SQA Braille Competency Course - Uncontracted April 2021 - March 2022

Number of Participants completing: 16
Number of Respondents: 10

Overall Assessment:

How would you rate the following:

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

To support the pupils I work with that have a visual impairment.
I will use the content to support me in my job and the young people I work with.
As a teacher of visually impaired children, I will be expected to teach pupils who use Braille. I may also be expected to create resources.
To work with pupils who are learning Braille.
To support Braille using student.
To support VI pupils as a VI teacher.
In job as sensory specialist teaching assistant working with blind and visually impaired children.
My daughter.
In my employment.
I will use my knowledge of Braille going forward when working with visually impaired children.

How would you rate the following:

What was best about the course?

I loved how there wasn't too much to learn in each section so I could really concentrate on each section at a time. I also liked the fact that if I needed any help I could always ask my tutor.
I really liked that the course is spaced out with clear printed and brailled material. Excellent clear feedback on staged assessment was appreciated, detailed and clear.
The instructions were very clear, and each section had an appropriate amount of material. The sections were broken into logical parts. The assessment feedback was positive and told me clearly what I had to work on.
Able to work through at my own pace.
The support provided. The tutor was always happy to help and responded quickly.
Easy to follow, nice format of instructions and set-up.
I really enjoyed the whole process. The learning was clear and well set out.
Ample practice material and portfolio easy to follow.
Well laid out, good instructions.

What, if anything, could have been improved?

Further 'mock exam' material (as in the three parts) as would have liked additional practice with comprehension and questions.
Sometimes there was a delay in my questions being responded to. I became a bit anxious when I hadn't had feedback for my assessment and date for my exam was fast approaching.
Perhaps more practice exercises for comprehension part of the course.
More proactive contact from assessor. I had to make the initial contact.
Examples of timed exercises.
Perhaps more involvement with tutor.

Any other comments regarding the course?

I think if I had known that Diane worked on Tuesdays at the start of the course, I would have known when to contact her. All the feedback she gave was helpful and clear, but sometimes I had to wait a while for it.
I have really enjoyed the course and look forward to putting what I have learnt into practice and moving on to the contracted Braille course.
Very enjoyable course – feel well equipped to use Braille while in school.
Thank you for accepting me on the course – I have very much enjoyed it.

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.

I found it a good arrangement. (3)
I liked the distance learning set-up and was able to email any questions I had. (2)
Yes – great arrangement. Could use/access resources as and when suited.
Distance learning was great with the help of the tutors.
I definitely liked distance learning as I could fit it round my family.
It suited my working life but there were occasions where a tutorial would have been beneficial, e.g. setting up Brailler and layout of the Braille itself.

Overall distance learning experience

How would you rate the overall learning experience?

How did you hear about this course?

Co-ordinator/Line Manager: 7
Colleague: 2
SSC website: 1

What other SSC CPD training would you find useful?

Training in tactile diagrams.
Contracted Braille course. (2)
I would like to go and do the contracted Braille course if possible.