LEGO Braille Bricks Workshops

Content

LEGO® Braille Bricks are an educational tool designed by the LEGO® Foundation to support children and young people who are blind or have low vision, learn braille.

On Monday 24th October, Marie Oddoux and Marc Angelier, from the LEGO Foundation were in Scotland facilitating workshops for teachers who have been using (or will be using) LEGO® Braille Bricks in the classroom or in their practice.

These workshops built on attendees' knowledge and understanding of the pedagogical concepts when using the LEGO® Braille Bricks to teach braille. Participants learned from the experts and shared experiences of using this new educational tool.

The day consisted of two workshops: Pre-Braille & Emergent Literacy activities and School-Aged Braille/Stem activities.

For each session, attendees:

• Discovered how LEGO Braille Bricks enable Learning through Play teaching to children with visual impairment
• Re-imagined learning that integrates a child’s physical, social, emotional, cognitive and creative skills
• Explored and experienced first-hand what are LEGO Braille Bricks Pre-braille or braille activities
• Learned to use LEGO Braille Bricks to encourage and motivate students through play-based pre-braille or braille activities
• Learned how to teach pre-braille / braille in inclusive settings
• Shared knowledge and ideas
• Invented and presented new activities
• Explored LEGO Braille Bricks pre-braille activities
• Reflected on how to develop a child’s physical, social, emotional, cognitive and creative skills
• Found ways to use LEGO Braille Bricks to engage and motivate students
• Learned how to apply the concept in inclusive educational settings
• Shared learnings and ideas for innovative new activities

Target Audience

Qualified Teachers of Visual Impairment (QTVIs) or Teachers of Visual Impairment (TVI), School leadership, Teaching Assistants who support children using pre/early braille or braille.

Presenters

Marie Oddoux and Marc Angelier, LEGO Braille Bricks Consultants, LEGO Foundation

Marie Oddoux is an occupational therapist specialised in braille and low vision. With more than 20 years of experience in the field of blindness, she wrote books for children and inclusive methods to learn through touch. Marie is a strong advocate for braille and travels the world on training missions, particularly on inclusive education and visual impairment. She believes in the power of play, of learning through play for all children!

Since 2019, with Marc Angelier, she is in charge of the creation and implementation of the global LEGO® Braille Bricks inclusive educational concept for the LEGO Foundation.

Staunch defender of braille, co-author of tactile books for blind children and specialised teaching methods, Marc Angelier travels the world training teachers in pedagogical techniques specific to visual impairment to make inclusive schooling for all a reality! He participates in research studies and training programs to increase students with disabilities accessibility to education.

Since 2019, he is, with Marie Oddoux, in charge of the development and implementation of the inclusive LEGO Braille Bricks concept for the LEGO Foundation. This amazing concept allows visually impaired children from all over the world to learn braille and develop the breadth of skills they will need for the future.