Teaching chemistry to mainstreamed blind students

CHED 1579

Dr. Lillian A. Rankel, lrankel@hvrsd.k12.nj.us, Hopewell Valley High School, 259 Pennington-Titusville Road, Pennington, NJ 08534, Cary Supalo, cas380@psu.edu, Department of Chemistry, Penn State, 104 Chemistry Research Building, Box 280, University Park, PA 16802, and Dr. David Wohlers, Division of Science, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501.
Minor modifications in laboratory activities and lecture style can allow blind and low visions students to more independently participate in mainstream chemistry classes. This can be done with tactile models, alphabet letters, shapes on a magnetic board, and Braille, allowing independent learning of molecular geometry, VSEPR theory, Aufbau diagrams, and Lewis dot structures. Laboratory equipment can be chosen and modified so that blind students can independently weigh chemicals, make up solutions, use audible conductivity sensors, talking thermometers, or use Vernier probes interfaced to a computer with JAWS screen reader. More active participation may inspire blind and visually impaired students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

 

Teaching Chemistry to the Visually Impaired
8:30 AM-12:15 PM, Tuesday, March 27, 2007 McCormick Place North -- Room N227A, Level 2, Oral

Division of Chemical Education

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007