From macroscopic to microscopic: a proposal for the confection and application of a touch model for the teaching of histology for students with visual deficiency

Abstract

The present article describes a survey arising from a visit to the Association of Parents and Friends of the Visually Impaired (APADEVI), which aims to plan and build tactile models to teach Biology to students with visual impairments. The possible contributions of tactile models to the teaching-learning process were analyzed together with the theoretical explanation. One of the challenges for teaching Biology to visually impaired students is to represent the macroscopic as well as the microscopic parts, since the latter do not have a palpable dimension. To this end, tactile models were made to provide students with visual impairment with access to the concepts of microscopy. With a qualitative methodology, the research was applied in a workshop format at APADEVI for a group of seven students with visual impairment. During the workshops,
notes were made, in addition to the application of a questionnaire, observing which tactile didactic models arouse interest in students and, based on theoretical explanations, assist in learning. The present study demonstrated that people with visual impairments can explore deeper levels of knowledge - such as microscopic skin detailing - as long as they are advised by didactic material compatible with their special needs.