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Fifth Biennial Getting in Touch With Literacy ConferenceNovember 9, 2001 Philadelphia, PA

A Descriptive Study of Standards and Criteria for Competence in Braille Literacy Within Teacher Preparation Programs in the

United States & Canada

Sheila Steiner Amato, Ed.D.

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Literacy is:

An issue of national concern Involves reading, writing, math, computer skills, culture (Rex, 1989) Technology skills (Koenig, 1992) Necessary to function on the job and in society (National Institute for

Literacy, 1993) Demonstrated at various levels throughout one’s lifetime (Koenig,

1992) The means to a limitless array of activities and encounters (Schroeder,

1989) The means to a better quality of life (National Institute for Literacy,

1993)

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Braille literacy can:

Make it possible for a person who is blind to participate equally in society (Nemeth, 1988) and in the cultural and political life of the community (Stephens, 1989)

Open the way to information by tearing down barriers of myth and ignorance (Schroeder, 1989)

Determine the degree of independent functioning on the job (Johnson, 1989)

Enable individuals who are blind to read and write for themselves

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By the numbers...

In 1989

70% of working age people who are blind were unemployed or underemployed (Schroeder, 1989)

Of the 30% who are employed, 85% read braille (Spungin, 1989)

In 2000

74% of working age people who are blind are unemployed or underemployed (Maurer, 2000)

Of the 26% who are employed, 85% read braille (Maurer, 2000)

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However… there is evidence of a nationwide decline in braille literacy

In 1968

40% of children who were blind or visually impaired could read braille

45% read large print

9% could read neither

In 1999

less than 10% of children who were blind or visually impaired could read braille

more than 40% could read neither

(APH, 1999)

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Consumer services have placed partial blame for the decline in braille literacy on:

Teacher incompetence in using and teaching braille (Allman & Lewis, 1997)

Teachers’ lack of proficiency in braille (Mullen, 1990)

Teachers’ poor attitudes (Mullen, 1990)Inadequate preparation of teachers by the

university teacher preparation programs (Spungin, 1989)

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The catalyst … WHY????

The National Literary Braille Competency Test (NLBCT) was developed by the National Library Service for the Blind/The Library of Congress

Purpose: to allow teachers of children and adults who are blind to demonstrate their competency in writing braille with the braillewriter and the slate and stylus, their ability to proofread braille, and their knowledge of braille code rules

Administered to 396 candidates between May, 1994 and June 1999 (Stark, 2000)

The discovery that there is a 25% passing rate for teachers who take the National Literary Braille Competency Test

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Issue of concern for:

Students of university teacher training programs ~ and staff who teach them

Their future students or clients Braille consumers National organizations using these statistics to

support their contention that teacher training programs were graduating less-than-competent teachers (NFB, 1995)

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Questionnaire Standards and Criteria for Competence in Braille Literacy was designed by the investigator Descriptional survey design Purpose: to examine the issue of teacher competence in

braille literacy and the specific role played in the achievement of braille literacy by university teacher preparation programs in blindness and visual impairment

Thank you!Some of the questions designed for a previously completed Teachers

College doctoral dissertation that investigated Braille Training and Teacher Attitudes: Implications for Personnel Preparation, 1993 were either used in their entirety or modified with the written permission of the author, Dr. Stuart Wittenstein.

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Pilot instrument

Pilot version of initial questionnaire draft was distributed to 13 individuals in fields of:blindness & visual impairmentregular educationspecial educationliteracy & readingstatistics & measurementteacher trainingand a consumer who uses braille revisions made were based on their feedback

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Final document Standards and Criteria for Competence in Braille Literacy

Section 1 - course format Section 2 - course content Section 3 – course expected outcomes Section 4 - grading and determining the level of

competence Section 5 - opinion poll Section 6 - demographic information for the

respondents

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Programs Surveyed

The list of programs was gleaned from “Colleges and Universities in the United States and Canada Offering Programs for Teachers of Visually Impaired Children Recognized by AER” (http://www.afb.org)

Cross reference done with the National Plan for Training Personnel (NPTP) (Council for Exceptional Children, 1999)

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By the numbers:

Surveyed 39 institutions that offer programs in Blindness & Visual Impairment

Represent 21 states from within the United States Represent 3 Canadian Provinces Include undergraduate, graduate (Master’s &

Doctoral) and post-graduate programs

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Rate of Response

Responses were received from 34 programs (87.2%). Thus, it is possible to say that these results are truly representative of teacher education programs in blindness & visual impairment throughout the United States and Canada

Caveat~Caveat~

These data should not be interpreted as a means to judge the quality of the programs, nor to claim superiority or inferiority of practice or the instructor.

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Major Findings of the

Demographics of Respondents 55.5% institutions offer only graduate programs in BVI 46.6% of university level braille courses are taught by

adjunct instructors or graduate faculty 39.9% have tenure or are in tenure-track positions 43 instructors have:

known braille for a mean of 26.4 years taught a total of 5,356 students during the past 25 years 69.0% received their braille training as part of a university

graduate program 65.1% hold no certification unique to braille (as distinguished

from certification as a teacher of students who are blind/visually impaired

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Results in a nutshell

Widespread diversity and lack of consistency within university level braille courses in terms of:format of instructioncontent and instructional materialsexpected student outcomesstandards and criteria for competence in braille

literacy

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Research Question 1: What is the format of instruction offered in braille as a method of written communication in university level teacher preparation programs in BVI?

75.6% incorporate the term “Braille” as part of their course title 31.1% offer only one semester of braille, the other programs offer

either 2 or 3 semesters of braille. 93.0% have freedom and latitude to create their own syllabus within a

general framework 48.9% programs (primarily graduate programs) follow a “traditional”

university semester of meeting once a week for approximately 15 weeks

75.6% meet for a time period between 1-3 hours per class session 46.7% use distance learning as an integral part of their braille course 68.9% report average class size range is 6-15 students

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Research Question 2: What topics and instructional materials are included in the university level braille course syllabus?

20.0% of programs do not include instruction in the Nemeth Code for Mathematics and Science Notation in their teacher preparation programs

48.9% of class time spent in direct instruction 37.8% of class time spent in combination with

direct instruction, drill & practice, use of instructional videos, web-based research, braille games, quizzes, exams, and student presentation of lessons

Texts used: 48.9% use Instructional Manual for Braille Transcribing, 3rd.edition 42.2% use New Programmed Instruction in Braille 42.2% use Learning the Nemeth Braille Code 53.3% use Instructional Strategies for Braille Literacy (non-code)

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Research Question 3: What are the expected student outcomes in terms of the acquisition and demonstration of braille-related skills and knowledge for these courses?

All require demonstration of braille transcription by use of a braillewriter

All require translation of braille into print 93.3% read braille visually 82.9% transcribe braille by using a slate & stylus 77.8% transcribe mathematics by using the Nemeth Code 73.4% instruction in braille reading methods 15.6%-62.2% other skills and knowledge: teacher made materials,

creation of lesson plans, presentation of sample lessons, evaluation of curricula, access technology, observation of braille user, observation of master braille teacher, identification of resources

38.6% expect less than 5 hours/week out-of-class study 45.5% expect between 6-15 hours/week out-of-class study

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Research Question 4: What are the standards and criteria for competence in the braille code as employed by university level teacher preparation programs?

59.1% count total number of errors per assignment (which may vary in length and/or complexity)

40.9% provide the option for the student to redo/resubmit an assignment that is not passing

38.6% require the student to redo/resubmit an assignment that is not passing 56.8% allow students to use “open books/open notes” when taking exams 38.6% permit use of a standard dictionary, but allow no braille code reference

materials during exams 40.0% minimum grade for competence is B range 42.2% minimum grade for competence is C range 72.7% will receive grade of “incomplete” if not competent at end of course 56.8% will be required to repeat the course 38.6% will receive grade of “F”

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Research Question 4 continued:

75.0% of instructors indicated that their students were required to pass a teacher-made braille competency test in order to receive a passing grade for the course.

52.3% indicated that their students were required to pass a comprehensive exam at the end of their educational program, in which braille was included

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Research Question 5: What opinions do teachers of university braille courses hold about key issues in braille literacy?

Entry Level* Competence in Braille Skills 57.8% transcribe, read, and proofread literary braille by

braillewriter and slate & stylus

40.0% transcribe math into Nemeth code, proficiency in music code, foreign language code, rules of formatting, braille access technology, curricula, instructional strategies and teaching practice

* Entry level into the field

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Research Question 5: What opinions do teachers of university level braille courses hold about key issues in braille literacy?

Graduate Competence in the Literary Code, Nemeth Code, and in Teaching Braille

48.9% rate students as definitely capable of handling almost any literary braille code transcription independently

22.2% rate students as definitely capable of handling almost any Nemeth code transcription independently

57.8% rate students as definitely capable of handling almost any braille related teaching situation independently

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Research Question 5: What opinions do teachers of university braille courses hold about key issues in braille literacy?

Requirement for Refresher or In-Service Braille Training 97.9% indicated that refresher courses or in-service courses should be

required, either at regular intervals, or when the teacher feels it is necessary to refresh one’s skills

40.5% believe it is the responsibility of teacher preparation programs to provide refresher courses or in-service braille training

Comments about Teacher Competence in Braille 73.8% believe that competence at time of graduation is a function of

continuing braille practice 28.6% believe there is a need for further professional development, the

opportunity to practice skills, and the availability of braille refresher courses and in-service training

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Research Question 5: What opinions do teachers of university level braille courses hold about key issues in braille training?

Significant Factors in the Development of Braille Skills

26.2% attitude and motivation

37.7% multiple factors: attitude & motivation, number of hours spent in practice and drill, the instructor, previous experience with braille, natural talent

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Research Question 5: What opinions do teachers of university level braille courses hold about key issues in braille training?

A Decline Or A Resurgence Of Braille Literacy For People Who Are Blind?

54.8% believe there is a resurgence due to state and federal legislation, required learning media assessments, states putting more money in to train teachers, computer production, refreshable braille displays, refresher courses and conferences, new textbooks, the quest for higher standards and accountability, and more positive attitudes towards braille

11.9% believe there is a decline due to large student caseloads, age of onset of visual impairment, inability to find quality higher level braille textbooks - especially in math and science, the amount of auditory material presently available, and lack of national standards

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Research Question 5: What opinions do teachers of university level braille courses hold about key issues in braille training?

Comments About University Level Braille Training Standards

31.0% standards are not high enough to produce competent teachers

23.8% students are amazingly competent for their short exposure to braille

11.9% we need to teach students how to teach braille; knowing the code is not enough

9.5% we need to establish national standards for braille training

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Limitations of the Study

Inclusion of all established programs in blindness & visual impairment

Personal bias of participants Self-reported data Anonymity Exit skills of new teachers trained under different

models of personnel preparation

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Implications for Personnel Preparation

Recommendation that programs provide 2 semesters of braille Inclusion of Nemeth code to enable teachers to transcribe higher level

math and science Program model which provides time for assimilation and practice of

newly learned skills Need for further research regarding effectiveness of distance learning

for braille instruction Commitment to provide ongoing inservice and refresher courses in

braille Use of a psychometrically stable instrument in terms of content and

construct validity with established reliability as a valid assessment of entry level braille skills prior to awarding a degree or teaching license

Establishment of a high minimum national standard for competence in braille literacy

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Implications for Future Research

Need for documentation of skills of those who will teach children

Need for reevaluation, standardization and field testing of university curricula in terms of content and criteria

Exploration of use of distance learning as an effective means of service presentation for braille courses

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For further information...

Sheila Amato, Ed.D.

72 Aster St.

Massapequa Park, NY 11762

(516) 541-2296 (home)

brltrans@optonline.net