National Center for Blind Youth in Science: Accountability Evaluation

August 8th, 2017 | EVALUATION

As part of a grant from the National Science Foundation, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) developed, implemented, and evaluated the National Center for Blind Youth in Science (NCBYS), a three-year full-scale development project to increase informal learning opportunities for blind youth in STEM. Through this grant, the NCBYS extended opportunities for informal science learning for the direct benefit of blind students by conducting six NFB STEM2U regional programs included programs for blind youth, their parents/caregivers, blind teen mentors (apprentices), and museum educators. Additionally, there was a separate program for blind teens, entitled the Engineering Quotient (NFB EQ) program and a teacher professional development program.

Youth valued their program for providing opportunities to be independent and be with peers. They developed their blindness skills (especially cane skills), science process skills, and team building skills. Youth believed these skills would help them both in and out of school. Parents/caregivers believe the youth program helped their child develop science skills and the skills necessary to be successful in society. Youth intend to use the team building and science process skills they learned in their workshop in their science classes. They also believe that the life and blindness skills they learned/reviewed during the workshop would be useful throughout life.

Parents/caregivers and teachers valued the opportunity their respective programs provided for networking with others in similar situations. Teachers expanded their abilities to use accessible lab equipment and hands-on STEM lessons with their students. Museum staff valued their training for increasing their awareness to the issues faced by blind visitors. During the training, museum staff increased their skills to effectively describe science content and assist blind visitors throughout the museum. Museum staff feel more confident in helping blind visitors and intend to add additional braille signage and new programs which are not as reliant on visual cues.

Document

NFB-Accountability-Evaluation-Report.pdf

Team Members

Mary Ann Wojton, Author, COSI's Center for Research and Evaluation/Lifelong Learning Group
Joe E Heimlich, Author, COSI's Center for Research and Evaluation/Lifelong Learning Group

Funders

Funding Source: NSF
Funding Program: RES IN DISABILITIES ED, AISL
Award Number: 1322855
Funding Amount: $1,549,488.00

Related URLs

Full-Scale Development: National Center for Blind Youth in Science

Tags

Access and Inclusion: People with Disabilities
Audience: Educators | Teachers | Evaluators | Learning Researchers | Middle School Children (11-13) | Museum | ISE Professionals | Parents | Caregivers | Youth | Teen (up to 17)
Discipline: Education and learning science | Engineering | General STEM | Health and medicine | History | policy | law | Nature of science
Resource Type: Evaluation | Evaluation Reports | Summative | Survey
Environment Type: Museum and Science Center Exhibits | Museum and Science Center Programs | Professional Development | Conferences | Networks | Professional Development and Workshops | Summer and Extended Camps