Activity
Making Secondary Science Accessible with APH Products
Learn about accessible science products from APH that are designed to meet the needs of high school students.
Rosanne Hoffmann, Science and Health Product Manager at American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and Laura Hospitál, Science Teacher and TVI at Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) present information about science products from APH. The video was recorded on January 24, 2023. The video includes a transcript and may be viewed with Closed Captions (1 hr. 22 min.)
Chapters:
Introduction
All products in this video are available with APH quota funds.
Limitations of Models and Tactile Graphics
- Size
- Views
- Not necessarily comprehensive
Roseann notes that models and tactile graphics have limitations, including their size, views, and the fact that they are not necessarily comprehensive. For example, the solar system is much too large to represent with a model, and very tiny things, such as a cell, are also difficult to represent.
Many models and tactile graphics can be shown with many different views. There are side views, overhead views, cross-sectional views, cutaway views. These have to be designed so that they give enough information, but so that they don’t clutter the view.
Every model and tactile graphic is not necessarily comprehensive, as it can’t convey all of the information about a concept or a topic.
Notes for TVIs
- TVIs need not master science content to make it accessible!
- TVIs need to provide APH material to the classroom teacher and remind them that these materials are universally designed. Thus, not only are they good for students with visual impairments, they’re good for ALL students and they make the content accessible.
- Students can meet with the teacher if they’re struggling.
- These products come with guidebooks that explain the information in a simple way.
Build-A-Cell
The fundamental characteristics of, and differences between, various cell types have been known for a long time and are discussed in almost all biology textbooks. While all cells share certain structural parts, cells of different evolutionary origins have components that set them apart from each other. Build-A-Cell helps students who are blind or low vision understand these concepts by providing a full color, tactile, and interactive representation of the internal and external structures of bacterial, animal and plant cells.
The product includes two binders with an embossed braille student and teacher guide in UEB (Unified English Braille) and a structure kit. In the photo above, an animal cell is shown with its full complement of internal structures and organelles in the structure kit. Also included are two copies of the internal and external structures, with three panels for the structures that you can put on and pull off from the templates provided. There are three templates: one for plant, one for animal, and one for bacterial. There are also three sets of organelles or internal structures.
This product can be used for both teaching and assessment, with the introduction of as much or as little complexity as appropriate.
Teaching Tips for Using Build-A-Cell
- Introduce the models to students, taking into account their cognitive and educational levels.
- Show students how to use a key, if they are unfamiliar with that. This can be done in a pre-teaching session.
- Assess their tactile acuity and braille skills.
- Discuss what cells and organelles are.
- Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells (i.e. comparing cells that have nuclei with cells that don’t have nuclei).
The guides are available as free downloads in print and braille:
Build-A-Cell Student and Teacher Guide, Print Edition (PDF)
Build-A-Cell Student and Teacher Guide, Braille Edition (BRF)
The video includes demonstrations of the products.
DNA Twist
Learn about the structure of the DNA molecule with this accessible DNA model.
This 3-dimensional model of DNA structure is accessible to all students. It uses the appropriate colors and is also tactile. The product consists of the model and stand. It also comes with a large print guidebook.
Pre-Teaching Tips for the DNA Twist
- Show the flat model first.
- Allow students to explore the model. Ask for feedback to see if they recognize that there are four different colors and four different textures. Do they notice any patterns with the colors and textures? Which colors and textures are paired together?
One limitation of this product is that it cannot “unzip”.
DNA-RNA Kit
Learn about the formation of single and double strands of DNA, DNA replication, and transcription of DNA to messenger RNA with this accessible kit. The kit includes 32 DNA subunits and 32 RNA subunits. As with the products above, this is an interactive model for all students. This kit shows more of the function of DNA than the DNA Twist above.
A guidebook is available to download for free as BRF and PDF.
Pre-Teaching Tips for the DNA-RNA Twist
- Give students time to practice fitting the pieces together.
- Allow students to explore the blanks and tabs.
- Provide a chance to practice putting together an interlocking jigsaw puzzle, as needed.
- Review content:
- What is the purpose of DNA?
- What is DNA made of?
- What is a nucleotide?
- How do we relate this information to the DNA Twist?
Protein Synthesis Kit
Decode messenger RNA with the genetic code and create transfer RNA molecules that bring amino acids in the correct order to form a protein. This is a sister product to the DNA-RNA Kit above and cannot be used without it.
This kit shows the mRNA translation to protein (amino acid sequence). It includes:
- Transfer RNA subunits
- Amino Acids
- Genetic Code (LP & braille)
- Translation tactile graphic
- Guidebook
Prerequisite Knowledge for Protein Synthesis Kit
- Review DNA –> RNA –> Protein (amino acid chain)
- Protein is a folded amino acid chain
Submersible Audio Light Sensor (SALS)
The Submersible Audio Light Sensor (SALS) has a plastic-covered glass tube with a rectangular box on one end. The tip of the glass tube detects light, and the box converts light to a tone and sends the signal to an app (compatible with iOS®, Android™, and MATT Connect™).
SALS detects light and converts it to sound using a probe. It notifies students of a change in an observed phenomenon via iOS and Android apps. The probe can detect a change in light or a change in color, and thus serves as a proxy for an observed phenomenon. High light produces a high tone and low light produces a low tone.
Pre-Teaching Tips for SALS
- Downloading an app
- Caring for smart device during science activity
- Safety using probe (glass wand covered in black plastic)
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