Tactile learning promotes understanding for all

Taking the words of a renowned cosmologist, James Trefil, that the universe is like a ‘spongy’ this Science Teacher, 2006, article models the potential rationale for the structure of the uni... See More

Taking the words of a renowned cosmologist, James Trefil, that the universe is like a ‘spongy’ this Science Teacher, 2006, article models the potential rationale for the structure of the universe by creating a dynamic lesson for visually impaired students through their tactile exploration of a sponge. The authors modified an activity initially presented in the NASA Genesis Mission educational material so that special needs students were not thwarted as they learned to transfer kinesthetic knowledge to the more abstract knowledge of the structure of the universe. There are numerous resources cited in the article which continue to be active and offer insight into the content of the inquiry and the strategies used to transfer concrete information to more abstract cognitive representation are applicable to all students, not just special needs. The methods may be adapted to empower students in the sighted classroom to build cognitive models, too. Teachers of physical science at all levels

Teaching Visually Impaired Students about the Uni

This is a wonderful journal article for any teachers who work with visually impaired students and would like new ideas and suggested resources for teaching their students about space. A deta... See More

This is a wonderful journal article for any teachers who work with visually impaired students and would like new ideas and suggested resources for teaching their students about space. A detailed descrition, complete with pictures, is given for this unit of study.

Ideas for teaching about the universe

I loved this article. I had not thought about a sponge and relating it to the Universe. While this article is geared toward guiding the underswtanding of the Universe for the visually impai... See More

I loved this article. I had not thought about a sponge and relating it to the Universe. While this article is geared toward guiding the underswtanding of the Universe for the visually impaired it is worth looking at for all learners. There are sites listed that give additional information on implementing this type of activity for all learners as well. Well written and the pictures add to further conceptual undertanding of the unjiverse for students.