UNISA Short Course in Braille Literacy for Teachers and Practitioners

Short Course in Braille Literacy for Teachers and Practitioners (76950)Purpose

This short course is intended for those teachers who want to enter the field of Education, Training and Development, specifically within the sub-field of Inclusive education and special needs education. Many of those who will be interested in this course are already practicing within the field of inclusive education but lack knowledge of the braille code necessary to enhance reading and writing competencies in young children who are blind. This course will enable students to facilitate braille literacy among blind children in a variety of contexts, including special and inclusive schools, ECD centres, at home and in institutions of higher learning. In particular, students will be able to:

• Plan and prepare for reading a braille text for learners who are blind to enhance braille literacy competences.

Facilitate and monitor braille literacy competences.
 Target group

Teachers in both special and full service school and education practitioners
 Admission requirements

NQF level 6 qualification
 Duration

12 months

Language medium

English
 Registration periods

Year module: January 2017
 Tuition method

Learning is facilitated by means of a study guide, tutorial letters, assignments, a contact session, and electronic interaction.
 Kind of assessment

Formative assessment. Students must complete and pass a compulsory assignment in the module. The assignment will involve braille reading and braille transcription exercises and self-assessment.
The assignment will contribute 10% to the final mark of the module.
Summative assessment. Students must submit and pass a portfolio comprising of transcribed braille text passage oriented activities which will assess competence in all specific outcomes. A sub minimum of 50% is required to pass the portfolio assessment below which the formative assessment will not count.
 Braille Grades (BRAIL01)Syllabus/Content Topics

• History on the education of the blind learners
• Background to Braille
• Grade 1 Braille alphabet formation and punctuation marks
• Grade 2 Braille alphabet
• Differences between Grade 1 and Grade 2 Braille

Unified Braille Code (UBC) (BRAIL02)Syllabus/Content Topics

• Unified Braille Code (UBC): standardised and harmonised version of Braille
• The formation and recognition of numbers and basic maths operations symbols

Assistive technologies for Braille users
 Course leader

1. Dr LDN Tlale, D.Ed. 
Department of Psychology of Education
AJH van der Walt Building Room 6-40
Phone: +27 (0) 12 429 2064
Email : tlaleldn@unisa.ac.za
University of South Africa
 
2. Dr MJ Gumede, PhD 
Department of Inclusive Education
Sunnyside Campus Building 10 Room 1 – 90
Corner of Justice Mohammed and Steve Biko Streets
Sunnyside, Pretoria, 0002
Phone (w): +27 (0) 12 481 2754
Email : gumedmj@unisa.ac.za
University of South Africa
 
 Programme administrator(s)

Lynette Ramango
Centre for Continuing Education and Training
Sunnyside Campus Building 10 B5
Tel: 012 481 2731
Fax: 086 548 9968
ramanml@unisa.ac.za