1. Program Aims to Help Students with Disabilities
Martha Dalton (2011-03-01)
ATLANTA (WABE) - The University of Georgia and Georgia Tech are teaming up to
increase the number of students with disabilities who receive degrees in science,
technology, engineering and math. The collaboration is being funded by a 1.5 million
dollar grant from the National Science Foundation. WABE's Martha Dalton has more.
The program uses online virtual classrooms inside the game Second Life to demonstrate
math and science concepts. Senior Researcher Robert Todd, of Georgia Tech, says
students will be able to get instruction and support - without leaving home.
"They'll have ongoing mentors to work with them step-by-step throughout their high
school and college programs to make sure they're getting all the help they need to
overcome barriers."
To learn about astronomy, Todd says, students can "walk" into "space" and attach
themselves to a comet.
"And as you become that comet you suddenly see how it orbits and how it becomes faster
as it gets close to the sun and slower when it gets away from the sun and goes far out into
the deep reaches of the solar system."
Todd says the program, which will start in the fall, is designed to help students with both
physical and learning disabilities. Students from Georgia Perimeter College, Georgia
Tech, and UGA, will participate, as well as and high school students in Gwinnett, Clarke,
and Green counties.