[nabs-l] a question about science and tutoring

Wed Mar 14 02:31:45 UTC 2012

Hi all,
Tactile graphics don't go away in college but you do get the
opportunity in college to decide whether or not to use them. I was a
bio major in college and most people would agree that biology is a
relatively graphical field, at least the way it's taught to sighted
students. I was provided with tactile diagrams but I rarely, if ever,
used them-and I did fine in my classes and understood all the key
concepts. I found them to be superfluous because I found other ways to
understand the material that made more sense to me than looking at a
two-dimensional image of a three-dimensional object. For example I
memorized verbal descriptions of where all the cell organelles were
located or learned to understand genetics as a series of probability
equations. Visual/spatial is just one way of mentally organizing
information and that way happens to work best for many sighted
students and some blind students, but for some of us there are other
ways that are more efficient. It is important for blind students to
try different ways of representing knowledge so they can learn which
way works best for them. For that matter, there are probably some
sighted students who find pictures less helpful than verbal or
mathematical representations, but they use the graphs because that's
how the majority of teachers choose to convey the material. Tactile
diagrams are OK for many purposes but they don't always capture all
the detail contained in printed diagrams. So for some of us verbal or
mathematical representations are more helpful than graphical ones.
I do think that students just beginning a subject should be exposed to
a diagram of some sort-even a rough sketch-to get a general idea of
the concept. For example an algebra student should see a diagram of an
XY plot to understand what an upward slope vs. a downward slope vs. a
parabola looks like. After getting the basic idea, though, you may
find you are able to conjure up a rough image in your head, meaning
you no longer have to depend on diagrams of every single problem to
get the right answer. You'll also find that as you get to higher
levels in math and science, understanding computations or steps of a
process is more important than understanding what the process "looks
like". For example, as a biology student I was not required to know
all the details of what cells, single-celled organisms or plants
looked like. I did, however, have to learn all the details of how
cells divided or how single-celled organisms fed and reproduced,
concepts which really aren't visual at all.
Best,
Arielle

On 3/12/12, Nicole B. Torcolini at Home <ntorcolini at wavecable.com> wrote:
> I think that it is from National Braille Press. You could probably find it
> by googling Touch the Stars. I know that whoever makes the series is no
> longer making the first book, but they should still be making the second
> book, which is better anyway.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 6:15 AM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] a question about science and tutoring
>
>
>> Nicole,
>> Where do you get touch the stars?
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Nicole B. Torcolini at Home
>> Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2012 10:37 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] a question about science and tutoring
>>
>> I would definitely recommend trying to get a copy of Touch the Stars II.
>> It's tactile diagrams will be easier to understand both because they are
>> explained well and because they were made knowing that they were for the
>> blind.
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2012 7:25 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] a question about science and tutoring
>>
>>
>>> Chris,
>>> Geometry and astronomy are interesting. Geometry has some real world
>>> problem solving applications.
>>> I didn't like it but somehow got through it. I'm not an abstract thinker.
>>> I remember how you compare shapes and figure out the missing angle number
>>>
>>> and things like that. The problem solving and critical thinking skills
>>> carry over to other subjects though.
>>>
>>> For astronomy, well I did not take that in high school; Virginia doesn't
>>> require that; we take different sciences.
>>>
>>> But I suggest getting tactile diagrams of the stars and galaxies. I think
>>>
>>> NASA or National braille press has some books. One is called Touch the
>>> stars.
>>> I think if your vi teacher explains diagrams and what the lines represent
>>>
>>> and labels them, it will make more sense.
>>> Some concepts though are better illustrated in a 3 d thing; so you could
>>> make a model for those situations.
>>>
>>> Ashley
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Chris Nusbaum
>>> Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2012 8:17 PM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] a question about science and tutoring
>>>
>>> Oh good; I'm not the only one who doesn't get anything out of
>>> tactile graphics, especially the 1st or 2nd time I look at them!
>>> I really don't like tactile graphics, and try to avoid them if
>>> possible.  But we're doing geometry in math and astronomy in
>>> science, both of which are very visual units which require a lot
>>> of tactile graphics.  However, I might get a break from the
>>> constant
>>> diagrams in science, as we're switching to geology to get ready
>>> for our state standardized test, the Maryland School Assessment
>>> (MSA.)
>>>
>>> Chris
>>> Chris Nusbaum
>>> Email and Google Talk/Keychat (on the BrailleNote) ID:
>>> dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
>>> Skype: christpher.nusbaum3 or search for Chris Nusbaum
>>>
>>> "The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight.  The
>>> real problem is the misunderstanding and lack of education that
>>> exists.  If a blind person has the proper training and
>>> opportunity, blindness can be reduced to a mere physical
>>> nuisance."
>>> -- Kenneth Jernigan
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> Date sent: Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:55:35 -0700
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] a question about science and tutoring
>>>
>>> Hi Vejas,
>>> I'm not very good spatially either, and I usually didn't get much
>>> out
>>> of tactile diagrams.  I do think attempting to understand tactile
>>> diagrams is a good way to try to improve your spatial skills.
>>> But if
>>> you don't find them useful for learning the concepts, then see if
>>> you
>>> can get verbal descriptions instead.  I also found in my
>>> experience
>>> that knowing what things look like (like the shape of cells etc.)
>>> is
>>> not super-important for understanding the functional concepts you
>>> are
>>> learning about.
>>> You could talk to your guidance counselor to find out if there is
>>> any
>>> free tutoring available at your school.  I'm sure you are not the
>>> only
>>> student having difficulty following science concepts.  If your
>>> school
>>> has an honor society for seniors, some of their members might be
>>> available to tutor you for free or for a small fee if your
>>> parents are
>>> willing and able to pay them.  I tutored a few chem students when
>>> I was
>>> in high school.
>>> A good tutor (sighted or blind) should be able to figure out how
>>> to
>>> best explain the ideas to you.
>>> Arielle
>>>
>>> On 3/8/12, vejas <brlsurfer at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>> I'm just not very good spacially.  Also some of the diagrams
>>> have
>>> lots of abbreviations and I find myself looking at the key a
>>> lot,
>>> so it's tricky to study the diagram when you're not sure what it
>>> stands for.
>>> But next science chapter, I'm going to pay lots more attention
>>> to
>>> the diagrams.
>>> Vejas
>>>
>>>
>>>  ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Nicole B.  Torcolini at Home" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com
>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> Date sent: Wed, 7 Mar 2012 21:52:15 -0800
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] a question about science and tutoring
>>>
>>> Some diagrams can help and others don't.  If a diagram is too
>>> cluttered, then
>>> it is no good.  Can you explain more about why diagrams don't
>>> help you?
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "vejas" <brlsurfer at gmail.com
>>> To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>; <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2012 9:14 PM
>>> Subject: [nabs-l] a question about science and tutoring
>>>
>>>
>>>  Hi,
>>>  I'm having some trouble in science.  It's biology and genetics.
>>> My
>>>  teacher is OK, I guess.
>>>  Does it help you to look at diagrams? Usually it doesn't help
>>> me, so I
>>>  don't bother to look at them because when I have, they have not
>>> helped.
>>>  Have diagrams ever helped you, because my science teachers
>>> loves
>>> the way
>>>  diagrams explain stuff? Have you ever needed tutoring? How was
>>> a
>>> sighter
>>>  person able to help you, because it's sometimes hard to explain
>>> stuff you
>>>  need? I have a test tomorrow.
>>>  Thanks for any input.
>>>  Vejas
>>>
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