April Hill, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Disability Area: Topic Area:
Length of Session (in hours): 2-hr
Format: Lab
Expertise Level: All Levels
Type of session: Not provided
Summary of Session
In this hands-on workshop experience how you can collect and analyze scientific data without vision. Accessible science tools for the visually impaired will be presented & participants will use spoken interfaces to complete science experiments, graphing data, and performing statistical analysis.
Abstract
Persons with disabilities are commonly underrepresented in STEM fields of study and are not provided the same hands-on science education as their peers. Utilizing the Sci-Voice Lab Solution from Independence Science participants will complete an experiment with the Talking LabQuest (TLQ) and Logger Pro science tools. Navigation and operation of the TLQ will be presented along with an overview of the 70 + sensors compatible with the device. Low-tech tools will be discussed and how science curricula can be adapted for biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics laboratory activities. This technology is empowering students with BLV to be more fully integrated into laboratory groups with non-visually impaired peers. This integration has created a hands-on learning experience essential for building interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions.
Kepoints
How access to science creates a greater interest in STEM fields of study
How to operate the Talking LabQuest and Logger Pro science tools
How science curricula can be adapted for biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics laboratory activities.
Speaker Bio(s)
Greg Williams
Dr. Greg Williams has a Ph.D. in computational chemistry from the University of Cambridge. He subsequently taught high school chemistry and physics. His love for teaching and science and desire to see other persons who are blind succeed in the sciences led him to his work with Independence Science to develop assistive technology to increase hands-on science access. He is also working as a post-doc at Purdue University with the Institute for Accessible Science.
April Hill
An oral and poster presenter on accessible science since 2008, April Hill has extended her expertise to a community that is underrepresented in science fields. Currently she is a professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Metropolitan State University of Denver and Interim Director of Forensic Science. In 2007, April recieved her PhD from Iowa State University in Analytical Chemistry where she also received her Graduate Certificate in Forensic Science. Latest publications include; "Rotationally-induced
Hydrodynamics: Fundamentals and Applications to High Speed Bioassays" and "Determination of colloidal and dissolved silver in water samples using colorimetric solid-phase extraction". April currently sits as the High School Programs Committee Chair on the Council of Forensic Science Educators, a Front Range Forensic Chemists member, and a member the American Chemical Society since 2002.