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University of Edinburgh
 

SQA Braille Competency Course Grade 2 April 2010 - March 2011

Number of Participants completing: 16
Number of Respondents: 12

Overall Assessment:

How would you rate the following: Excellent = 1; Poor = 5

Enhancement to your expertise

1.33

Content and supplementary material

1.58

Inclusion of raised Braille material

1.42

How will you use what you have learned in this course?

I work as a teaching assistant with the Blind and Visually Impaired so it will be invaluable in my day-to-day work environment.
In my work as a teaching assistant of the visually impaired.
To enhance my working practice, and pass on my new skills to colleagues and pupils.
To support a blind pupil who has just started at nursery school.
I hope to use braille every day in my job.
Will use it to work with VI children at work.
I will be teaching visually impaired pupils within a mainstream setting.
To effectively support pupils.
In working with children with visual impairment in school teaching.
Every day as I support and teach Braille to children.
To support visually impaired children in school, daily.
Would have liked more examples in Stage II to check your work and understanding.

How would you rate the following: Excellent = 1, Poor = 5

Clarity of explanations  

2.17

Quantity of practice material

1.58

 
Assessment feedback

1.25

 
Pacing of stages

1.92

 

What was best about the course?

The helpful tutor who was easily accessible and very happy to assist in any way she could.
Gaining a qualification in Grade 2 Braille.
My confidence to pass new skills on. The excellent support from the tutor, never making me feel I cannot achieve always positive encouragement. All the new skills I have learnt.
The flexibility.
Learning something new.
I enjoyed it all and felt well supported by my tutor - I especially liked STAGE II because I teach Maths.
New skill.
The professionalism of feedback and encouragement.
Being able to practice whenever I had time and knowing if I needed any help or guidance it was only an email away.
Contactability of tutor, pacing of stages.
Staged assignment.

What, if anything, could have been improved?

Sometimes the rules of why and where signs can be used got confusing - maybe a recap of them ALL in one section?
Gaining an actual certificate at the end.
Longer time between some stages to complete them as some have a lot more content than others. I learnt each stage at a different pace.
A few more examples of the rules in the latter stages. The complex rules, especially those with numerous exceptions need clarification through extra support materials.
Explanations confusing at times. Some too large when next could be bigger.
Every exercise has a transcription with it.
Nothing, everything has been fine.
Some of the stages - little to learn - the next - heaps! Any more supplementary transcripts with transcriptions to check.
More supplementary material for brailling.

Any other comments regarding the course?

Too many evaluation forms - this being the THIRD overall I have filled in.
I would recommend the course to anyone; sometimes the pressure to complete sections on time worried me, as I take a long time to learn new materials, and panicked one or twice as the deadline got nearer.
Clear guidelines on assessments.
Just like to say thank you for all your help.
Great course, would be good to buy flashcards etc.
It has helped me to stick at it by assessing each stage.
I have found the whole experience very enjoyable and am looking into continuing with more training.

Distance Learning

This course was delivered through distance learning - did you find this a good arrangement or would you have preferred a different mode of delivery? Please comment either way.

Distance learning was convenient for me as I already had a working knowledge of Braille and colleagues to help me, without this I may have struggled.
It works well as long as explanations are clear. Maybe a monthly chat with tutor would be good.
No I enjoyed the way it was delivered.
This worked well for me as I am employed full time. Assessments were returned promptly.
I like distance learning because I can go at my own pace.
It was ok but would have been nice to meet tutor.
It was fine as distance learning because my tutor was always available when required.
Fine. (2)
Thought it was perfect.
Good arrangement. (2)

Overall distance learning experience

How would you rate the overall learning experience? Excellent = 1, Poor = 5

Quality of learning materials

1.42

Feedback and support from tutor

1.25

Overall timescale for course

1.42

SSC Website

Have you made use of the website? If Yes,


FREQUENCY

 

HELPFUL

Weekly

Monthly

Less Often

No Response

Yes

 No 

No Response

0

1

1

10

2

0

10

How did you hear about this course?

Co-ordinator/Line Manager. (7)
Colleague. (2)
Other: Sensory Impairment Service. (1)
Other: RNIB course. (1)
No response (1)

What other SSC CPD training would you find useful?

A Braille music notation course!
None at the moment as I am lucky to be starting my Teaching Assistant for Visually Impaired children level 3 in January, funded by the Authority I work for.
Audiology (refresher course for ToDs).
Signing courses for communicators.
Sign language I would like to learn.
Course for VI teachers to qualify.
Any continuing Braille course after Grade 2.
Any courses on low vision aids would be of interest.