[nabs-l] Concepts of Biology Class for the Spring Semester

Arielle Silverman arielle71 at gmail.com
Thu Dec 12 00:00:21 UTC 2013


Hi Helga,

I was a biology major in college and took basic bio courses plus
upper-division animal behavior, animal physiology and genetics. I
think getting the book in Braille is a good idea if you can. However I
don't think the pictures are as important as professors think they
are. If you have disability services at your college, you could ask
them to modify the quizzes and exams so the pictures are described, or
ask your professor to write a description of the pictures into the
test that they give you. You could also ask for tactile diagrams if
your university has the resources to make them. For me personally, I
found descriptions a lot more helpful than tactile diagrams, but
everyone learns differently. Also, if on the test they ask you to draw
a picture of something, you could write a verbal description of what
the picture looks like and how the different parts fit together, i.e.
instead of drawing a picture of a cell, write that the cell membrane
is on the outside of the cell and the nucleus is on the inside. In my
experience, doing well in biology class was mostly about understanding
how things function rather than what they look like. The pictures are
just a tool for sighted students to remember the concepts, but we as
blind students have other methods for remembering the concepts that
work just as well. Good luck!
Arielle

On 12/11/13, Suzanne Germano <sgermano at asu.edu> wrote:
> I have taken two semesters of biology for science majors. One at SDSU in
> 1995 and I just finished one. I did not use the book at all. What I would
> suggest is just have the specific diagram they go over or expect you to
> know either done tactically or have a description of the picture written
> up.
>
> Our professor only tested on what was covered in class so the book was a
> huge waste of money.
>
> Here at ASU we have a blind biology grad student. She is working on
> developing tactile diagrams for blind and visually impaired students.
>
> Is there a lab portion to this this course? If so get the lab manual ahead
> of time and find out in detail what will be required so the needed
> accommodations can be made.
>
>
> On Wed, Dec 11, 2013 at 3:11 PM, Helga Schreiber <
> helga.schreiber at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Hi guys, this is Helga. What's up? I just wanted to tell you that I'm
>> going to be taking a "Concepts of Biology" course next semester starting
>> in
>> February 3, This is actually a 12 weeks class. I just wanted to ask you,
>> Did any of you guys took a biology class before? And if you did, How did
>> you manage studying and learning for it? I'm just wondering! This is
>> actually my first time taking a Biology course in college. Just to let
>> you
>> know, I already spoke with my Biology Professor today, and I ask him
>> questions regarding the course, and he told me that this course includes
>> a
>> lot of pictures. For instance, he told me that the quizzes, which are in
>> Blackboard include  some pictures, and the final exam as well. I was
>> thinking probably in talking with the Vice President of my college, and
>> ask
>> him if he could buy me the Biology book in Braille, since he bought me my
>> Pre-Calculus book in Braille for this semester. I will really appreciate
>> it
>> if you could give me some suggestions in h
>>  ow to handle a Biology course. Thanks so much and God bless!! Sent from
>> my iPhone
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/sgermano%40asu.edu
>>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/arielle71%40gmail.com
>




More information about the NABS-L mailing list