[nfb-talk] FW: chemistry workshop for blind and sighted high school students

[David Andrews]

>From: "Riccobono, Mark" <MRiccobono at NFB.ORG>
>
>Dear Colleagues,
>
>Attached and below is a flier about a summer chemistry lab program.  I do not know
>much more than what is stated in the flier.  Those who are seeking
>additional chemistry experiences may want to investigate the program.  I
>can not speak for the program but can say that the professor is a blind
>person who teaches chemistry at the college level.
>
>Regards,
>Mark


The first annual summer laboratory chemistry workshop                                                              for blind and sighted high school students 
June 22-29, 2007
We are pleased to announce the first annual hands-on summer laboratory chemistry workshop for blind and sighted high school students, June 22-29, 2007.  The workshop will be held at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California, and will be led by Dr. Dennis Fantin a Cal Poly chemistry instructor and practicing biophysicist. Dr. Fantin, himself blind, and his students have developed techniques and procedures which make the chemistry laboratory a rich environment for vision impaired students. 
We will use a discovery-based teaching approach in which workshop participants will be encouraged to learn about chemical phenomena and adaptive laboratory techniques by doing their own experimental work and making their own observations and measurements. The workshop environment will be supportive, and the scientific subject matter presented will be stimulating and challenging to both sighted and blind participants. 
In the laboratory, the students will work in six teams; each composed of one blind student and one sighted student. Each of the teams will be assisted by a Cal Poly chemistry major who, along with Dr. Fantin, will provide all necessary instruction and guidance.  
The philosophy of the project places the direct apprehension of physical reality by the blind student at the core of the laboratory experience. In keeping with this principle, the blind student will take the lead in carrying out laboratory operations wherever possible. 
Among many experiments and activities, the students will: 
    * Construct a magnesium-copper battery with a bell that sounds to indicate the completion of the electrical circuit. 
·        Learn about chemical reactivity by hearing the difference between small pellets of lithium and sodium when dropped into water.
·        Feel the difference between saturated and unsaturated lipids when extracted by distillation.
·        Build chemical models using an accessible molecular modeling kit. 
·        Investigate the unusual properties of liquid nitrogen and dry ice through tactile play.
·        Taste the differences between and measure the pH of assorted weak acids and bases such as vinegar, lemon, and orange juice, baking soda, and Tums.
The days will be devoted to work in the laboratory and the evenings and weekend will be spent relaxing and doing recreational activities such as kayaking in the Morro Bay estuary, playing team building games and making dinner together on the beach. 
A voluntary donation of $300 is requested of each of the twelve workshop participants to offset program expenses.  
Interested students should contact: 
Dr. Dennis Fantin, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA  93407
Email: <mailto:dfantin at calpoly.edu>dfantin at calpoly.edu            Phone: (805) 756-1688
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