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This study conducts a novel approach to redesign EarSketch, an expressive computer science (CS) learning environment that inte- grates music composition into computing education, with a specific focus on inclusivity for blind and visually impaired (BVI) learners. This approach centers on the participation of teachers, students, and the community as co-designers, leveraging their insights and ex- periences to enhance the program’s accessibility and effectiveness. By actively involving the stakeholders in the development process, the study aims to address the unique educational challenges and needs of learners who are visually impaired more effectively. The participatory design approach is expected to not only maintain the intrinsic appeal of EarSketch but also to expand its accessibility, ensuring that it becomes a more inclusive tool in computer sci- ence education. The ultimate goal is to establish a more adaptable and inclusive educational paradigm within STEAM, particularly in computing education and music, that is responsive to the diverse needs of all students, including those with visual impairments. The contributions of this paper are design recommendations based on our data that can be applied to the design of EarSketch and other expressive CS environments for BVI learners.
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Design and evaluation of a multimodal physics simulation
We present a multimodal physics simulation, including visual and auditory (description, sound effects, and sonification) modalities to support the diverse needs of learners. We describe design challenges and solutions, and findings from final simulation evaluations with learners with and without visual impairments. We also share insights from completing research with members of diverse learner groups (N = 52). This work presents approaches for designing and evaluating accessible interactive simulations for learners with diverse needs.
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- PAR ID:
- 10137382
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal on technology and persons with disabilities
- Volume:
- 7
- ISSN:
- 2330-4219
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 88-102
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
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