May 2021

  • Dr Nicola McDowell, Massey University, New Zealand

    Zoom Colloquium: The CVI Practice Framework: An approach to Supporting Children with Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI)

    Event Date:

    Abstract - Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is the most common cause of visual impairment affecting children in the developed world. For her doctoral research, to help meet the needs of children with CVI, Nicola proposed a practice framework that can be used within an education or rehabilitation context. Nicola’s framework was based on her experience of developing a successful rehabilitation programme to improve her own visual and overall functioning, following a late CVI diagnosis. Nicola identified three main components that led to her improvements, including: developing an individual CVI profile, creating an individualised programme, and empowerment through increasing knowledge and understanding of her condition. Her research on each component of the framework, and on the framework as a whole, showed that it may be an effective approach for supporting children with CVI. https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/research/higher-research-degrees/phd-student-profiles/doctoral-my-story.cfm?studid=FuwubVvVyNI%3D

    Improving Zoom accessibility for people with hearing impairments People with hearing impairments often use lipreading and speechreading to improve speech comprehension. This approach is helpful but only works if the speaker’s face and mouth are clearly visible. For the benefit of people with hearing impairments on Zoom calls, please enable your device’s camera whenever you are speaking on Zoom, and face the camera while you speak. (Feel free to disable your camera when you aren’t speaking.)

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  • Zoom Colloquium: The 3 Ps of 3D: Perception, Pedagogy, and Practice for 3D Printing

    Zoom Colloquium: The 3 Ps of 3D: Perception, Pedagogy, and Practice for 3D Printing

    Event Date:

    Abstract - Nonscriptum LLC (www.nonscriptum.com) is a consulting and training firm founded in 2015 by Joan Horvath and Rich “Whosawhatsis” Cameron, based in Pasadena, California. Nonscriptum focuses on teaching educators and scientists how to use maker tech, and together have authored 7 books for the Apress imprint of Springer-Nature, and numerous courses for LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com).

    Joan is an MIT alumna, recovering rocket scientist and educator, and Rich is an open-source 3D printer hacker who designed the RepRap Wallace and Bukito 3D printers.

    In this colloquium we will be highlighting our Geometry Lesson Plans for Blind/Visually Impaired Learners. We have been collaborating on the development of open-source lesson plans and a repository of 3D models. These cover various topics in geometry at the middle- and high-school level. These lesson plans are aimed at teachers of blind and visually-impaired learners. Our book Make: Geometry is also now available on Amazon for pre-order, should you want even more hands-on math!

    Improving Zoom accessibility for people with hearing impairments

    People with hearing impairments often use lipreading and speechreading to improve speech comprehension. This approach is helpful but only works if the speaker’s face and mouth are clearly visible. For the benefit of people with hearing impairments on Zoom calls, please enable your device’s camera whenever you are speaking on Zoom, and face the camera while you speak. (Feel free to disable your camera when you aren’t speaking.)

    Read More