Award Abstract # 0435656
Techniques and Tools to Enhance Blind and Visually Impaired Students Participation in High School Level and General Chemistry Laboratory Classes

NSF Org: EES
Div. of Equity for Excellence in STEM
Recipient: THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date: July 9, 2004
Latest Amendment Date: May 9, 2006
Award Number: 0435656
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Mark Leddy
EES
 Div. of Equity for Excellence in STEM
EDU
 Directorate for STEM Education
Start Date: November 1, 2004
End Date: October 31, 2007 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $0.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $311,848.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2004 = $300,000.00
FY 2006 = $11,848.00
History of Investigator:
  • Thomas Mallouk (Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Pennsylvania State Univ University Park
201 OLD MAIN
UNIVERSITY PARK
PA  US  16802-1503
(814)865-1372
Sponsor Congressional District: 15
Primary Place of Performance: Pennsylvania State Univ University Park
201 OLD MAIN
UNIVERSITY PARK
PA  US  16802-1503
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
15
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): NPM2J7MSCF61
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): Disabilities Research in STEM
Primary Program Source: 04000405DB NSF Education & Human Resource
app-0406 
Program Reference Code(s): 9178, SMET
Program Element Code(s): 154500
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.076

ABSTRACT

This project seeks to develop tools and techniques that will allow blind and visually impaired (VI)students to carry out general chemistry laboratory experiments without the aid of sighted assistants. Specific objectives of this work include:(1)adaptation of the Addison Wesley Chemistry high school laboratory curriculum currently used at the Indiana School for the Blind (ISB), by combining JAWS speech software with Vernier laboratory tools,ID mate portable bar code readers,and other tools in use at ISB,(2)testing and refining the tools and techniques at Penn State,Truman State,and ISB,(3)field testing the modified curriculum in years 2 and 3 of the program at ISB,(4)performing a detailed assessment of skills,concept learning,and attitudinal outcomes by comparing study groups with control groups that use sighted assistance,(5)creation of a guided inquiry integrative laboratory exercise for blind and VI students,and (6)dissemination of results through publications and exhibits at conferences. This project team consists of a blind graduate student (Supalo)and a blind chemistry professor (Wohlers)who will have primary responsibility for the development and preliminary testing of new tools and techniques.They will collaborate closely with Roth, a science teacher at ISB,and Greenberg,a chemical education expert at Penn State,in the field testing and assessment phases of the program.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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Cary A. Supalo "Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind" Braille Monitor , v.May 200 , 2007
Cary A. Supalo, Rodney A. Kreuter, Aaron Musser, Joshua Han, Erika Briody, Chip McArtor, Kyle Gregory, and Thomas E. Mallouk "Seeing Chemistry through Sound: A Submersible Audible Light Sensor for Observing Reactions in Real Time." Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits , v.3 , 2006 , p.110

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