Can Legos Help Teach Braille? A Look at the Innovative Technique

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In summary, the article discusses the use of special Lego blocks for teaching Braille. These Lego blocks have 8 bumps, with 6 used to encode Braille and the remaining space for visually printed letters. This idea has been tested in a few countries and may soon be tried in others. There is also mention of a potential cellphone app or add-on product that could help blind individuals learn Braille independently. Additionally, there are already existing Braille keyboards and digital display devices that can translate Braille into spoken language. Overall, this approach to teaching Braille has the potential to be successful and beneficial for those who are blind.
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BillTre
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Here is a NY TImes article about using special lego blocks for teaching Braille.
Braille is based upon the combinations of the presence of a bump in any of six positions. The most common lego block size has 8 bumps.
Six of the bump positions are used to encode the Braille while the rest of the space in the 8 bump sized block is used for a visually printed letter (for visual readers).
I think this is potentially a brillant idea for teaching Braille, which many blind people do not read.
This idea is being tested in a few countries and will be soon tried in several others.
 
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Interesting, thanks Bill. It would be nice if there were some way for a blind person alone to use these to help them learn Braille. It looks like it takes a teacher/parent/helper to help the learner to know what each pattern represents. Maybe there will be a "Speak and Spell" type add-on product that Legos will include in this package in the future.

Or even better, this would be a good cellphone App that would be able to read the Braille Legos (or other Braille) and say the letter/symbol out loud...

https://brailleworks.com/5-top-mobile-apps-for-the-blind/
 
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There are both Braille keyboards and a digital Braille display devices that pushes out bumps to make the Braille characters.
If it is language digitized, it should be computer speakable.

berkeman said:
a good cellphone App that would be able to read the Braille
This sounds like the language translation app I used to have on my phone, or a barcode reader.

berkeman said:
It looks like it takes a teacher/parent/helper to help the learner to know what each pattern represents.
I think a lot of people do better learning in a more social context anyway.
 

1. How can Legos help teach Braille?

Legos can help teach Braille by providing a hands-on and interactive way for students to learn the tactile language. By using Legos to represent the different Braille letters and symbols, students can physically construct words and sentences, making the learning process more engaging and memorable.

2. Is this technique effective for all students?

This technique has shown to be effective for many students, especially those who are tactile learners or have difficulty with traditional Braille methods. However, it may not work for all students, as each individual's learning style and needs may vary.

3. How do Legos accurately represent Braille?

Each Lego block represents a Braille dot, with the raised bumps on the block corresponding to the raised dots on a Braille cell. By arranging these blocks in different patterns, students can create different Braille letters and words.

4. Can Legos be used to teach more complex Braille concepts?

Yes, Legos can be used to teach more complex Braille concepts such as contractions and punctuation. By using different colored Legos and creating specific arrangements, students can learn these more advanced concepts in a visual and hands-on way.

5. Are there any other benefits to using Legos for teaching Braille?

Aside from being a fun and engaging way to learn Braille, using Legos can also improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. It also allows for group work and collaboration, making the learning experience more social and interactive.

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