Dr. Muhammad Mustaqim Mohd ZarifDirector,

Centre for General StudiesIslamic Science University of Malaysia

Structure of Presentation

Course Outline

Introduction to the Course

Course Outline: Course Description This course focuses on various issues

concerning the theories, methods, and application of Braille in the field of Quranic and Sunnah Studies. Discussions on the concept of tactile writing system and its historical examples as well as various codes and structures of Braille and its transcription will be provided as a theoretical basis for understanding Braille. This will be followed by intensive practical application and transcription of Braille in the field of Quranic and Sunnah Studies, especially focusing on the methods of Quranic and Arabic Braille as found in Malaysia.

Learning Objectives To know the history, structure, and

various issues concerning Braille as a main method of tactile writing system.

To understand the use of Braille in Quranic and Sunnah Studies as applied and practised in Malaysia.

To familiarize students with the various tools and technologies used in Braille transcription in Malaysia.

To equip students with all the necessary skills and confidence to transcribe Quranic and hadith texts using specific Braille codes.

Delivery Methods

Lecture and tutorial (practical application of Braille will be made using Perkins Brailler and Duxbury Braille Translator software)

Assessment Methods

Assignments/Projects: 20% Presentation of Projects: 20% Quizzes: 10% Participation & Personal Initiative: 20% Final Examination: 30%

Total: 100%

References Al-Quran al-Karim bi al-Kitabah al-Arabiyyah al-

Nafirah. KL: Pertis. 5 vols. Perkins School For The Blind. Instructions for the

Perkins Brailler. Massachusetts: Perkins, n.d. Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia. Kod Braille

Wasilah Bacaan al-Quran. Kuala Lumpur: DBP, 1998.

A.Kamel Mohamed, M.Mustaqim M.Zarif, K.Anuar Mohamad, M.Alwi Yusoff. Metod Pengajian Braille al-Quran. Laporan Penyelidikan USIM PPPP(H)/2005. Nilai: USIM, 2008.

Weekly Course PlanningWeek Topic Assignment/ Quiz/

Presentation

1 Introduction to the course: Tactile writing system and its importance for teaching and

learning process of the blinds. Brief examples of tactile writing methods used in history:

Moon, Boston Line Type, New York Point, American Braille, and others.

2 Braille System: Its structure, grade, codes, and transcription. Introduction to some of the Braille Codes used in Malaysia:

Malay (romanized), Malay (Jawi), English, Arabic, and Quranic Braille.

3 Quranic Braille Code: Methods of learning Quran among the blinds prior to the

invention of Braille. History of Quranic Braille in Islamic Countries. Quranic Braille in Malaysia: History and Implementation. Two main codes for Quranic Braille in Malaysia: Kod Braille

Wasilah Bacaan al-Quran and Quranic Braille Code based on the Arabic Braille.

Basics and techniques of using Perkins Brailler.

Week Topic Assignment/ Quiz/ Presentation

4 Quranic Braille Code: Differences between Kod Braille Wasilah Bacaan al-Quran and

Quranic Braille used in Muslim countries Basics and techniques of using Perkins Brailler.

Quiz 1

5 Quranic Braille Code: Advantages and problems of using Braille in teaching and

learning Braille for the blinds. Structure of Quranic Braille (alif-kha’) Basics and techniques of using Perkins Brailler.

Assignment & Presentation 1(Group)

6 Quranic Braille Code: Methods of teaching Quranic Braille to the blinds. Structure of Quranic Braille (dal-dhadh) Basics and techniques of using Perkins Brailler.

Quiz 2

7 Quranic Braille Code: Methods of transcribing Quranic and hadith texts in Braille. Structure of Quranic Braille (ta’-kaf) Basics and techniques of using Perkins Brailler.

Assignment & Presentation 2(Individual)

8 Quranic Braille Code: Structure of Quranic Braille (lam-ya’) Basics and techniques of using Perkins Brailler.

Quiz 3

9 Quranic Braille Code: Structure of Quranic Braille (reading signs: harakat, tanwin,

shaddah) Basics and techniques of using Perkins Brailler.

Assignment & Presentation 3(Group)

Week Topic Assignment/ Quiz/ Presentation

10 Quranic Braille Code: Structure of Quranic Braille (waqf and madd signs) Basics and techniques of using Perkins Brailler.

Quiz 4

11 Quranic Braille Code: Structure of Quranic Braille (special signs and symbols) Basics and techniques of using Perkins Brailler.

Assignment & Presentation 4(Group)

12 Quranic Braille Code: Preparation of texts using Braille. Basics and techniques of using DBT.

Quiz 5

13 Quranic Braille Code: Preparation of texts using Braille. Basics and techniques of using DBT.

Assignment & Presentation 5(Individual)

14 Quranic Braille Code: Preparation of texts using Braille. Basics and techniques of using DBT.

Assignment & Presentation 6(Group)

Introduction to the Course Tactile Writing System & Its Importance

for teaching & learning process of the blinds

- What is tactile writing?- How does it differ from the ordinary system

of writing?- Can you give an example of a tactile writing

system that you know?

Tactile writing: writing that is “read” through touch not sight: via raised dots or lines or shapes embossed on the selected medium of writing such as paper, metal, etc

Used for the visually impaired (blind).

Who are they?

1. Blind: anybody who has vision less than 3/60 when corrected (with the use of visual aids, ie glasses, etc)

2. Low vision/Partially-sighted: anybody with vision less than 6/18 but is the same with or better than 3/60 when corrected

Examples of tactile writing system throughout history:

- Embossed Roman Letters (1784): France- Braille (1824): France- Gall (1831): UK- Alston: UK- Lucas (1838): UK- Klein: Austria- Moon system (1845): UK- Boston Line Type (1834): USA- New York Point (1868): USA- American Braille (1870s): USA

Embossed Roman Letters Created by Valentin Hauy; founder of

National Institute for Blind Youth, Paris in his book “Essay on the Education of the Blind”

A character is created using embossed wire on wet paper

Only 14 of such books were produced Problems: difficult & expensive (to be

produced), limited distribution, thick, difficult to be read & learnt by students

Example

Moon System Created by Dr William Moon in Brighton in

1845 It is a system of raised symbols made of lines

with certain shapes derived from the Roman alphabets

Its close resemblance to the Roman alphabets makes it relatively easy to be learnt

But, less practical due to its thick and big size characters that require more space and paper than Braille

Example of Moon alphabets:

Boston Line Type Created by Samuel Gridley Howe; founder of

New England School for the Blind (later changed to Perkins School for the Blind) in Massachusetts

It is a system of embossed characters based on the Roman alphabets

First book published in it was in 1834 and was dominant in the US for 50 years

It was the main system used in Perkins until 1908

Its popularity was mainly due to its similarity with the Roman alphabets which can be read not only by the blinds but also by the sighted.

Gall It is a code of writing based on angular

Roman type introduced by James Gall in 1831.

He believed that what appeared nice to the eye must be best for the blind.

The Gospel of St John (bible) was the first book published in this type.

It was used in Edinburgh, Glasgow, London at one time.

Example:

Alston It is a system of embossed ordinary

Roman characters using a special press.

Lucas It was introduced in 1838. This system is like a stenographic

shorthand. The letters consist of lines with or without a dot at one end.

It was never used extensively. Example:

Klein It is a system of writing based on a form of

needle or punctured print developed by J.W. Klein.

It was used for a time in Europe. Example:

New York Point Created by William Bell Wait in 1868 when

he was working at New York Institute for the Blind.

He used raised dots system to replace the embossed Romanized characters which were difficult to be mastered by the blinds.

He also modified the 6-dot system created by Louis Braille.

Its structure: 2 rows of dots, and each row contains 1 to 4 dots wide

He also taught this system to his students and invented a special machine (kleidograph) to produce the required characters in print

As a result, his system was widely used in various schools for the blind in the States in the last quarter of the 19th century

American Braille It was created by Joel W. Smith; a piano

instructor at Perkins in 1870s. He believed that this modified system of Braille

could enable a person to master it in a very short time with minimum use of paper.

This system formulates the very least dots for the most used alphabets in English, although in reality, it does not differ much from Braille albeit the configuration of the dots that represent certain characters in English

Example:

Braille

It was created by: …..? What is it? Raised lines? Raised dots? What is the configuration of the dots?

Do you know? Have you seen an example of Braille

used in daily products, ie remote controls, lifts, etc?

We will discuss about Braille in more details next week and also the

implications of having different types of writing for the educational process of the

blinds.

THANK YOU