Visible through touch: open-source 3D-printed tools for inclusive microbiology education.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology Education
• STEM Accessibility
• Inclusive Pedagogy

Background:

• Microbiology education heavily relies on visual interpretation, posing challenges for blind and visually impaired learners.
• Inclusive teaching necessitates multimodal, tactile approaches to enhance accessibility in science education.
• Existing educational tools often lack tactile components, limiting multi-sensory engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop open-source web applications for generating 3D-printable tactile models from microbiological images.
• To enhance accessibility in microbiology education for visually impaired students.
• To promote multi-sensory learning and equitable participation in STEM.

Main Methods:

• Development of two browser-based applications: Agar Plate STL Generator and Microscope Slide to STL.
• Utilizing heightmap-based image processing to translate 2D images into 3D topographic surfaces.
• Enabling users to upload images, adjust relief depth, and generate STL files for 3D printing.

Main Results:

• Successful creation of 3D-printable tactile models representing microbial growth and microscopy features.
• Tools provide an intuitive interface for users without CAD or 3D printing expertise.
• Generated models allow learners to perceive spatial and morphological data through touch, facilitating 'seeing through touch'.

Conclusions:

• Open-source tactile microbiology tools offer a scalable solution to bridge the accessibility gap in STEM.
• These resources support universal design for learning by converting visual data into tangible formats.
• The developed applications foster independent participation and multi-sensory engagement for all students in microbiology.