Ursuline Academy students are teaming up with the nonprofit Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired to design tactile learning tools that will help children with visual impairments in classrooms around the world.
The partners will highlight the collaboration Wednesday during an open house at Ursuline Academy on Pfeiffer Road. The event will show how about 20 students are using the school’s new makerspace to design low-cost, 3D-printed educational models for Clovernook’s international partners in countries including Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Vietnam and Guatemala.
Working during free periods or after school, students have been developing prototypes such as scales, cones in various sizes and models showing the phases of the moon. The designs are intended to be adapted and produced locally by educators abroad, part of Clovernook’s effort to make tactile education materials more affordable and sustainable.
“The work of Ursuline Academy, in partnership with our Tactile Literacy Initiative, is having a transformational impact on our ability to meet classroom needs around the world,” said Samuel Foulkes, Clovernook’s director of braille production and accessible innovation.
Expanding access through 3D design
Clovernook, founded in 1903, operates the world’s largest-volume braille printing house and provides employment and support services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Foulkes said 3D printing is expanding opportunities for students who are blind.
Tactile objects help students with visual impairments learn concepts from math to science to art.
As part of the partnership, Clovernook provides Ursuline with free access to open-source designs and donates 3D printers and filament so classroom aids can be printed on demand rather than shipped from overseas. Foulkes said the collaboration is helping the organization respond more quickly to requests from teachers who need tactile models ready for classroom use.
Over the last few months, Ursuline students have produced nearly a dozen different kits, Foulkes said, all of which scored highly in Clovernook’s initial review. User testing is an important part of the process because it helps ensure models are not only accurate but also engaging for users.
“I have no doubt that most of these will proceed to field testing, and eventual implementation, in several different countries,” Foulkes said.
A learning opportunity with global impact
The partners describe the program as a win for both organizations. Clovernook is able to expand its tactile offerings internationally, while students at the all-girls Catholic school gain experience in accessible design and sharpen their 3D-printing skills on projects with real social impact.
Wednesday’s open house will include demonstrations of CAD software, 3D-printing techniques and model testing. Clovernook’s design team, including blind model testers, plans to offer live feedback to students.
For many of the young designers, the work is personally meaningful as well as technical. Allison Zieg, a senior and makerspace leader, said the project has helped shape her career goals. Participating in these projects has also solidified her choice to pursue mechanical engineering in college.
Seeing the real-world impact of her work, she added, “has been really amazing.”
“I really value this partnership… because it allows me to contribute to meaningful projects while gaining experience that will be beneficial beyond school,” Zieg said.
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