Year
2019
Units
4.5
Contact
7 x 2.5-hour lectures per semester
Prerequisites
1 Admission into BSE-Bachelor of Special Education
1a Admission into MDS-Master of Disability Studies
1b Admission into MEDEC-Master of Education (Early Childhood Studies)
1c Admission into MEDCP-Master of Education (Cog Psych & Educational Prac)
1d Admission into MEDER-Master of Education (Ed Research, Evaluation and Assessment)
1e Admission into MEDGE-Master of Education (Gifted Education)
1f Admission into MEDIB-Master of Education (International Baccalaureate)
1g Admission into MEDLM-Master of Education (Leadership and Management)
1h Admission into MEDSA-Master of Education (Studies of Asia)
1i Admission into MEDSE-Master of Education (Special Education)
1j Admission into MEDECP-Master of Education (Early Childhood Studies) [1.5 years]
1k Admission into MEDWS-Master of Education
1l Admission into GCEVI-Graduate Certificate in Education (Vision Impairment)
1m Admission into GCESE-Graduate Certificate in Education (Special Education)
1n Admission into GCEWS-Graduate Certificate in Education
1o Admission into MEDCPP-Master of Education (Cog Psych & Educational Prac) [1.5 years]
1p Admission into MEDERP-Master of Education (Ed Research, Evaluation and Assessment) [1.5 years]
1q Admission into MEDGEP-Master of Education (Gifted Education) [1.5 years]
1r Admission into MEDIBP-Master of Education (International Baccalaureate) [1.5 years]
1s Admission into MEDSEP-Master of Education (Special Education) [1.5 years]
1t Admission into MEDLMP-Master of Education (Leadership and Management) [1.5 years]
1u Admission into MEDSAP-Master of Education (Studies of Asia) [1.5 years]
1v Admission into MEDWSP-Master of Education [1.5 years]
1w Admission into MEDWM-Master of Education (Wellbeing and Positive Mental Health)
1x Admission into MEDWMP-Master of Education (Wellbeing and Positive Mental Health) [1.5 years]
1y Admission into MDPP-Master of Disability Policy and Practice
1z Admission into MDPPA-Master of Disability Policy and Practice [1.5 years]
2 EDSP9010 - Studies in Vision Impairment 1
2a 1 of EDUC9541, EDUC8541
Must Satisfy: ((1 or 1a or 1b or 1c or 1d or 1e or 1f or 1g or 1h or 1i or 1j or 1k or 1l or 1m or 1n or 1o or 1p or 1q or 1r or 1s or 1t or 1u or 1v or 1w or 1x or 1y or 1z) and (2 or 2a))
Enrolment not permitted
EDSP9045 has been successfully completed
Assumed knowledge
An understanding of critical aspects involved in the education of students with vision impairment
Topic description
This topic is designed to provide students with the most recent and advanced knowledge in the area of braille teaching. Critical thinking and debate are facilitated and students are encouraged to investigate the ideas and approaches related to braille teaching. While the major focus will be on teaching braille and braille literacy, attention will also be given to braille mathematics.
Educational aims
This topic aims to:

  • provide students with an overview of theories and approaches with respect to the teaching of Braille and encourage them to research areas of interest in some depth

  • explore current issues and perspectives in Braille literacy and numeracy

  • provide students with an understanding of the importance of teaching pre-Braille skills

  • give insight into spatial awareness and its importance in the teaching of Braille

  • familiarise students with the special skills required for reading by touch and the best practices to be developed

  • provide students with knowledge of methodologies and resources for teaching Braille reading and writing

  • assist students to liaise with transcribers to guide them to reproduce visual information in appropriate tactile formats

  • develop an awareness of methods of tactile graphic production
Expected learning outcomes
On completing this topic students will be able to:

  • describe effective ways of teaching Braille to students with no useful vision in ways that recognise their unique needs

  • discuss the challenges in providing Braille instruction to students in regular classrooms with reference to current philosophies, policies and key issues involved in service delivery

  • recognise the importance of tactual skills and spatial awareness for Braille readers

  • demonstrate an understanding of appropriate approaches to teaching literacy and numeracy to students who are Braille dependent

  • discuss issues relating to Braille teaching and recommend suitable approaches and resources

  • discuss the benefits of assistive technology and recommend suitable devices to facilitate access to learning and communication