Making Simulated Biology Laboratories Accessible to Visually-Impaired Students

生物科学(61)正在探索采用音频和触觉工具在盲人和低视力学生可进入的虚拟生物实验室中进行模拟实验。有视觉障碍的学生和顾问正在参与不同技术的开发和测试，以呈现屏幕信息并允许与模拟进行交互。智力优势：近期目标是开发一套技术，使更多不同的学生参与以探究为基础的生物实验室，包括大多数传统生物实验室无法进入的视觉障碍学生。归根结底，这个重点项目应该有助于改善所有学生的模拟实验室。更广泛的影响：正在开发的技术正在打破那些视觉障碍者在追求科学事业时面临的一些挑战。除了直接受益于使用SimBiotic实验室的学生外，该项目的结果还将以技术和非技术形式发布，以告知和激励其他教育软件开发人员。该项目由残疾教育研究计划和新兴前沿分部生物科学局提供部分资金支持。

Biological Sciences (61) Incorporation of audio and tactile tools for making simulated experiments in virtual biology laboratories accessible to blind and low vision students are being explored. Students and consultants with visual impairments are participating in the development and testing of different techniques for presenting screen information and for allowing interactions with simulations.Intellectual Merit: The immediate goal is the development of a set of techniques that will allow participation of a more diverse set of students in inquiry-based biology labs, including visually impaired students for whom most traditional biology labs are inaccessible. Ultimately, this focused project should help improve simulated laboratories for all students. Broader Impact: The techniques being developed are breaking down some of the challenges facing those with visual impairments in the pursuit of scientific careers. In addition to directly benefiting the students who use the Simbiotic labs, the results of this project will be published in both technical and non-technical forms to inform and inspire other educational software developers.This project is partially supported by funds from the Research in Disabilities Education program and the Directorate for Biological Sciences, Emerging Frontiers Division.