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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Inclusive VR through Inclusive Co-Design with Neurodiverse Learners
This paper reports on a fully inclusive co-design process of an informal VR science game intended to be accessible to a broad range of learners. The co-design embraces the `nothing about us without' us movement by ensuring that stakeholder voices have a prominent role throughout the design process. In the project described in this paper, professional designers and researchers work with a team of neurodiverse stakeholders as peer members of the design team. The design process is described, and the findings based on feedback from all co-design participants is reported. Recommendations for others in the field are provided to help guide those interested in implementing an effective and inclusive co-design process.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2005447
- PAR ID:
- 10514396
- Publisher / Repository:
- IEEE
- Date Published:
- ISBN:
- 978-1-7348995-2-8
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1 to 5
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Location:
- Eureka, CA, USA
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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