저시력 학생의 ‘지도 이해’ 수업에 대한 질적 사례연구

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the awareness of students with low vision about instruction of a map and problems with that instruction in a bid to suggest some of the right directions for map instruction geared toward students with low vision. The subjects in this study were four students with low vision at the special school for visual impairment students in Chungju. After they took special lessons in understanding of a map, an in-depth interview was held. The findings of the study on the perception of the students about instruction of map were as follows:First, as for awareness of signs, they generally had a good understanding of signs that were similar to the real images of things such as schools or churches or that they already have learned from their experiences. But they found it quite difficult to make out signs that showed some particular characteristics of things like the signs of railroads, and they also had difficulties in understanding signs that represented things of which they didn't know the exact meaning or characteristics like patches or rice fields. Second, concerning perception of directions, they considered it hard to form an overall space conception due to their low vision, and they perceive that the directions of real life are an entirely separate entity from those of map. Third, regarding awareness of scale, they got to make out the concept of scale that a real size was reduced on a map when they learned about that by walking on the school ground, but they felt that scale was difficult to learn probably because it needed calculation. Besides, they complained that the mark of scale on a map was too small to discriminate due to their low vision. Fourth, perception of a contour, they were able to make out the concept of a contour when they learned about that by cutting onions and potatoes, but the interval of contours on a topographical map was too small, and it was impossible to discriminate the contours without using an aid. Moreover, they couldn't often discriminate even colored contours, since they faced difficulties in discriminating colors because of low vision. The findings of the study about map reading and inquiring into surroundings by using a map were as follows:A lot of information that were included on a map in relation to map reading just looked complicated for the students with low vision, and they didn't make the most of the information as what's necessary to read the map. They only made use of selective information what they easily understood like signs or relied on the name of a place written on the map. In relation to searching surroundings by utilizing a map, they chose a place that they had already visited, which made it possible for them to search the place by using a map with little troubles, but they preferred to rely on their own prior experiences instead of utilizing the topographical map, or preferred to ask around people based on their experiences of walking training which was provided as part of remedial education. Basically, they should be able to find out their location by reading a map to arrive at a final destination, but the students with low vision couldn't see the outline of things and eventually had difficulties in utilizing a topographical map. Finally, the findings of the study on the utilization of a map through information media were as follows:They didn't feel rejective toward computer, probably because digital equipment was easily accessible, but they complained that it was not easy for them to retrieve online maps provided by portal sites because of the complexity of the maps. For students with normal vision, it was so easy to input keywords and click a place of departure and destination with a mouse, but they took a lot of time to do that. In regard to the use of a car navigation system, a portable GPS-based equipment, the students had interest in that when they used the navigation in a car, since a digital map was intriguing. But they intended to take advantage of only the sound information , and the written information on the screen was too small, which made it inconvenient for them to use it. But they had a far more preference for the navigation than printed paper maps as the equipment offered sound information and the navigation was easy for them to carry.