the Portal, "Portal" will not be visible in the dropdown menu.

2. Open the "Interactive Learning Activities" folder.

   

3. In this folder, you will find some accessible video apps (WinSlate Shows and WinSlate Videos for Kids), which you can learn how to customize here:  How do I customize the "WinSlate Shows" pageset within Mind Express on my WinSlate? You will also find a variety of simple cause-effect activities, such as:

   1. Knock Down the Can:  When users select a can, it gets knocked over with a ball. If users know their colors, you can incorporate some receptive language/following directions by saying, "Knock down the [color] can!"

   2. Fart Monster:  Users select a fart cloud to make a silly toot noise!  This can be especially fun when users are interacting with siblings/peers.  The video below also demonstrates how the targets within the games can be modified, as needed.

   3. Tickle the Penguins:  When users select a penguin on the screen, it will make a cackling sound!

      

   4. ...and many more!

4. When you're finished playing the game, you can either use the "Home Button" in the upper left corner of the screen or the "Back" button in the lower right corner of the screen (button availability will depend on the selected game) to return to the previous page.

      

   Alternatively, you can select "Menu" in the upper left corner of the screen and then "Portal" from the dropdown to return to the Portal.

---

Questions?  You are more than welcome to reach out to your local Assistive Technology Specialist:  Find a Specialist | Forbes AAC | Augmentative Communication