Investigating key functions of hand movements by individuals with visual impairment: Improving teaching practices in special education through research
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Abstract
Abstract
Research is still ongoing with regard to types of exploratory movement by active touch and its key functions in individuals with visual impairment. The aim of the present study was to describe and identify different types of exploratory movement performed by individuals with visual impairment in their exploration of geometric shapes. A total of twelve participants were asked to explore a number of simple and complex geometric shapes. The research design consisted of two research phases. In the first phase, the participants were asked to describe and, if possible, to identify the properties of each shape. In the second phase, the participants were asked to describe their hand movements during active exploration. The findings indicated that the participants utilized different movements to extract the featural and global properties of the shapes. It was also observed that some patterns of exploratory movement were present in all of the participants’ strategies, which indicated issues of laterality. Finally, the research highlighted that by observing patterns of exploratory movement, educators of students with visual impairment can determine which strategies may be worth exploring with a view to their adoption in teaching practices and instruction.
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Keywords: visual impairment, active touch, geometric shapes, think -aloud protocols, laterality, teaching practices
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