- IDEAL STATE:
i. The visually impaired students in Boğaziçi University are proficient using computer with JAWS.
ii. When blind students need to do something on the computer they can do on their own.
iii. People around the campus are aware how the blind students use computer.
iv. There are enough instructors of JAWS.
v. They have a desire to learn new things concerning JAWS because learning is easier with comparison to past.
vi. There is a perceivable increase in visually impaired students’ GPA.
vii. Non blind and blind students have equal opportunities to access the written materials.
TARGET POPULATION
There are 15 visually impaired students at Boğaziçi University. All of these 15 students are our target population.
A. Characteristics of Target Population
-They are all entered to the Boğaziçi University through the quota for the students with disabilities in ÖSS, which accepts 18 students with disabilities each year.
-They are suffering from the similar problems that their visual impairment brings. (such as mobility programs around the university, having problems on reaching educational resources).
B. Data Collection
The main source for the program will be the advisors for the students with disabilities in Boğaziçi University. We will reach them through e-mail and ask for an appointment. Through making an interview with them, we will get information about the existing conditions for the students with visual disabilities and the names of the students with visual disabilities.
Another source of the data for the program is Boğaziçi University students with visual impairments. We will reach them firstly via mail. After decided on a date, we, firstly, will make an interview to hear directly from them about the problems that are sourced from not using computer efficiently for their education. Then we will do a needs assessment. Through needs assessment, the basic needs of them will be determined in which their lack prevent the students from using computer for educational purposes.
GETEM will be another source for our data with all its administrators and staff. We will get information about the resources of GETEM, which are usable for the program.
Among them are the materials, the instruments and the computer and the computer programs and the appropriate times that we can use lab for teaching JAWS to the students with visual disabilities.
Another source for needed information for the program is Prof. Dr. Fikret Adaman who is the chairman of the Commission of Students with Disabilities in Boğaziçi University. Through an interview with Adaman, we will get some information about the existing conditions for students with visual disabilities and how the program can be used to improve their existing conditions.
Lastly, throughout the program we get support from Dr. Hande Sart as an advisor of students with disabilities because she is among the people who have most knowledge about those students. Both to get information about those students and to access them, we get support from Dr. Hande Sart by orderly appointments.
GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND CRITERIA
IMMEDIATE GOALS
A) Getting the essential bureaucratic permissions to start the program.
Objective 1:
a) To get the permission of the commission of students with disabilities.
Criterion 1:
a) Whether the necessary permissions are acquired or not from the commission of students with disabilities
Objective 2:
a) To get the permission of GETEM.
Criterion 2:
a) Whether the necessary permissions are acquired or not from GETEM.
B) Having interviews to explain our project to relevant people.
Objective 1:
a) Interview with Fikret ADAMAN and Hande SART ( see Data Collection part to learn their roles)
Criterion 1:
a) If the interviews are done with Fikret ADAMAN and Hande SART
Objective 2:
a) Interview with Engin YILMAZ ( he is the best on using computer among blind students) about our project and to want his help.
Criterion 2:
a) If the interview is done with Engin YILMAZ
C) Arranging volunteers
Objective 1:
a) Interview with blind people who know JAWS very well in order to find blind trainers.
Criterion 1:
a) Finding at least three instructors who are expert in using computer with JAWS.
Objective 2:
a) Finding voluntary students in Boğaziçi University who do not have any obstacle about vision.
Criterion 2:
a) Reaching at least 15 volunteers since we want peer to peer training (Our target population consists of 15 students).
INTERMEDIATE GOALS
A) Hande Sart gives seminar to volunteers about the project’s unique characteristics to increase their motivation
Objective 1:
a) To provide information to non blind volunteers about what they are supposed to do.
Criterion 1:
a) Whether the 80 % of the volunteers have high motivation and interest to the project.
B) Prepare an orientation tea party
Objective 1:
a) Organize a tea party to introduce volunteers and instructors to each other
Criterion 1:
a) 100 % participation to the party must be ensured.
C) Beginning to non-blind students education
Objective 1:
a) Training in accordance with the syllabus prepared for that course.
Criterion 1a:
a) Having at least 90% attendance to the lessons in the end of the course
Criterion 1b:
b) Taking at least 85 points out of 100 in the level determination test which will be given at the end of the course.
D) Beginning to voluntary blind students education
Objective 1:
a) Training in accordance with the syllabus prepared for that course.
Criterion 1:
a) Taking at least 90 points out of 100 in the level determination test which will be given at the end of the course.
ULTIMATE GOALS
A) Each visually impaired student in Boğaziçi University use JAWS effectively. There is an increasing tendency in their GPA level.
Objective 1:
a) To increase their attendance rate to lessons by maikin lessons attractive with interactive teaching methods.
Criterion 1:
a) Whether their attendance increased or not with comparison to previous semester
Objective 2:
a) To increase their GPA
Criterion 2:
a) Comparing their GPA before and after the JAWS education and finding out at least 15% increase in current GPA.
B) Creating an awareness among non-blind people that blind people can use computer.
Objective 1:
a) The number of sighted people who has an idea about using computer with screen reader increases.
Criterion 1:
a) The result of questionnaire which is applied in university should show that at least 80% of participants know what JAWS means.
C) Announcement to the students from other universities to encourage them to open similar courses.
Objective 1:
a) Being a model for other universities to implement same programs.
Criterion 1:
a) At least 3 universities must open this training course.
PLACE, CONTEXT AND RESOURCES
GETEM projects e-library in order to reach information for blind people. This project is not only for people who have obstacle about vision but also other people who do not use printed very well such as paralytic and dyslexic. The source in the library are Turkish and English. In the library, there are poems, stories, and scientific articles and books.
Library is related to other libraries which serve by on-line abroad.
In terms of the project, this service reaches people who are needed it by universities and local governments. This proje is continued by the coordination of GETEM and this proje is applied by Boğaziçi University and outside donor’ s help.
GETEM EKİBİ
ENGELLİLER KOMİSYONU
BOĞAZİÇİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ ENGELLİLER KOMİSYONU BAŞKANI:
Prof. Dr. Fikret ADAMAN
BOĞAZİÇİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ ENGELLİLER KOMİSYONU ÜYESİ
ARAŞTIRMA GÖREVLİSİ:
Civan İLCİ
PROJE GELİŞTİRME EKİBİ:
Sibel MOYANO
Berk GÜLENLER
Azi MAZ
PROJE KOORDİNATÖRÜ:
Berrin OKUTAN UZAN
İLETİŞİM VE YÜRÜTME EKİBİ:
Deniz KARADAL
Serkan UYGUR
TIME SCHEDULE
The program will start in September of 2007. The program is planned to be finished in June of 2007 with the ending of spring semester.( See Appendixes 1 for Gantt Chart ).
IMPLEMENTATION
IMMEDIATE GOALS
The essential bureaucratic permissions were taken in order to start the program (Goal:A). The permission of the commission of students with disabilities (Goal:A, Objective: 1) and the permission of GETEM were taken (Goal:A, Objective:2).
Interview was made with Boğaziçi Disabilities Office in order to initiate this project and provide necessary conditions (Goal:B). Fikret ADAMAN and Hande SART were interviewed about our project (Goal:B, Objective: 1). Engin YILMAZ were interviewed about the project and possible fine- tunings (Goal:B, Objective:2). The permission of using 6 computers of GETEM’ s laboratory was taken from Boğaziçi Handicap Office and GETEM. According to this permission, the computer laboratory was reserved for Mondays from 17.30 to 20.00.
Volunteers were arranged (Goal:C). Blind people who know JAWS very well were interviewed (Goal:C, Objective: 1). Moreover, people who do not have any obstacles about vision (Goal:C, Objective:2). An announcement was made and the blind e- mail lists about that project to find volunteers to reach computers. Applications were recorded to have at 5 years experience and to have a computer certificate from Halk Eğitim Merkezi. Among 5 applications of them were selected to this course by accommodation of GETEM and Boğaziçi Handicap Office. A course schedule was prepared by the blind instructors which composed of 20 classes and 2 exams. An announcement was individually made to volunteers in EREC. 10 of the volunteers were selected.
INTERMEDIATE GOALS
Hande SART gave seminar to volunteers about the project to increase their motivation (Goal: A) Thanks to that seminar, non blind volunteers are provided information about what they are supposed to do (Goal: A, Objective: 1).
An orientation tea party was prepared (Goal:B). An introduction tea party was organized to introduce volunteers and instructors to each other (Goal:B, Objective: 1).
Non blind students’ education was begun (Goal:C). Education in accordance with the syllabus was prepared for that course (Goal:C, Objective: 1). the level determination of exam was made for volunteers. 20 class courses were started. At the end of the course a final exam was arranged and volunteers who are at 80 for 100 was taken. In addition, in order to be successful in this course 90 percent attendance was recorded.
Voluntary blind students’ education was begun (Goal:D). Education in accordance with the syllabus was prepared for that course (Goal:D, Objective: 1). An announcement was made for blind student in Boğaziçi University about the computer course. The level determination of exam for blind student was made. According to results of the exam, blind people were separated into 3 groups. The first group called beginner. Beginner blind students were composed of the students who have little knowledge about computer. The second group called intermediate. Intermediate blind students were composed of the students who have basic knowledge about computer but not enough advance level. The third group who has advance level of computer but need more practice and more information to use computer.
The course to blind students was individually given by people who has taken computers before. In this level, blind instructors place supervisor role in process of the education of the blind student by cited students. Beginner students take 20 courses and 3 exams. After 8 courses, the beginner students took exams in order to pass intermediate level. Moreover, after 14 courses, the beginner students took another exam to pass advance level. After 20 courses, the beginner students took another exam with intermediate and advance level Intermediate level students took 12 courses and 2 exams. After 6 courses, the intermediate level students took one exam in order to pass advance level. Moreover, after 12 courses, intermediate took one exam together the other. The advance level students took 6 courses and they took one exam with others.
ULTIMATE GOALS
Each visually impaired student in Boğaziçi University used JAWS effectively and there was an increasing tendency in their GPA level (Goal:A). Each visually impaired students in Boğaziçi University increased their attendance rate to lessons (Goal:A, Objective: 1). Each visually impaired students in Boğaziçi University increased their GPA (Goal:A, Objective:2).
Created an awareness among non- blind people that blind people could use computer (Goal:B). The number of sighted people who has an idea about using computer with screen reader increased (Goal:B, Objective: 1).
Students from other universities were announced (Goal:C). They are encouraged to open same training programs (Goal:C, Objective: 1). | 
