[nabs-l] OT small group communication

Tue Mar 22 12:26:20 UTC 2011

I didn't mean to suggest that reading braille looks awkward.  I meant that because the height of most podiums is optimal for reading print, it puts my hands/arms at an awkward angle for reading, usually way up high.  A table surface is generally too low.  That's why I plan on trying the index cards.  

On Mar 22, 2011, at 7:32 AM, Laura Glowacki wrote:

> I've always used braille notes for presentations.  I'm not very 
> good at memorizing, and I think it's perfectly reasonable for you 
> to read notes (as long as everyone else is allowed notes that 
> is).  Far from looking awkward, I think the use of braille allows 
> you the appearance of making much more eye contact with the rest 
> of the class than your sighted peers probably have as most of 
> them stare down at their note cards.
> 
> I've found cutting 8x11 braille sheets in half to create big 
> notecards which are a little easier to handle.  And do number the 
> corners in order as the worst thing is to drop them and have them 
> get out of order!
> 
> Perhaps you can go last in the group; present the last chunk I 
> mean?  Or perhaps your group members can figure out a signal for 
> you to know it's your turn.  Or perhaps there's a signal phrase 
> the group member before you will use to finish his/her 
> information.  For instance, in our communications class, we were 
> required to put in verbal transitions between people.  So group 1 
> member would finish his part by saying "and here's grop member 2 
> who will be talking about such-and-such."  I like the phone alarm 
> idea, but if it's in a group the timings may be no where near 
> that exact.
> 
> HTH,
> Laura
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, March 21, 2011 10:10 PM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] OT small group communication
> 
> 
> Greg,
> I usually have brailled on standard sheets and number them in 
> case they get
> out of order; the typical 8 1/2 x 11 paper.
> Yep I agree its awkward though.
> 
> Maybe I should try notecards. Although for this very short 
> presentation it
> may make more sense just to have a sheet of notes.
> 
> Ashley
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Greg Aikens
> Sent: Monday, March 21, 2011 11:12 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] OT small group communication
> 
> Hey Ashley,
> I'm not sure why you posted this as OT since it very much deals 
> with
> academic life.  Here are some suggestions.  Hopefully something 
> is useful.
> 
> As far as the handouts and ppt go, if it is from your group it 
> shouldn't be
> a problem to ask for it ahead of time.  If it is from other 
> groups, you
> could send an email asking people to send you their handouts 
> before class if
> possible so you can have them at the same time.  Unfortunately, 
> many
> students don't finish that kind of thing with a lot of lead time 
> so you may
> not get them in advance.  You could bring a flash drive with you 
> for them to
> copy their materials on to if they are willing.  I use all of 
> these methods.
> last of all, you could scan them if you have to.
> 
> As far as telling time during your presentation, get a braille 
> watch.  You
> can be far more discrete in watching your time.  Another option 
> is to set an
> alarm on your phone to give you a two minute warning.  I have 
> professors who
> do this.  A silent alarm would be best.
> 
> To keep track of your notes, you could use big sheets of braille 
> paper and
> place them on the podium as you suggested, but I find reaching up 
> to a
> podium and using two-handed braille reading to be awkward while 
> speaking.
> You could braille your notes on note cards and then have your 
> hands
> relatively free when not reading.  I honestly haven't tried this 
> one yet but
> plan to for my next presentation.
> 
> Anyway, just some brainstorming.  Maybe something in there 
> helped.
> 
> -Greg
> On Mar 21, 2011, at 9:05 PM, <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
> <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> 
>> Hi all,
>> 
>> I could use some help and brainstorming ideas.
>> This is for an interpersonal communication project.
>> 
>> A couple questions/concerns here.  I’m doing a group 
>> presentation on small
>> group roles; its very broad but we’re focussing on the 
>> different power
>> people have and how the environment affects the roles we play.
>> One member is presenting the Stanford prison experiment with a 
>> video clip.
>> Its on youtube I think. Its about a psychological experiment 
>> where healthy
>> college students were assigned to be guards or inmates and what 
>> happens in
>> an institution like that
>> 
>> Some of my questions.
>> 
>> 1. Everyone has access to the handouts via hard copy; one 
>> member will
>> prepare a 1-2 page handout
>> How do you access things like this including powerpoint? Do you 
>> just
>> insist on having them ahead of time? What about other 
>> presenters in your
>> class? They will hand out stuff too. What do you do? Just take 
>> it home and
>> scan?
>> What I will do is politely remind them that I cannot see the 
>> paper and to
>> please read/paraphrase things on the handout.
>> 
>> 2. How do you track time in a group presentation or public 
>> speaking?
>> I have a watch I can see but I have to turn toward it with 
>> tunnel vision
>> and even with a talking watch, I cannot exactly press it during 
>> a
>> presentation.
>> I want to track time so in the last minute I can wrap things up 
>> and
>> “transition” to the next speaker in this case.
>> 
>> 3. I can read braille so plan to write out some notes. But 
>> where do you
>> put these? Others will have notes in their hands or on screen.
>> Obviously I need to lay them down. Perhaps the podium?
>> 
>> 4. If you have equipment, who operates that? The professor, 
>> another
>> classmate? In the past I used the professor to change screens 
>> for me or
>> click on videos.
>> 
>> 
>> Now for my other needs.  Can you suggest some 
>> people/experiments or
>> sources in the area of small group communication I can look up? 
>> Often
>> having a person’s name helps to start it.
>> We do not need scholarly sources, but they do need to be 
>> reputable; so
>> quoting experts is a good idea.
>> Articles or magazines sound good.
>> I will try the database tomorrow.  I wish I had my social 
>> psychology book;
>> that is what I really need! But I sold it away!
>> The only experiments that come to mind about roles are Milgrims 
>> experiment
>> and the Zimbardo prison experiment.
>> So psychology and sociology majors, please suggest ideas!
>> 
>> Thanks.
>> Ashley
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> 
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