Seminars@Hadley Presents:
Access to Mathematics &
Science for Blind Students
Cary Supalo
The Pennsylvania State University
Mick Isaacson
Purdue University
Webinar
October 21, 2010
ILAB: Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind
Purpose
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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
ILAB: Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind
Collaborators and Key Tasks
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Penn State (Tom Mallouk; Cary Supalo; April Hill)
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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)
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Further evaluates tools and curriculum
Evaluates support materials in alternate formats
ILAB: Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind
Collaborators and Key Tasks, continued
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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
ILAB: Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind
Student Suggestions for Working in the Laboratory
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Sit near front of the
laboratory
Orient self to lab before
term begins with teacher’s
assistance
Develop personal method
to take lab notes
ILAB: Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind
Teacher Suggestions for Working with BLV Students
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Maintain comparable time constraints as applied to sighted
students
Provide detailed orientation with glassware and common lab
equipment
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Familiarize student with emergency exit and safety protocols
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Keep student aware of ILAB tools currently under development
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Plan methods for working on bench top with equipment
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Participate in teacher training module on ILAB tools
ILAB: Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind
What are the Tools?
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Logger Pro Software Version 3.8.3
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Barcode Reader
Drop Counter
Vernier Laboratory Probes
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Thermocouple
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
Ohaus Scout Pro Balance
ILAB: Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind
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
ILAB: Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind
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
ILAB: Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind
JAWS with Vernier Probes
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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 realtime data readings.
All balances distributed by Vernier are JAWS-compatible
and provide real-time measurements
More JAWS-compatible digital probes are being
developed
ILAB: Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind
Low-Tech Tools and SAVI/SELPH
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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
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Now part of the Full Option Science System
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Detailed information easily found on the internet
ILAB: Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind
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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
ILAB: Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind
Design of Experiment
•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 preand post- school year
•All experiments are video recorded
•The videotaped analysis will be conducted at the end of
the school year
ILAB: Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind
Independence Science, LLC
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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
ILAB: Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind
Independence Science Learning A New Direction
(ISLAND) Conference on Disability
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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
ILAB: Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind
Acknowledgments
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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
ILAB: Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind