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This content will become publicly available on May 1, 2026

Title: A 3D Printer Build for Students with Visual Impairments
While 3D printing may be a promising tool for making Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education more accessible for students with visual impairments, most research centers on creating and using tactile models and braille, rather than direct student use of 3D printing technologies. This study observed 121 high school studentswith visual impairments across twelve states, examining whether and how students with visual impairments engage in scientific and engineering practices during their assembling of a 3D printer. We found that students exhibited all eight of the science and engineering behaviors defined in the National Research Council's A Framework for K-12 Science Education:Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. This study builds upon the work of Hilson and Wild and shows that students with visual impairments, when given the opportunity, can demonstrate scientific and engineering process skills just as their sighted peers do. This is the largest sample of students with visual impairments to date to be observed to document their work and behaviors in this area of STEM research. However, further research is needed to examine science and engineering behaviors of students with visual impairments in other STEM areas and while completing other complex STEM tasks.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1949458
PAR ID:
10627820
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ;
Editor(s):
Miesenberger, K; Robles, A; Ruiz, S
Publisher / Repository:
California State University, Northridge
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Journal on technology and persons with disabilities
Volume:
13
ISSN:
2330-4216
Page Range / eLocation ID:
70-87
Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
3D printing Visual impairments engineering practices K-12 education research study
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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