January 1st, 2018 | RESEARCH
This paper seeks to illustrate the first steps in a process of adapting an existing, valid, and reliable spatial ability instrument – the Mental Cutting Test (MCT) – to assess spatial ability among blind and low vision (BLV) populations. To adapt the instrument, the team is developing three-dimensional (3-D) models of existing MCT questions such that a BLV population may perceive the test tactilely with their hands.
Each TMCT question is created by modeling and 3-D printing the objects represented by two-dimensional pictorial drawings on the MCT. The 3-D models of 25 items of the MCT are created using a solid modeling process followed by an additive 3-D printing process. The correct answer to each MCT question is the section view defined by a plane-of-interest (POI) intersecting the figure in question. A thin plane extending from the figure identifies the POI of each problem. The possible answers were originally presented in multiple representations including 3-D printed extrusions on top of a thin plate, and two forms of tactile graphics. The 3-D printed answers are developed by a combination of acquiring accurate dimensions of the 3-D figure’s cross-section and scaling up the printed paper test.
Document
adaptation-of-the-mental-cutting-test-for-the-blind-and-low-vision-ASEE2018.pdf
https://par.nsf.gov/servlets/purl/10059222
Team Members
Tyler Ashby, Author, Utah State UniversityWade Goodridge, Co-Principal Investigator, Utah State University
BJ Call, Author, Utah State University
Sarah Lopez, Author, Utah State University
Natalie Shaheen, Author, Illinois State University
Funders
Funding Source: NSF
Funding Program: Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL)
Award Number: 1712887
Funding Amount: $2,101,009.00
Related URLs
Spatial Ability and Blind Engineering Research
Tags
Access and Inclusion: People with Disabilities
Audience: Adults | Educators | Teachers | General Public | Learning Researchers | Museum | ISE Professionals | Scientists | Undergraduate | Graduate Students
Discipline: Education and learning science | Engineering
Resource Type: Conference Proceedings | Research Products
Environment Type: Conferences | Summer and Extended Camps