Beal's but decided we needed new and improved
content that includes material presented in maps,
charts, tables, bar graphs, etc. We wanted to
know what features youth would like to have in an
app that would help their learning. To gather this
information, we conducted usability testing with
over 30 youth in Arizona. The youth assisted us
in determining a layout for
our answer pad, selecting
the background and font
color for our help videos,
designing a scratch pad to
do computation on, and so
much more. When it
gave us feedback on line
choices, textures, position
of labels, etc. They told
us that having a 3D model
of an animal coupled with
the graphic was valuable.
Our usability testers thought our descriptions of
images of animals added to the content and they
appreciated the clear descrip-tions of the content
of the graphics.
As we conducted our usability testing we found
that many Arizona teachers didn't know the power
of the iPad for youth with visual impairment. So,
to help them build their skills so they in turn could
teach their students, we brought Ed Summers
and Diane Brauner of North Carolina to Arizona
for a two day hands-on workshop. After the workshop, Bonnie Steinberg, a TVI for Scottsdale Unified, shared " It's no wonder I have been so ambivalent about the iPad... in my ignorance it was
like I was trying to bake a cake with only half the
ingredients." Brauner and Summers demonstrated to all in attendance the power of the iPad
for our students through their interactive, handson and patient presentation style.
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