Accessible Test

Tactile Tangrams

(New)
Purpose

To provide accessible versions of Tangram puzzles for use with tactile and low vision students and adults.

Project Staff

Karen J. Poppe, Tactile Graphics Project Leader

Katherine Corcoran, Pattern/Model Maker

Tom Poppe, Pattern/Model Maker

Background

Tangram puzzles are frequently used to teach geometry concepts and skills. A Tangram puzzle is made up of seven simple shapes: two small triangles, one medium-size triangle, two large triangles, a parallelogram, and a square. The goal is to arrange the pieces to create geometric shapes such as human figures in motion, geometric shapes, buildings, animals, letters of the alphabet, etc. Silhouette print images are presented in books or on cards that accompany the Tangram puzzle pieces.

Numerous types of Tangram puzzles are available commercially—from wooden Tangram sets and magnetic foam pieces to giant Tangram floor tiles. However, the movable puzzle pieces are never accompanied by tactile silhouette cards or tactile “solution” pages from which the tactile reader can independently solve and recreate the pictures and shapes.
Describing figures and visualizing what they look like when they are transformed through rotations or flips, or are put together or taken apart in different ways, are important aspects of geometry in the lower grades. Tangram puzzle activities encourage spatial reasoning, shape recognition, size comparison, and pattern replication. Concepts such as congruence, symmetry, sides and angles, and fractions are reinforced. The following National Geometry Standards are supported:

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  Recognize, name, build, draw, compare and sort two- and three-dimensional shapes
  
• 
  Describe attributes and parts of two- and three-dimensional shapes
  
• 
  Investigate and predict the results of putting together and taking apart two- and three-dimensional shapes
  
• 
  Recognize and apply slides, flips, and turns
  
• 
  Recognize and create shapes that have symmetry
  
• 
  Recognize and represent shapes from different perspectives
  
• 
  Relate ideas in geometry to ideas in number and measurement
  
• 
  Recognize geometric shapes and structures in the environment
  

In April 2008, the project leader prepared a formal product submission form detailing the purpose and expected components of the product. It was reviewed by the Product Evaluation Team (PET) the same month, and then approved by the Product Advisory and Review Committee (PARC) in May 2008 for actual development and production.
Work during FY 2009

The project leader initiated work on this project during the first quarter of the fiscal year. Efforts entailed the following:

• 
  Ordering and reviewing commercially available Tangram puzzles, as well as on-line Tangram activities.
  
• 
  Selecting two dozen ideal puzzles to re-create that were not too abstract. Most of the selected puzzles depict geometric shapes (e.g., square, triangle, hexagon) or simple concepts (e.g., house, hourglass, fish). Images like human figures in motion and shapes with lots of angles were avoided.
  
• 
  Locating and ordering ideal material to create the kit’s components, e.g., two thicknesses of foam, translucent material for use with light box, and clear plastic for puzzle frames.
  

In January 2009, the project leader acquainted the Product Development Committee (PDC) with the expected components of the kit, as well as the expected production methods. A product timeline was established.
Throughout the third and fourth quarters of the fiscal year, the project staff focused on the building of multiple prototypes of the planned kit, including the following:

• 
  Tangram puzzle pieces made from 3mm magnetic-backed foam (for use with the ALL-IN-ONE Board or other magnetic surfaces)
  
• 
  Tangram puzzle pieces made from 6mm colored foam
  
• 
  Tangram puzzle pieces made from translucent material for use with a light box
  
• 
  Tactile/print “silhouette picture frames” (outline image) into which the shapes can be arranged and can be mounted on a variety of surfaces—magnetic or light box.
  
• 
  Tactile/print “silhouette solutions” showing dissected Tangram puzzles
  
• 
  Accompanying “Activities Booklet”
  

Work planned for FY 2010

The field test of Tactile Tangrams will be initiated in the second quarter of the FY 2010. The project leader will contact field test sites, develop an evaluation form to thoroughly assess the use and design of the components, and make product revisions based upon evaluator feedback. Product efforts to prepare the production for initial pilot run and production run will be undertaken.

Science

Life Science Tactile Graphics

(Continued)
Purpose

To create a collection of durable, high-relief tactile graphics depicting structures, concepts, and organisms commonly studied in life science and biology courses.

Project Staff

Fred Otto, Project Leader

Rosanne Hoffmann, Project Assistant

Katherine Corcoran, Model and Pattern Maker

David McGee, Technical Research
Background

Since the publication of Basic Science Tactile Graphics several years ago, APH has been aware of the need for similar reference materials for students of higher level science. Like the earlier product, this one will feature tactile drawings produced on vacuumformed vinyl sheets and a teacher's guidebook. Life Science Tactile Graphics will have both printed and raised images registered together on the same page, along with labels in print and braille.

Initial work to define the scope of the product and list drawings was done by the project assistant, who has an extensive background in science instruction.
A field evaluation was conducted in the winter of 2007/2008, involving 35 middle and high school science students in 11 states. Evaluators generally approved of the tactile graphics and the selection of topics covered. Evaluator comments led to several graphics being redesigned or expanded for clarity.
Work during FY 2009

Print preparation got underway, a process which involves scanning the original patterns, tracing outlines onscreen and applying colors to the outlined areas. Print labels are also added in this stage.

Experiments with sending colored files to a vendor for printing highlighted some of the difficulties inherent in the process of mating printed and vacuumformed images together accurately. In time, however, the problems were resolved, and project staff feels confident that the process will succeed.
Work planned for FY 2010

Colors and labels will be laid out for each diagram. Project staff will continue to consult with vendors on a printing process that ensures the printed and tactile images match up accurately. Specifications for the graphics and guidebook will be written by project staff and Technical Research, and the project will move forward to production.