ADAPTING AN INQUIRY EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE COURSE FOR TEACHERS FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

Inquiry Earth Systems Science for Teachers is a required course for elementary education and single-component middle grades science education majors and a frequently-selected course for special education and dual-component middle grades science education majors at Morehead State University. Recently the number of visually impaired students enrolling in the course has increased. This has necessitated the development of a repertoire of adaptations that can be used with students having different levels and/or types of visual impairments. Unlike a general geology or physical geology course, where adaptations can frequently be made in advance, many adaptations in inquiry-based courses must be able to be made on the spot. Additionally, as this is a teacher preparation course, fellow students must also become conversant with the adaptations such that they become seamlessly integrated into the course. Examples of adaptations that were seamlessly integrated into classes include concept mapping using WikiStix® for linking lines and labeling with braille tape in addition to hand-written text; tactile sketches of plate movements and weather maps using the Draftsman® drawing board. Some activities were more readily adaptable; others presented very specific challenges for individuals. In general, map-based activities were more adaptable than specimen-based or field-based activities. This poster will explore successful adaptations made in the inquiry classroom.