scholarly journals INFORMATION SEEKING BEHAVIOUR OF BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS: A CASE STUDY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL, PIETERMARITZBURG CAMPUS

Mousaion ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lungile Seyama ◽  
Craig D. Morris ◽  
Christine Stilwell
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Social Model ◽  
Blind And Visually Impaired ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Visually Impaired Students ◽  
The University ◽  
Blind Students

Based on a study for a master’s dissertation, this article reports on an investigation of the information seeking behaviour of blind and visually impaired students. It investigated whether the services provided by the University of KwaZulu-Natal on its Pietermaritzburg campus (hereafter UKZN-PMB) accommodated the information seeking behaviour of blind students and those with visual impairments. The theoretical framework for the study was Wilson’s (1996) Model of Information Behaviour, Belkin’s (1982) Anomalous Stat of Knowledge approach and Oliver’s (1996) Social Model of Disability. Blind students and those with visual impairments, the subject librarians from the Main Library and the Disability Unit (DU) Co-ordinator were surveyed. The study revealed that the students exhibited information seeking behaviour that included the DU staff as an indispensable part of information access. Recommendations include developing a strategy to implement the UKZN disability policy and allocating a sufficient budget for the purchase of assistive devices or, preferably, incorporating principles of universal design in the information system.

scholarly journals BASAER Team: The First Arabic Robot Team for Building the Capacities of Visually Impaired Students to Build and Program Robots

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (24) ◽  
pp. 91-107
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Hamash ◽  
Hasnah Mohamed
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Educational Robotics ◽  
Full Inclusion ◽  
Blind And Visually Impaired ◽  
Visually Impaired Students ◽  
Guided Instruction ◽  
Educational Robots

the purpose of this study was to examine whether visually impaired students can build educational robots and program them if they receive adapted materials and instructions with guided instruction from well-trained educators in the fields of inclusive STEM Classrooms. Discussion of the technologies and our experimental approach is presented in this paper and validated through the continued successful effort with visually impaired students for two years of the program and specialists in the field of visual impairment and STEAM, we also validated our approach by performing experimental classes for students with different visual impairments and ages. The results indicated that the approach used by BASAER team was successful in enabling the blind and visually impaired students to build and program educational robotics and to participate effectively in national and international STEAM programs and competitions, with some limitations and Challenges encountered and explored during this research. The results from this study will be used to suggest a fully adapted system to support full inclusion for blind and visually impaired students in educational robots in STEAM context and to promote the adoption of this study and similar studies toward Inclusive STEM Classrooms.

scholarly journals Effects of Information Seeking Behaviour on Accessibility of Library Services by Students With Visual Impairment in Uganda Christian University, Mukono

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Aminah Namugenyi ◽  
Peter Wamea
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Information Search ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Christian University ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Library Staff ◽  
Visually Impaired Students

The major aim of the study was to investigate the effects of information seeking behaviour on accessibility of library services by students with visual impairment. The study was carried out at Hamu Mukasa Library of Uganda Christian University in Mukono, Uganda. The study objectives were to weigh the needs of information to Students with Visual Impairment (SWVI) in UCU library, assess information seeking behaviors of SWVI at UCU library, to evaluate the library facilities and services currently available for SWVI, to interrogate the sources of information for SWVI and to analyze the challenges encountered by SWVI while seeking for information at UCU library. The researcher used a descriptive design confirming about the truthfulness of the matter of fact to give wright answers to the research questions in an understandable manner giving the exact picture of what transpires amidst the SWVI while seeking for information from the Library. The study applied the qualitative together with quantitative research methods venturing into and making use of questionnaires and extracting information from the documents. The target population in the study included SWVI and staff at Uganda Christian University (UCU) Hamu Mukasa library. The study targeted the visually impaired students plus library staff members who serve or train information search skills to the students.   A sample size of  100   participants    was  chosen   from the total population of 150 whereby sample size of library staff was 60 and a sample of 40 students with visual impairment. The findings revealed that the library staff have inadequacy skills to allow them understand the needs of SWVI and their information seeking behaviours, thus failure to serve SWVI diligently. In regard to this, the study is mandated to air out the services provided, the facilities available and showing how they are insignificant to suite the information requirements of these particular users of the library. The study was well-timed to handle the assessment on effects of information seeking behaviour while accessing library services by (SWVI) at Uganda Christian University. The study recommended to the government, academic libraries, Non-Government Organisations and other agencies serving visually impaired people; to work together on the strategies to improve library facilities and information services for the visually impaired students.

Professional training of students in specialty 34.02.02 Medical Massage (for training persons with visual impairments) on the example of the Yalutorovsk branch of the SAPEI TR Tyumen Medical College

2021 ◽  
pp. 26-35
Author(s):  
Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kochubei ◽  
Liliya Khamitovna Malikova
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Blind And Visually Impaired ◽  
The Disabled ◽  
Visually Impaired Students

This article outlines the features of the organization of the educational process with students with visual impairments, creation of special conditions for education of personswith disabilities and the disabled, the idea of the specifics of teaching blind and visually impaired students, and the learning outcomes of a group of students of the Yalutorovsk branch of the SAPEI TR Tyumen Medical College, specialty 34.02.02. Medical Massage (for training persons with disabilities).

A Survey of Blind Orientation and Mobility Specialists about the Accommodations and Teaching Strategies They Use when Providing Orientation and Mobility Services

2021 ◽  
pp. 0145482X2110180
Author(s):  
Nora Griffin-Shirley ◽  
Laura Bozeman ◽  
The Nguyen ◽  
Vitalis Othuon ◽  
Anita Page ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Teaching Techniques ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Self Advocacy ◽  
Blind And Visually Impaired ◽  
Orientation And Mobility ◽  
Immersion Training

Introduction: The purpose of the study was to survey orientation and mobility (O&M) instructors who are blind concerning the identification of accommodations, teaching techniques, and resources to teach students with visual impairments (i.e., blindness or low vision). Methods: The study utilized an online survey via Qualtrics (2019) with 27 closed- and open-ended items to identify accommodations, teaching techniques, and resources needed. The survey was e-mailed to membership and certification organizations requesting O&M instructors who are blind to participate for 12 weeks. The participants were 15 O&M specialists, mostly male and Caucasian. Survey data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Forty percentage of the participants reported that there were minimal standards that they had to demonstrate prior to their admittance into an O&M program. About one-fourth of the participants mentioned their program was modified because of their visual impairment. Eleven participants (73%) reported that their nonvisual instructional strategies and techniques were predominantly gained through their university programs or other visually impaired instructors (27%, n = 4). Discussion: Aspects of this study that are similar to the current literature are smaller faculty-to-student ratios for blindfold or simulation cane courses, accommodations used by participants, and suggestions for monitoring the safety of students. The results revealed the participants’ strong belief in the importance of immersion training, the use of the Structured Discovery Cane Travel (SDCT), nonvisual skills during O&M instruction, sleep shades, and students’ problem-solving abilities. Implication for practitioners: Although the participants had received SDCT immersion training, most personnel preparation programs approved by the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of Blind and Visually Impaired do not use this method. For this reason, it is important for faculty to identify best teaching practices from among all programs and to integrate these practices into their curricula. Sharing best practices could strengthen all programs. Moreover, students with visual impairments should be taught early about self-advocacy and the ability to have helpful knowledge about one’s skills at a university and in the workplace.

Inquiry: A Teaching Approach for Gifted Visually Impaired Learners

2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah L. Rooks ◽  
C. June Maker
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Inquiry Learning ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Gifted Student ◽  
Gifted Children ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Visually Impaired Students

Inquiry is a dynamic approach to learning and teaching that involves a process of experiencing the natural world. As they pose questions about the information, learners conduct research for genuine reasons, make new discoveries, and test their discoveries to generate new knowledge and understanding. Inquiry is an approach that fits the learning needs of both visually impaired students and students who are gifted, and is especially important for gifted students with visual impairments. We introduce readers to inquiry approaches, review the theoretical framework, outline the characteristics of inquiry learning, explain how these approaches are important to use with gifted children with visual impairments, provide examples, summarize research on the effectiveness of inquiry learning, give an example of science teaching using an inquiry learning model in a regular classroom setting, and show how this lesson could be an effective way to involve and challenge a gifted student with a visual impairment.

TEACHING EFL TO BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS: AN OVERVIEW

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Boltenkova ◽  
Alena Nevolina ◽  
Viktor Koksharov ◽  
Shengji Li ◽  
Tatiana Rasskazova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Blind And Visually Impaired ◽  
Visually Impaired Students
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