Collaborative Research: ECR DCL Level 2: Perceptual and Implementation Strategies for Knowledge Acquisition of Digital Tactile Graphics for Blind and Visually Impaired Students

残疾学生获得体验式学习的机会往往较少，体验式学习是优质STEM教育的重要组成部分。随着使用数字媒体来补充STEM课堂教学的不断转变，许多内容仍然无法获取，特别是对于视力障碍的学生。技术的承诺和触觉图形的使用是一项有效的新兴创新，旨在提供更全面的重要信息和材料访问。触觉图形是使用凸起的表面来传达非文本信息的图像，如地图、绘画、图形和图表。基于触摸屏的智能设备允许通过触觉、听觉、视觉和动觉反馈以数字和动态的方式表示视觉信息。可以利用触摸屏设备中嵌入的触觉图形技术，使盲人和视障学生更容易访问STEM内容。该项目将开发一个以学习者为中心、以感知为动力的框架，满足盲人和视障学生在STEM中访问图形内容的要求。使用TouchSense技术，研究人员将使用触觉图形创建教学材料，并在视力正常和BVI学生的试点教室中进行测试。研究人员将与大约150名有视觉障碍的学生合作，以了解最适合代数(坐标平面)、细胞生物学和地理等具体内容的反馈。将采用定性研究方法对基于视频的数据集进行分析。该项目得到了NSF的EHR核心研究(ECR)计划和探索研究PreK-12计划的支持。ECR计划强调基础STEM教育研究，以产生该领域的基础知识。在基本、广泛和持久的关键领域进行投资：STEM学习和STEM学习环境，扩大STEM的参与，以及STEM劳动力发展。该计划支持积累强有力的证据，为理解、构建解释理论和建议干预和创新提供信息，以应对STEM兴趣、教育、学习和参与方面的持续挑战。Discovery Research PreK-12计划(DRK-12)旨在通过研究和开发创新资源、模型和工具(RMT)，显著提高Pre-K-12学生和教师在科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)方面的学习和教学。DRK-12计划中的项目建立在STEM教育的基础研究和先前的研究和开发努力的基础上，这些研究和开发工作为拟议的项目提供了理论和经验证明。

Students with disabilities often have fewer opportunities for experiential learning, an important component of quality STEM education. With continued shifts toward the use of digital media to supplement instruction in STEM classrooms, much of the content remains inaccessible, particular for students with visual impairments. The promise of technology and use of tactile graphics is an effective, emerging innovation for providing more complete access to important information and materials. Tactile graphics are images that use raised surfaces to convey non-textual information such as maps, paintings, graphs and diagrams. Touchscreen-based smart devices allow visual information to be digitally and dynamically represented via tactile, auditory, visual, and kinesthetic feedback. Tactile graphic technology embedded in touchscreen devices can be leveraged to make STEM content more accessible to blind and visually impaired students. This project will develop a learner-centered, perceptually-motivated framework addressing the requirements for students with blindness and visual impairments to access graphical content in STEM. Using TouchSense technology, the investigators will create instructional materials using tactile graphics and test them in a pilot classroom of both sighted and BVI students. The investigators will work with approximately 150 students with visual impairments to understand the kind of feedback that is most appropriate for specific content in algebra (coordinate plane), cell biology, and geography. Qualitative research methods will be used to analyze the video-based data set. This project is supported by NSF's EHR Core Research (ECR) program and the Discovery Research PreK-12 Program. The ECR program emphasizes fundamental STEM education research that generates foundational knowledge in the field. Investments are made in critical areas that are essential, broad and enduring: STEM learning and STEM learning environments, broadening participation in STEM, and STEM workforce development. The program supports the accumulation of robust evidence to inform efforts to understand, build theory to explain, and suggest intervention and innovations to address persistent challenges in STEM interest, education, learning and participation. The Discovery Research PreK-12 program (DRK-12) seeks to significantly enhance the learning and teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by preK-12 students and teachers, through research and development of innovative resources, models and tools (RMTs). Projects in the DRK-12 program build on fundamental research in STEM education and prior research and development efforts that provide theoretical and empirical justification for proposed projects.