Abstracts

Social Inclusion of the Visually Impaired Students Through STEM Projects: The INSIDE project

Authors: Teresa Neto, Rita Costa, A Baptista on behalf of INSIDE team

At this conference, the main results of the INSIDE project will be announced. INSIDE aims to strengthen the STEM skills of Visual Impaired students (low vision and blind) in European countries by developing the necessary knowledge for them and their teachers to create STEM-based projects. These projects promote opportunities for students' participation, social inclusion and interaction with their classmates. It also aims to disseminate the best practices through a handbook and an e-learning platform (https://insidestem.eu/pt-pt/contact-us/) developed during the project and focused on student STEM projects assisted by 3D printing. Participating in this congress is an opportunity for the school community, particularly those interested in inclusion classrooms topics, to share experiences and improve skills. The works will be conducted in an informal and English-friendly environment.

Welcome to INSIDE!

Media and Digital Skills of Visual Impaired Students.

Authors: António Baptista, Angelina Chrysargyri, Rita Costa, Pedro Serra, Sandra Franco, Manuel F. M. Costa

Resumo

Media and Digital Skills (MDSs) are critical for contemporary life, including daily routines, school and work. In order to fully integrate into society, low vision and blind people (Visual Impaired, VI) must acquire proficiency in MDSs. This talk will show the results from a questionnaire run in the context of the INSIDE project to assess the MDSs of VI students from lower and upper secondary education in two European Countries (Portugal and Greece). Some surprising results will be revealed.

Brief bio note:

António Baptista is a lecturer and researcher at Minho University with main interests in visual optimization and epidemiology.

The attitude of Visual Impaired Students Towards STEM: A Pilot Study

Authors: António Baptista, Angelina Chrysargyri, Rita Costa, Pedro Serra, Sandra Franco, Manuel F. M. Costa

Abstract

The contemporary labour world demands workers with good backgrounds in sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Responding to these demands put two main challenges to the education systems: to attract students to STEM and simultaneously promote efficient teaching methodologies of STEM. In the case of inclusive classrooms with visual impaired students (VI), i.e., low vision and blind, extra efforts are necessary to become these methodologies also inclusive and knowing the attitude of the students toward STEM is a starting point to construct these inclusive processes. This talk will show the results from a questionnaire run in the context of the INSIDE project to assess the students (normal sight, low vision and blind) attitudes toward STEM. Some surprising results will be revealed.

Brief bio note:

António Baptista is a lecturer and researcher at Minho University with main interests in visual optimization and epidemiology.

The Hands-on Science Approach to STEM

Author: Manuel F. M. Costa, Universidade do Minho, Departamento de Física, Tel. +351 253604070, Fax. +351 253678981, Email: mfcosta@fisica.uminho.pt , 4710-057 Braga, Portugal

In the Society of our days there is a major increasing need of an in depth quality education in Science and Technology. STEM education at all school levels should be generalized aiming not only the sound establishment of a “Science” culture in our societies but also to guarantee a steady basis for the improvement of Science and its technological applications.

In order to ensure a continuous sustainable development of our societies we must guarantee the effective implementation of a sound widespread scientific literacy but also to lead our students and fellow citizens to actively learn and use the experimental method, that is behind and the basis of the search for scientific knowledge and to find the thrill of discovering and understanding the World we live in.

Aiming the promotion of hands-on experimental learning of Science and Technology, and STEM in general, as a way of improving in-school scientific education and Science literacy in our society, the Hands-on Science Network was established in October 2003 in the frames of the action Comenius 3 of EC' program Socrates, by twenty-eight institutions from ten European countries (BE, CY, DE, ES, GR, MT, PT, RO, SL, UK) and a transnational consortium (CoLoS). In an openminded and friendly approach we enrolled an involved in our activities along the years thousands of teachers, researchers and educators, hundreds of schools, several universities, national and international associations, governmental bodies, science centres and museums, NGO’s and companies of practically all countries of the European Union and from all over the world.

The Hands-on Science Network has a broad remit, aiming to promote and diffuse among schoolteachers, schools, and national and transnational educational boards, well established and newly investigated practices of hands-on experimental teaching of Science in all its disciplines. We will do this by fostering the development and use of hands-on experiments in the classroom so that students "do" science rather than merely being "exposed" to it.

Brief bio note:

Manuel F. M. Costa hold a PhD degree in Science (Physics) from the University of Minho (Portugal) where he works since 1985 at its Physics Department teaching and performing applied research in optical metrology, image processing, thin films nanostructures and applications, instrumentation, and, science education and literacy. He is the president of the Ibero-American Optics Network, RIAO, for the term 2019-2022. He also acts as: president of the Hands-on Science Network, HSCI; deputy chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the European Optical Society, EOS; Executive Committee member and Europe Regional Representative of the International Council of Associations for Science Education, ICASE; and, president of the Portuguese Society for Optics and Photonics, SPOF. He is Fellow of the European Optical Society.

Relevant aspects of vision for STEM

Authors: Sandra Franco; Universidade do Minho, Centre of Physics; Email: sfranco@fisica.uminho.pt

Some vision experts state that up to 80% of classwork involves vision; thus, vision is one of the most important Human senses used in the learning process. In this talk, first, we review the main structures of the eye, and second the visual functions such as visual acuity, field of vision, contrast sensitivity and colour vision. Also, how the first can impair the second. The criteria used by the World Health Organization to classify the visual impairment and blindness will be visited, and the optical aids to support (when possible) these persons will be shown in a hands-on approach. Finally, this thematic will be approached considering the relevant aspects for STEM.

Brief bio note:

Sandra Franco teaches and performs research at Minho University. She is specialized in optometry and has a strong pedagogic experience especially in teaching and training of basic school teachers and students in elementary optics and visual system and vision health. Delivered a number of lectures, training courses and hands-on workshops for preschool and primary school students in these areas

Code learning with astronomical ideas / Micro:bit - how to use it for STEM

Vitor Martins e Henrique Cachetas, Casa da Ciência

Astronomy is a science that has great appeal among young students, contributing to their motivation and promoting interest in science in general. Exploring the relationship between programming and astronomy can convey to them how science and research

can be challenging and attractive.

The central idea of Project CODELASTRO is the creation of an educational programme based on micro:bits and astronomical topics.

A mission to Mars will be broken down into its different phases (observation of the planet, timing, training of the astronauts, testing

of the rocket, launch, travel, landing, moving the robot, scientific experiments on Mars, etc.) with programming projects that use the scientific knowledge associated with each stage.

In this way, the objectives of the project

CODELASTRO project include:

- Increase the knowledge in astronomy of the participating students.

- Developing programming, electronics and robotics skills.

- Transmitting knowledge of the technologies behind the micro:bit, including its sensors.

- To develop creative and organisational skills.

- To encourage group work and the sharing of knowledge between students.

Students can program the Micro:bit using Makecode. This platform is adapted for the use of students with vision impairment.

Brief bio notes:

Vítor Moreira Martins; teacher of the Pedagogical Zone Board in Mathematics and Sciences, currently seconded to Ciência Viva Braga. Besides his duties at Casa da Ciência de Braga, he is involved in the coordination of Erasmus projects and keeps the post of coordinator of Eco-school and Young Reporters for the Environment at EB2,3 André Soares de Braga, also a teacher’s trainer. Postgraduate degree in Specialization in Experimental Teaching of Sciences and Specialization in Information and Communication Technology.

Henrique Cachetas has an interdisciplinary scientific academic education in Astronomy, Biophysics and Nanotechnoloy. In his actual position at Planetário – Casa da Ciência de Braga he is responsible for science communication for children and adults in the areas of physics, astronomy and robotics.

INSIDE Project: STEM lesson using 3D printing

(Rita Costa e Teresa Neto – Agrupamento Escolas Henriques Nogueira)

The Agrupamento de Escolas Henriques Nogueira (AEHN), located in Torres Vedras, is a reference in the region for teaching low vision and blind students. That is why AEHN engaged actively in INSIDE as a partner of this project.

In this talk, we will present AEHN, the regional context where it is inserted, and our experience teaching visually impaired students. In addition, we will share some STEM lesson plans supported by 3D printing for inclusive classrooms with visually impaired students and developed during INSIDE. AEHN has been actively involved in this lessons plans as an author or/and piloting the lesson plans. At this conference, we will share this challenging experience with the audience.

Brief bio notes:

Rita Costa, Teresa Neto and Cristina Martins are teachers of the Quadro de Agrupamento de Escolas Henriques Nogueira. They have been actively engaged in several ERASMUS projects in the last few years.