POST-GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN BRAILLE

Transcription

1 UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA FACULTY OF EDUCATIONAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION POST-GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN BRAILLE

2 BRIEF HISTORICAL BACK GROUND OF EACH PROGRAMME OF STUDY INTRODUCTION/JUSTIFICATION Section 21 of Persons with Disability Act (Act 715, 2006) enjoins the Minister of Education by Legislative Instrument to designate in each region public technical, vocational and teacher training institutions which shall include in their curricula components of special education, such as: (a) Sign Language and (b) braille writing and reading. This provision cannot be fulfilled unless the nation initiates a systematic process for the training of professionally qualified personnel in Sign Language and Braille writing and reading, who can work at that level. Hitherto, the Department of Special Education, of the University of Education, Winneba, has been training special education teachers in Braille reading and writing for basic schools and resource centres for students with visual impairments. A Post-Graduate Diploma programme in Braille at the Department of Special Education, the University of Education, Winneba, will be the first attempt to produce professionally qualified Braille readers and transcribers, who will work at public and private second cycle and tertiary institutions as well as other related organizations in Ghana and other countries in the sub-region. Through this programme, the Department of Special Education will be rendering essential services to the nation, which is consistent with the vision and mission of the University of Education, Winneba. The one-year Post-graduate Diploma programme in Braille will therefore be designed to equip learners with advanced and professional competency in Braille reading and writing, as well as book production in Braille. The programme will prepare learners not only to support students with visual impairment but also, enable students to appreciate and understand the needs of such individuals at the second cycle and tertiary institutions. AIM The aim of the programme is to produce highly qualified personnel with professional skills in Braille reading and writing. Basically, the programme will address the provisions in the Disability Act 715, the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and the social inclusion agenda of the nation as well as the University s Corporate Strategic Plan, which also emphasizes social inclusion. Objectives The course will Produce qualified personnel to support students with visual impairment (Blind) in second cycle and tertiary institutions. Produce qualified personnel who can work in various organizations and institutions as professional Braille readers and writers. Expose learners to needs of students with visual impairment. Enhance resource skills of personnel who will support students with visual impairment. Employment prospective of Graduands CLIENTELE: The Curriculum is designed for: Regular teachers either in service or preparing to teach individuals with visual impairment. Special Education Teachers either in-service or preparing to teach in Inclusive institutions with students with visual impairment

3 Foreigners who are interested in learning Braille and want to work with students with visual impairment in Ghana, and countries in the sub-region. Lecturers, Tutors, Teaching Assistants, etc. from Universities Employees of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Where are they in the country s occupational structure? Secondary and tertiary educational institutions Entry requirements for admission of students Student enrolment for the current and past two years Candidates wishing to apply to enrol on the Programme MUST: Have a good first degree DESCRIPTION OF COURSES SEMESTER 1 SPB 511 English Alphabets and Arabic Numerals 3cr In this course, students will be exposed to how the 26 English Braille alphabets and the Hindu Arabic numerals are built and Brailed using the hand-frame and stylus and/or Braille machines. Students will also learn some specific signs for foreign languages such as French and vernacular Braille (Ghanaian Languages). SPB 512 Word- and group-signs 3cr In this course, students will learn dots representing each of the word-signs, punctuation signs, simple upper group-signs, lower group-signs and lower word-signs. It prepares students to acquire the skills and techniques necessary for writing lower groupsigns and word-signs. SPB 513 Braille Reading 3cr The course is designed to inculcate in students skills to master Braille symbology. The course also includes the three levels of Braille, as well as contractions. Demonstrations and drills will be used to drill students in symbology, and contractions. SPB 514 Braille Mathematics concepts 3cr This course is designed to help students to improve their knowledge in Arabic numerals, Algebraic numerals and topical issues like the Abacus, Geometrical shapes and Cubarithm. The course will also expose students to wordlists containing dot 5; 4, 5; and 4, 5, 6 (initial word signs) and dots 4, 6; 5, 6 or 6 (final group signs). These signs are help to further condense the number of letters written in Braille. SPE 553 Principles and Practices of Inclusive Education 3cr This course exposes students to contemporary issues and trends in inclusive education. It looks at models of understanding disability, the meaning of concepts such as integration, mainstreaming, inclusion as well as international perspectives of inclusive education. The course also highlights the model of inclusive schools in Ghana.

4 SEMESTER II SPB 551 Composite punctuation and Braille composite signs 3cr In this course, students are exposed to composite punctuation signs and Braille composite signs. These signs include compound code signs, square bracket signs, dash and double dash signs, ellipses, asterisk and dagger signs. Braille compositions are signs for which there are no equivalent symbols in print. They are written before other signs to indicate respectively: Arabic figures, letters used for special purposes, italic types, accented letters, capital letters and line breaks (as in poetry). SPB 552 Book production 3cr This course will create opportunity for students to braille various course materials for students with visual impairment at second cycle and tertiary institutions. It includes rudimentary skills and knowledge in book production. Students will be given relevant course books and materials to transcribe into Braille for use by visually impaired students/learners. SPB 553 Braille reading and transcription 3cr The course is aimed at training students to acquire advance skills and techniques in Braille reading and writing. Transcribed materials from course books, textbooks, journals, will be read individually and in groups to enhance proficiency in Braille reading. SPE 562 Seminar 3cr This course will provide opportunity for students to present papers on current issues relating to diversity, disabilities, and visual impairment and access to quality education. Students will explore these issues using professional literature of the field; select a specific issue to do a detailed review of literature and critique; discuss and present papers including suggested recommendations for curricular development and change. SPB 554 Practicum 3cr The course is designed to enable students to get hands-on experience to enhance Braille user efficiency skills. It will also create opportunity for students to sharpen their skills in Braille reading and transcription. The course will enable students to work as resource persons at second cycle and tertiary institutions, as well as resource centres for the visually impaired. Requirements for graduation Students have to pass all courses as specified below Subject requirement and Credit requirements as outlined below. ONE-YEAR POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA PROGRAMMEME IN BRAILLE COURSES FOR THE PROGRAMMEME SPB 511 English Alphabet and Arabic Numerals 3cr SPB 512 Word- and group-signs 3cr SPB 513 Braille Reading 3cr SPB 514 Braille mathematics concepts 3cr SPE 553 Principles and Practices in Inclusive Education 3cr Total 15cr

5 SPB 551 Composite punctuation and braille composition signs 3cr SPB 552 Book production in braille 3cr SPB 553 Braille reading and transcription 3cr SPB 554 Practicum 3cr SPE 562 Seminar 3cr Total Total Credit Hours for the One-year Programme 15cr 30cr