[Pibe-division] Teaching Virtual Teachers

Wed Sep 21 20:31:11 UTC 2011

Dear Dr. Robinson,
Thank you for responding! I think so long as it is a supplemental,
rather than replacement, way of teaching, virtual teaching would be a
great way to get into the communities where there are no TVIs or a TVI
can only come once or twice a month. There is no reason  a child
should not be working on their Braille and alternative techniques
every week. I will look forward to learning about this virtual
teaching.

~Jewel

On 9/21/11, Dr. Denise M. Robinson <dmehlenbacher at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Mike, I would love to know that also..If Jerry taught the instructor, he
> most likely could teach them what to do. In my experience, I see issues as
> in when I go in after "yes, a wonderful blind teacher has taught the child"
> there are a lot of finger issues, as in when typing the child uses any
> number of different fingers for one key, in braille reading, the child has
> flying fingers as in all fingers are up in the air and sometimes the child
> will use only 1 finger to read or has terrible scrubbing of the page. It was
> an in general comment of what I have experienced
>
> If we had Jerry teaching all of us, we all would be better off. There are
> not enough like him.
>
>        Denise
>
> Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D.
> Teacher of the Blind & Visually Impaired
> TechVision-Independent Contractor
> Specialist in blind programming/teaching/training
> 509-674-1853     deniserob at gmail.com
>
> http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/
>
>
> From: Mike Freeman <k7uij at panix.com>
>>To: 'Professionals in Blindness Education Division List'
>> <pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 7:54 PM
>>Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Teaching Virtual Teachers
>>
>>
>>Denise:
>>
>>Wonder what Jerry Whittle of the Louisiana Center for the Blind would say
>> to your assertion that a blind braille instructor needs a sighted person
>> to observe finger position?
>>
>>Mike Freeman
>>
>>
>>From:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dr. Denise M.
>> Robinson
>>Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 4:35 PM
>>To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
>>Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Teaching Virtual Teachers
>>
>>Jewel,
>>Excellent questions.
>>
>>On virtually teaching, you do not need to have video. It can all be audio.
>> On lessons where I am teaching the braille note or braille, it is all done
>> through the phone. I am listening and giving directions and the people on
>> the other side follow through. I have even done this with computer lessons
>> because the bandwidth was not strong enough to take both video and audio.
>> If you know your stuff, listening is all you need.
>>
>>On braille instruction. If you are a totally blind teacher, even if you
>> were sitting next to a child teaching them braille, or even touch typing,
>> you need someone sighted to make sure they are using their fingers
>> correctly (that is an in general comment--most blind instructors need the
>> sighted to watch the child's hands). When present with a student, I start
>> out positioned behind a blind child and I actually guide their hands in
>> the correct way on the paper or the keyboard. It is just as easy to tell
>> someone on the other end to do so also, so the child has an idea of what
>> to do, but there has to be someone constantly making sure they are using
>> their hands correctly. Even when you become a TVI and are not there at the
>> school, someone has to follow through on your instruction. If you are
>> virtual, or even part time virtual and part time direct contact, schools
>> will actually have more contact and communication with you, thus you are
>> able to give better
>  service because you know virtual techniques.
>>
>>I am looking at this as another way to teach. Not to take over for direct
>> contact. I do both, but have more access to more people in the World
>> virtually. That cannot happen if I was trying to do this in person.
>>
>>The methods that are presently in place are not meeting all the needs of
>> our children. We have over worked TVIs and paras that need a lot more
>> direction and guidance. This is a supplemental way to teach...getting into
>> areas where there are NO TVI's or not enough. This is an in addition
>> to....using the combination of virtual techniques and direct contact gives
>> you the ability to do more with efficiency.
>>
>>       Denise
>>
>>Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D.
>>Teacher of the Blind & Visually Impaired
>>TechVision-Independent Contractor
>>Specialist in blind programming/teaching/training
>>509-674-1853     deniserob at gmail.com
>>
>>http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/
>>
>>
>>>From:Jewel <herekittykat2 at gmail.com>
>>>To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
>>> <pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
>>>Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 4:03 PM
>>>Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Teaching Virtual Teachers
>>>
>>>I hope my message is not considered out-of-place, since I'm not yet a
>>>teacher of the blind, but I thought I'd bring up one concern of
>>>virtual teaching.
>>>
>>>What of the teachers of the blind who are blind themselves? Some
>>>things can be taught over the phone or through other medias, but a
>>>blind teacher cannot watch a video of a child reading Braille or
>>>demonstrating a correct alternative technique. Should virtual
>>>teaching, then, be a supplement to teaching in person? Say, perhaps,
>>>that the student meets daily with the teacher virtually, but meets
>>>once or twice a week in person? What are your thoughts on this, Dr.
>>>Robinson?
>>>
>>>Sincerely yours,
>>>Jewel Shuping (hopeful TVI of the future)
>>>
>>>On 9/20/11, Dr. Denise M. Robinson <dmehlenbacher at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>> Teaching Virtual Teachers
>>>> I have teachers of the blind calling me from all over to learn the
>>>> virtual techniques to teach students. The excitement of showing them
>>>> another way is always a joy for me.  Today was no exception to this
>>>> rule. If you want to be one of these teachers...send an email and we can
>>>> get
>>>> going.
>>>>
>>>> Last year this teacher quit her job to have a beautiful baby. Before she
>>>>  had quit I told her what I had been doing in regards to virtual
>>>> teaching and that if she wanted, she could do it too from home, while
>>>> still caring for her children. A couple days ago I got the email asking
>>>> about the virtual teaching.
>>>>
>>>> I took her through the process of being the student and how I connected
>>>> to her and then her being the teacher and connecting to me and all the
>>>> many aspects that went along with virtual teaching. Her excitement of
>>>> its potential could be felt across the wires. We will practice until she
>>>>  is comfortable and then when she gets students I can assist when she
>>>> needs it.
>>>>
>>>> I have discovered several different ways to do virtual instruction. When
>>>>  you go across state or country lines, the connections vary. Instead of
>>>> phoning and adding up long distance charges, I connect with SKYPE, give
>>>> directions, then bring up JAWS Tandem and we continue both throughout
>>>> the lesson. If the video becomes too garbled because of bandwidth, we go
>>>>  to just audio. Local calls can be phone and straight Tandem. I have
>>>> also given lessons straight through chat, text and Tandem. There are so
>>>> many ways and options. Meetings with school personnel can happen through
>>>>  SKYPE or a phone. If teaching braille or other hands on skills, a para
>>>> educator is on the other side following instructions on how to help the
>>>> child position their fingers....all watched through video on my side.
>>>>
>>>> Most importantly, we have the ability to teach every child as long as
>>>> there is a phone line. Every child could potentially have the ability to
>>>>  receive as much instruction as they need to achieve their goals and
>>>> dreams. We need more options to address the challenge of teaching so
>>>> many children. This is just one more option.
>>>> http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/
>>>>
>>>>        Denise
>>>>
>>>> Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D.
>>>> Teacher of the Blind & Visually Impaired
>>>> TechVision-Independent Contractor
>>>> Specialist in blind programming/teaching/training
>>>> 509-674-1853     deniserob at gmail.com
>>>>
>>>> http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/
>>>
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