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<a href="http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/2011/09/synchronicity-of-braille-technology.html">The Synchronicity of Braille & Technology</a>
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I use many methods for getting students going on their blinds skills.
One way is using the Synchronicity of Braille & Technology. When I
set up elementary rooms or my classroom for all the equipment to fit, I
use the L shape of 2 desks, that way you can place braille books on one
side so the child can read, then turn to the other side of the L and
type out information on the computer.<br>
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The students will have a brailler, or Braille Note in front of them
along with the keyboard to the computer with talking software and the
braille work on the other side of the L. I will have them read a line of
braille, then braille it, read from display if using an adapted laptop
or brailler, then type it on the computer. This way they are taking the
braille and seeing how it relates to the print. They quickly learn that
braille is braille with all its contractions and print is print and the
contraction for" the" is t-h-e and so on. There is no confusion between
braille and print and the children go onto become good spellers because
of this knowledge and way of learning. If I am ever with them on their
computer and they type a word, I will ask "What is the braille
contraction for that word?" and they tell me. When the focus is on a
braille lesson and they come upon contractions, I ask them, "How would
you spell that on the computer?" Once again solidifying the
Synchronicity of Braille & Technology.<br>
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When the children get to class, they have the familiar L shape
arrangement, which helps them keep organized also. They know where to
place their books as the computer is taking up one side. Each side of
the desks shaped in an L has slots or drawers for storing tools
underneath. Organization is key to any blind child so they can find
their tools when they need them. When the child is organized and ready
they can follow along with class and do just what everyone else is
doing. Since the students have and know about many tools, they can
choose what they will need at any given time. They learn the joy of
reading through braille and the joy of being able to output information
quicker than their sighted peers due to the use of the computer. If you
know key commands, it is far faster than trying to locate a mouse with
your eyes, and I am talking about sighted kids here. My students are far
faster on the computer than sighted kids. When the sighted students get
stuck, it is my students they turn to and who can get them out of
trouble by telling them a keystroke. They know that and are very
impressed with their speed and agility on technology as well as watching
them read those beautiful dots with their fingers.<br>
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Here is <b>kudos</b> to our kids.
<div> </div><div><span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Brush Script MT';COLOR:black;FONT-SIZE:18pt;"><font color="#4040ff"> Denise </font></span></div><div><span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Brush Script MT';COLOR:black;FONT-SIZE:18pt;"></span> </div><div>Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D. <br>Teacher of the Blind & Visually Impaired<br>TechVision-Independent Contractor</div><div>Specialist in blind programming/teaching/training</div><div>509-674-1853 <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:deniserob@gmail.com"> deniserob@gmail.com</a></div><div> </div><div><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/">http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/</a></div><div> </div></div></body></html>