SERP 523b: Braille 2 University of Arizona Department of Disability and Psychoeducational Studies Spring 2014 L. Penny Rosenblum Office: 520-621-1223 University of Arizona Fax: 520-621-3821 Dept. of DPS E-mail: rosenblu@u.arizona.edu PO Box 210069 Office Location: COE Room 434 Tucson, AZ 85721-0069 Office Hours: Wednesday 2:30-3:45 and by appointment Course Meeting Dates: We will meet Wednesday from 4:00-6:30. We will not meet February 26, March 26 or April 23. March 22 we will meet 9:00-4:00 in Phoenix more information will be provided. Catalog Description: Fundamentals of braille reading and writing, methods of teaching Braille and preparation of materials. Prerequisite Course: SERP 523a, Braille 1 Extended Course Description: a. Purpose: Participants in the course will demonstrate mastery of the Nemeth Code (braille mathematics) and use of the abacus for teaching mathematics to learners who are blind. They will complete basic activities in math and science braille formatting and foreign language codes. They will learn about music and computer braille codes. They will demonstrate use of the slate and stylus to write braille. Participants will achieve a reading rate of at least 30 words per minute in literary braille. b. Knowledge Base: This course is based on the need for TVIs to be competent in producing braille (literary, Nemeth, and foreign language) and in providing instruction in these codes to braille users. In addition children who are braille users need the opportunity to learn to use the abacus for basic computation. c. Instructional Methods: A combination of lectures, hands-on activities, guest lectures, and homework will be used during this course.
Course Objectives: 1. To achieve a braille reading rate of at least 30 words per minute. 2. To prepare special format material in braille based on the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) and Library of Congress guidelines. 3. To transcribe and read mathematical materials for school aged students using Nemeth code. 4. To calculate mathematical problems using the Cranmer abacus, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. 5. To demonstrate basic knowledge of foreign language and music codes, and to identify resources for obtaining information on these codes. 6. To prepare tactile graphics using a variety of materials. 7. To demonstrate the use of a slate and stylus to produce accurate braille. Required Texts: Roberts, H., Krebs, B. M., & Taffet, B. (1978). An Introduction to Braille Mathematics. Washington DC: Library of Congress. Livingston, R. (1997). Use of the Cranmer Abacus (2 nd ed.). Austin, TX: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. A CD of additional materials will be provided to you by the instructor. Information is provided on the D2L course page (http://d2l.arizona.edu/). Students are responsible for this information and are expected to bring copies of notes to class with them. Students with Disabilities: If you have a documented disability, please present information from the Disability Resource Center (DRC) to the instructor on or before the first day of class. You are expected to inform the instructor of the accommodations you are requesting for the course so that together you can work out an accommodation plan. It is your responsibility to make arrangements for the abacus quizzes and final exam if you need extended time or an alternate format. University Statement on Academic Integrity: Students are required to follow the Code of Academic Integrity of the University of Arizona. Plagiarism (representing ideas and/or writing of another as one s own) or obtaining unauthorized assistance in any 2
academic work will result in failure in the course. Visit http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/policies-and-codes/codeacademic-integrity for more information about the policies and procedures related to academic integrity. Professional Behavior: Students are expected to demonstrate professional behavior, which includes being on time for class, submitting work when it is due, not talking when another person is talking, not using a cell phone to text or to receive or make calls, not using a laptop for non-class related activities during class time, etc. Failure to demonstrate professional behavior may result in the lowering of your course grade at the discretion of the instructor. Calendar for Class Meetings: Any changes to this schedule will be announced at least one week in advance. Date Jan. 15 Jan. 22 Jan. 29 Feb. 5 Feb. 12 Feb. 19 Feb. 26 Mar. 5 Mar. 12 Mar. 19 Mar. 26 Topics NEMETH: Lesson 1: Writing Numbers and Linear Problems ABACUS: Setting Numbers Lesson 2: Numeric Indicator, Decimal Point, Monetary, Percent & Signs of Omission ABACUS: Beginning Addition NEMETH: Lesson 3: Alphabet, English Letter Indicator, Abbreviations ABACUS: Addition, cont. NEMETH: Lesson 5: Grouping and Number Bases ABACUS: Addition cont. NEMETH: Lesson 6: Superscripts, Subscripts and Level Indicators ABACUS: Addition Quiz NEMETH: Lesson 7: Fractions ABACUS: Introduction to Subtraction NO CLASS NEMETH: Lessons 8 & 9: Roman Numerals and Arrows FOREIGN LANGUAGE BRAILLE ABACUS: Subtraction cont. NEMETH: Lesson 10: Shapes ABACUS: Subtraction Quiz NO CLASS SPRING BREAK NO CLASS 3
Date Apr. 2 Apr. 9 Apr. 16 Apr. 23 Apr. 30 May 7 May 14 Topics NEMETH: Lessons 11, 12 and 13: Selected Components ABACUS: Introduction to Multiplication NEMETH: Lesson 14: Contractions and Short Form Words ABACUS: Multiplication cont. COMPUTER BRAILLE NEMETH: Lessons 15 & 16 Spatial Arrangements ABACUS: Multiplication Quiz No Class NEMETH: Worksheet Formatting ABACUS: Decimals and Division Review Activities In class exam for abacus, Nemeth and reading Attendance and Participation Students are expected to attend and participate in all class meetings. All holidays or special events observed by organized religions will be honored for those students who show affiliation with that particular religion. Absences pre-approved by the UA Dean of Students (or Dean's designee) will be honored. One absence of 2.5 hours is acceptable. After one absence the instructor may opt to (a) lower the student s grade up to 5 points per additional absence, (b) require the student to do work missed during class and submit it within 2 weeks of the absence, and/or (c) require the student to do additional work to make up for missed content (e.g., the material presented by a speaker). Work is due on the date stated on the syllabus regardless of absence. Should you know you will be absent ahead of time, then make arrangements to turn in the work prior to the start of class on the due date. I give two 48-hour grace periods per student; after that work is considered late and points are deducted as described on page 10 of the syllabus. Course Requirements 1. Homework: (36 points) Five Nemeth and one foreign language homework assignment valued at 6 points each are required for the course. The scheduled due dates are indicated below. All assignments must be turned in by May 7, 2014 with 10 or fewer errors before the final grade is awarded. Points are assigned for homework assignments as follows: 0, 1, 2 errors 6 points 3, 4 errors 5 points 4
5, 6 errors 4 points 7, 8 errors 3 points 9, 10 errors 2 points 11, 12 errors 1 point 13 or more errors no credit for assignment Any homework assignment may be repeated to improve the score. However, one point will be subtracted for each redone homework. Therefore, there is no advantage to repeating an assignment unless 4 or fewer points have been assigned. 2. Reading Passage Assignments: (35 points) There are 5 reading passage assignments. For each assignment students will be provided a list of questions. Passages 1, 2, and 3 are each valued at 5 points and have 6 questions each. Passages 4 and 5 are each valued at 10 points and have 10 questions each. Students must read the braille passage and answer the questions in braille. One-half of a point will be subtracted for each braille error or incorrect answer. Students may redo these assignments to increase the points earned. One point will be subtracted per redo using the same method as described above for homework. 4. Historical Figure: (4 points) Each student will select a historical figure and read a passage about him/her. The student will give a brief report to the class about the life of the historical figure and the contribution he/she has made to the field of visual impairment. 5. Abacus Quizzes: (30 points) There are 3 multiple choice abacus quizzes. Each quiz will correspond to an operation (addition, subtraction, and multiplication). Each quiz has 10 questions and is valued at 10 points. 6. Tactile Graphic: (15 points) This assignment is due on APRIL 16, 2014. YOU MUST PREPARE THE BRAILLE FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT ON A PERKINS BRAILLER AND/OR SLATE AND STYLUS. The rest of the graphic is to be prepared using the collage method. Select an academic subject (math, science, social studies) and develop a tactile graphic for a child who is blind. The tactile graphic should be for grade 4 or higher or it should be a series of graphics for children who are younger. It is highly recommended that you get the instructor s approval on the material you select prior to preparing it. Creativity, durability, and accuracy of all braille are part of the grading for this assignment. Submit a print copy of the material and the tactile graphic. OR 5
Select an academic subject (math, science, social studies) and develop or adapt a game that is appropriate for a blind child, a child with severe low vision, and children with typical vision. It is highly recommended that you get the instructor s approval on the game prior to preparing it. Creativity, durability, and accuracy of all braille are part of the grading for this assignment. 7. Menu Item: (15 points) On April 30, 2014 students will submit their menu item to the instructor via the D2L Dropbox. Students will pick one of the items from the list below: (a) Interview a TVI regarding how he/she teaches students. Gather information in at least three of these areas: (a) Nemeth code, (b) foreign language braille, (c) music braille, (d) computer braille, (e) abacus, (f) tactile graphics, (g) working with the general education teachers, and (h) resources the TVI uses for any of the above areas. Ideally conduct your interview in person, but if this is not possible do it via telephone. Please do not conduct the interview via email. Please contact the instructor at least 2 weeks before the due date if you need assistance in locating a TVI to interview. You re encouraged to interview a TVI you do not know or have not observed. Write a reflective summary of the interview. Please do not provide a transcript. (b) Interview an individual who is a braille and/or abacus user. Speak with the individual about how he/she learned Nemeth, music braille, foreign language braille, computer braille, and/or abacus. Discuss with the individual how he/she uses and learned about tactile graphics. Find out how the individual uses braille in his/her life. Ask the individual to share advice for TVIs. Ideally conduct your interview in person, but if this is not possible do it via telephone. Please do not conduct the interview via email. Please contact the instructor at least 2 weeks before the due date if you need assistance in locating an individual to interview. Write a reflective summary of the interview. Please do not provide a transcript. (c) Attend a conference or workshop that focuses on a topic related to this course. Please obtain prior approval from the instructor to do this assignment. Upon your return write a 3-5 page paper about what you learned in at least 3 of the sessions. Provide copies of the handouts that are relevant to course content. One conference Instructor is aware of is the CTEBVI conference in Los Angeles, California April 3-6, 2014. Visit http://ctebvi.org/ for information about this organization and the upcoming conference. 6
(d) Propose a project related to course content that you would like to complete for this class. You must obtain instructor approval for your project by March 12, 2014. Project ideas may include development of instructional materials, inservices, resource binders, etc. With the instructor you will develop criteria on how your assignment will be graded. 8. In-Class Exam: (25 points) In class on May 14, 2014 at 4 PM students will take a 3-part timed exam. Students will have 30 minutes per section. Section 1 is a Nemeth exam where students interline a page of Nemeth material. Students can use the 4-sided APH Reference Sheet for the Nemeth exam. Section 2 is an abacus multiple choice exam covering addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Section 3 is a reading exam. Students will be given a two-page passage of braille to read and will answer comprehension questions on the passage. Questions will be presented and answered in print. 9. Take Home Nemeth Exam: (20 points) On April 30, 2014 students will be provided a take-home Nemeth exam valued at 20 points. The exam will be in the D2L Content section of the course. The exam will cover Nemeth code material from the course. Exams must be turned in on May 14, 2014 at 4 PM. Each student is expected to complete his/her exam independently. If a student is suspected of not completing his/her exam independently a grade of E (failing) will be assigned for the course. 10. Extra Credit: (6 points) Up to 6 points can be earned for extra credit by (a) completing a music braille assignment, (b) completing an additional reading assignment, or (c) completing a slate and stylus assignment. Extra credit must be turned in no later than May 7, 2014. Due Dates for Assignments You may send in assignments earlier than the due date. DATE Points HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT Jan. 22 5 Reading 1 Jan 29 6 Nemeth 1 (Lesson 1 & 2) Feb. 5 6 Reading 2 Feb. 12 6 / 10 Nemeth 2 (Lessons 1, 2, 3 & 5) / Abacus Addition Quiz Feb. 19 6 Reading 3 7
Mar. 5 6 Nemeth 3 (Lessons 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, & 7) Mar. 12 6 / 10 Foreign Language / Abacus Subtraction Quiz Mar. 26 10 Reading 4 Apr. 2 6 Nemeth 4 (Lessons 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) Apr. 9 10 Reading 5 Apr. 16 10 / 15 Abacus Multiplication Quiz / Tactile Graphic Nemeth 5 (Lessons 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, Apr. 30 6 / 15 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 & 16) / Menu Item May 14 25 / 20 /6* In Class Exam / Take Home Exam / *Optional Extra Credit Points Subtracted for Late Assignments: Assignments are due in person or postmarked on the due date. Each student will be allowed to turn in two assignments up to 48 hours late with no late penalty. The following table provides a breakdown of how points are calculated for late assignments. Assignments more than 2 weeks late will automatically receive a grade of 0 (zero) points. Please remember Homework and Reading assignments must be done with 10 or fewer errors in order for you to receive a passing grade in the course. Assignment Points Deducted for 1-3 days late Points Deducted for 4-6 days late 5 point value 1 2 3 6 point value 1 2 3 10 point value 2 4 6 15 point value 1 point per day will be subtracted Grading A = 162 to 180 D = 108 to 125 B = 144 to 161 F = 107 or below C = 126 to 143 Points Deducted for 7 or more days late 8
Testing Out of Components of the Course Any student who has the skills to test out of the Nemeth or abacus portions of the course should speak with the instructor during the first session. An individualized contract will be developed between the instructor and the student to advance the skills of the student in related areas to course content. Students who themselves are literary braille readers will contract with the instructor for an alternative assignment to replace the 5 reading assignments and in-class exam portion of the final exam. This is a 3-credit graduate course, so all students will need to complete the equivalent of 3 credits worth of work. 9