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Tumble Science Podcast for Kids

How Do We Read?

Tumble Science Podcast for Kids

Tumble Media

Kids & Family, Education For Kids

4.32.6K Ratings

🗓️ 13 October 2023

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

How does reading work in the brain? It’s a question that has fascinated scientists for years. Could braille - the system of raised dots that blind and low vision people use to read - be the key to understanding how it works? We talk to writer Andrew Leland (“The Country of the Blind”) and neuroscientist Simon Fischer-Baum to learn about the invention of braille, and how it could be the key to learning how reading works - for everyone. And we might just solve a bedtime reading mystery along the way.

Learn more about braille on the bonus interview episode on our Patreon, at patreon.com/tumblepodcast.

We have more free resources about braille and the science of reading available on the blog on our website, sciencepodcastforkids.com

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number # 2148711 - Engaging Blind, Visually Impaired, and Sighted Students in STEM with Storytelling through Podcasts.



Transcript

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0:00.0

Hi, I'm Lindsay and I'm Marshall.

0:04.3

Welcome to Tumble the show where we explore stories of science discovery.

0:08.1

Today we're talking about how reading works in the brain.

0:12.4

Like, what happens when we use our eyes to look at words on a page?

0:16.1

Well, reading isn't just about our eyes.

0:19.0

In fact, what happens when people read with their fingers could change what we think we know

0:25.2

about the science of how we read.

0:34.5

Okay, so Marshall, do you know what it's called when you read with your fingers?

0:39.8

I guess getting a feel for the material?

0:44.3

I suppose we're talking about braille.

0:46.8

Yes, I'm glad you got to that eventually.

0:50.3

Because today on our show, we're going to learn about braille and its invention

0:55.9

from a writer who spent years learning to read it.

0:59.7

And then we're going to hear from a neuroscientist about why braille might be the key

1:05.2

to understand how we all read.

1:09.4

History and science.

1:10.4

I think this is a cue for some old-timey music.

1:14.3

Not yet.

1:15.5

Not yet.

1:16.4

Hold off on the old-timey music.

1:18.1

We're going to read it.

1:21.1

We're going to start with Andrew Leland.

...

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