Seminars@Hadley Presents: Access to Mathematics & Science for Blind Students

1. Seminars@Hadley Presents: Access to Mathematics & Science for Blind Students Cary Supalo The Pennsylvania State University Mick Isaacson Purdue University Webinar October 21, 2010

2. The goal of this project is to raise the expectations of blind and low vision students as well as educators, in order to encourage them to consider pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) professions. Speech accessible laboratory probes Modified laboratory procedures Changing methodology from passive to active role Purpose

3. Collaborators and Key Tasks • Penn State (Tom Mallouk; Cary Supalo; April Hill) • Develops talking lab probes • Modifies lab curriculum • Tests tools and curriculum • Develops attitudinal survey • University of Wisconsin-Madison (Andrew Greenberg) • Disseminates information • Develops curriculum • Truman (David Wohlers) • Further evaluates tools and curriculum • Evaluates support materials in alternate formats

4. Collaborators and Key Tasks, continued • Gh Llc (David Schleppenbach) • Provides laboratory procedures in Braille format • Aids in demonstrations at conferences • Hopewell Valley Central High School (Lillian Rankel) • Incorporates and field tests ILAB tools within mainstream lab curricula • Develops and implements low cost tools • Purdue University (George Bodner) • Provides additional assessment input and constructive criticisms of laboratory procedure modifications • Center for Science and the Schools (Bill Carlsen) • Evaluates and assesses tool incorporation and data analysis

5. Student Suggestions for Working in the Laboratory • Sit near front of the laboratory • Orient self to lab before term begins with teacher’s assistance • Develop personal method to take lab notes

6. Teacher Suggestions for Working with BLV Students • Maintain comparable time constraints as applied to sighted students • Provide detailed orientation with glassware and common lab equipment • Familiarize student with emergency exit and safety protocols • Keep student aware of ILAB tools currently under development • Plan methods for working on bench top with equipment • Participate in teacher training module on ILAB tools

7. What are the Tools? • Vernier Laboratory Probes • Logger Pro Software Version 3.8.3 • Drop counter • Ohaus Scout Pro Balance • Thermocouple • Other Vernier Probes • En-Vision America i.d. Mate Omni barcode reader • Braille Index Basic D – Braille Embosser Barcode Reader Drop Counter Thermocouple Ohaus Scout Pro Balance

8. ILAB and Vernier Collaboration • Visit to Vernier (March 2010) • Worked with Vernier Software engineers to incorporate JAWS accessibility into future LoggerPro versions • Received input from JAWS users to Vernier Software engineers • Discussed LabQuest and speech accessibility

9. JAWS: Job Access With Speech • Converts written text to speech via computer • Navigates data tables • Starts and ends experiments • Reads labels of Cartesian graphs • Accesses statistical info • Customizable using special JAWS script files

10. JAWS with Vernier Probes • Every Vernier Software and Technology Company probe, analog and digital, is now JAWS-compatible • All analog probes in the chemistry, physics, earth science and biology allow BLV students to obtain real-time data readings. • All balances distributed by Vernier are JAWS-compatible and provide real-time measurements • More JAWS-compatible digital probes are being developed

11. Low-Tech Tools and SAVI/SELPH • Science Activities for the Visually Impaired/Science Enrichment for Learners with Physical Handicaps provides a multi-sensory approach to learning • Originally developed to meet the science learning needs of students in grades 3-8, but has found significant application in high-school classrooms as well • Tools include balances, graduated cylinders with floats, thermometers, sorting trays, and syringes • Now part of the Full Option Science System • Detailed information easily found on the internet

12. Other ILAB Tool Mainstream Applications • SALS can aid in lecture demonstration activities both for blind and sighted students. • Talking Vernier probes can assist demonstrations in large lecture hall settings. • ILAB tools and techniques can benefit other student groups: • Students with learning disabilities may learn with less difficulty when there are different approaches available to gather and process data • Students with Attention Deficit Disorder may enjoy a novel approach to science experimentation • Deaf and blind students can receive a more independent learning experience when ILAB tools are coupled with vibrational output

13. For internal control, the experiments are randomized as to when the participants can and cannot use the ILAB tools All data will be used to construct a case study for each participating school The teacher along with consultation from ILAB team members will determine where ILAB tools are necessary for the Physics, Chemistry and Biology curriculums Conduct SAI (Scientific Attitude Inventory) II surveys pre- and post- school year All experiments are video recorded The videotaped analysis will be conducted at the end of the school year Design of Experiment

14. Independence Science, LLC • Our vision is to promote a barrier-free learning environment for BLV students interested in the science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) fields of study. Our mission is to eliminate the barriers that hold back BLV students from learning by providing them with the latest technology that will give them a hands-on learning experience in the STEM fields. • http://www.independencescience.com

15. Independence Science Learning A New Direction (ISLAND) Conference on Disability • When: 9 am – 5 pm Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010 • Where: 218 Stewart Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana • Why: Service providers and researchers that are developing access technologies and educational teaching methods for conveying scientific concepts to students who are blind or have other disabilities will present their work. There will also be an assistive technology exhibit in the adjacent meeting room. • Cost: FREE • Contact: Cary Supalo at cas380@psu.edu

16. Acknowledgments • NSF-RDE grant HRD-0726417 • Collaborators: Tom Mallouk; Andrew Greenberg (University of Wisconsin); H. David Wohlers (Truman State University); George Bodner (Purdue University); Dr. Lillian Rankel (Hopewell Valley High School) • Additional thanks to: Dave Schleppenbach (CEO of GH LLC), West Lafayette, IN; Dave Vernier (President of Vernier Software and Technology Company, Beaverton OR; Technical Support Staff (International Braille and Technology Center, National Federation of the Blind) Baltimore, MD