Information Gathered to Assist in Designing STEM Braille Training Materials: Survey Results

By Tina Sue Herzberg and L. Penny Rosenblum

Preferred Citation

Herzberg, T. S., & Rosenblum, L. P. (2022). Information gathered to assist in designing STEM braille training materials: Survey results. Journal of Blindness Innovation & Research, 12(1). Retrieved from https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/jbir/jbir22/jbir120101.html. DOI: http://dx.doi/10.5241/12-234

Abstract

A survey was used to explore the training needs and preferences for professional development of teachers of students with low vision and blindness regarding the STEM braille codes. Participants were 225 teachers from 41 states who completed an online survey. The teachers rated the following topics as very important: math symbols used in upper elementary through high school, formatting STEM materials, Nemeth Code switch indicators, preparing tactile graphics, and supporting practical application of braille in STEM subjects. Approximately 25% of teachers reported knowing both codes, 50% reported knowing one code, and 25% reported that they did not know either code. The open-ended responses revealed confusion regarding the codes and a lack of resources to learn and teach the codes. Efforts should be made to assist teachers in becoming more knowledgeable of the STEM braille codes and determining the impact of adopting two STEM braille codes in the United States.

Keywords

Braille, Nemeth Code within UEB Contexts, UEB Technical, STEM, tactile graphics


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DOI: http://dx.doi/10.5241/12-234

The Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research is copyright (c) 2022 to the National Federation of the Blind.