Making Astronomy and Space Science Accessible to Blind and Visually Impaired Students Bernhard BeckW

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Making Astronomy and Space Science Accessible to
Blind and Visually Impaired Students Bernhard
Beck-Winchatz (DePaul University), Vivian Hoette
(University of Chicago Yerkes Observatory),
Noreen Grice (Boston Museum of Science)
Summary Blind and visually impaired students are
often at a disadvantage when they study science
and math because of the ubiquity of important
graphical information, which is generally not
made available in alternate formats accessible to
them. This problem is particularly severe in
astronomy and space science because the objects
of interest usually cannot be examined in the
laboratory, and their properties are difficult to
relate to familiar objects on Earth. Like their
sighted peers, many blind students in elementary
and middle school have a natural interest in
space, which can motivate them to learn
fundamental quantitative skills. For some this
interest can even present a pathway into careers
in science, math and engineering. Funded by a
IDEAS grant from NASA, the primary goal of The
Space Exploration Experience Project for the
Blind and Visually Impaired (SEE Project) is to
develop and test Braille / tactile inquiry-based
hands-on space science activities and observing
programs that actively engage blind and visually
impaired students from elementary grades through
introductory college level in space science. We
are in the process of developing an activity kit
centered around tactile astronomical images and
models. Activities are pilot-tested at the
Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind and
the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually
Impaired. Most materials are available on-line
and can be converted into tactile format with
low-cost thermal expansion machines. We are also
designing a program in tactile observational
astronomy at Yerkes Observatory for blind and
visually impaired students. Students will take
astronomical images with the 24-inch, 10-inch,
and 8-inch telescopes at the Observatory, and
analyze them in tactile format. Finally, we are
exploring the best use of tactile space science
images for sighted people with certain learning
disabilities, young children, senior citizens,
and people with different learning styles during
public observing night at the Western Connecticut
State University Observatory.
Scale Models of Near-Earth Asteroids
Tactile Planisphere Planispheres are commonly
used in elementary and middle school classrooms.
They allow students to identify constellations
and observe the effect of Earths rotation and
orbit around the Sun. We have adapted the
Planisphere from The Universe at your
Fingertips for use by blind students. Stars and
constellation patterns are raised. Labels are in
Braille.
Tactile/Braille diagram of the orbit of
near-Earth asteroid Toutatis. We also created a
printed version to aid educators who do not read
Braille.
Some of the drawbacks of two-dimensional tactile
graphics can be avoided with three-dimensional
models, which allow blind students to perceive
spatial structures directly. In recent years
rapid prototyping has become essential in helping
mechanical engineers quickly produce prototype
physical models of new designs directly from
digital data. Recently, accurate scale models of
near-Earth asteroids have become available. We
are developing a set of activities in which
students learn fundamental concepts in Earth and
space science, including the composition of the
solar system, the connection between size, mass,
and gravity, the design and use of scale models,
the role of meteorite impacts throughout Earths
history, and the danger impacts may pose in the
future.
Thermal Paper Expansion Machine A relatively
inexpensive and easy way to produce tactile
graphics is by using a thermal paper expansion
machine. An image is transferred onto thermal
expansion paper with a photocopier or a computer
printer. When it is passed through the machine
dark lines and areas are raised up, and allow
blind students to explore the image by touch. The
machine pictured above was donated to Yerkes
Observatory by the Williams Bay Lions Club for
use in the SEE Project. While it is easy to
produce tactile images, the issues involved in
designing good tactile images can be very
complex. Many blind students have little
experience interpreting two-dimensional
renderings of three-dimensional objects. In
addition, the haptic perception of humans is
intrinsically less detailed than sight. Thus
images have to be kept simple, without
compromising important scientific content
Summer Programs in Tactile Observational
Astronomy As part of the SEE Project, blind and
visually impaired students will conduct their own
astronomical observations using the 24-inch,
10-inch, and 8-inch telescopes at Yerkes
Observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. The
students will take CCD images and convert them
into tactile format with a thermal paper
expansion machine. They will then analyze and
interpret their images with Braille measuring
tools. Possible students projects include
creating a lunar calendar, determining the mass
of the Jovian planets from the orbits of their
moons, monitoring variable stars, and tracking
asteroids and comets.
40-inch Refractor
24-inch Reflector
Aerial View of Yerkes Observatory
Rooftop Telescopes
National Federation of the Blind Summer Science
Camp
Tactile Imaging Thermal paper expansion machines
are best suited for images that have sharp
borders and other high-contrast features in them.
The above composite images of Asteroid 594
Mireille and comet Linear 2002T7 were created
with Hands-On Universe (HOU) software. HOU is
used as an intermediary software for the
development of the tactile images the HOU
curriculum also informs/guides team members
in approaches for analysis of images that lead
to astronomical understandings. The development
of HOU was funded by the National Science
Foundation.  
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the
largest consumer organization of the blind in the
United States. We are working with the NFB on a
two-week science camp for middle and high school
students, which will take place during the summer
of 2004. This program will be one of the first
major events at the NFBs new Research and
Training Institute, due to open on January 30,
2004. A major goal of the program is to develop
materials and strategies for engaging blind
students in science, which can then be exported
to other centers and schools for the blind across
the country.
Adapted SOFIA Active Astronomy Kit All humans
are blind in most parts of the electromagnetic
spectrum. NASAs Stratospheric Observatory for
Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) has developed an
Active Astronomy Kit with which students can
explore invisible infrared light. We have adapted
the light detector activity from this kit for
blind students. Students learn that just like
astronomers extend their senses with detectors to
measure light from all parts of the
electromagnetic spectrum, they too can access the
information carried by light that is invisible to
them, for example by using electronic detectors,
by borrowing a lab partners eyes, or by using
their sense of hearing or touch.