Project-Based Learning Opportunities and Exploration of Mentorship (POEM) for Students with Visual Impairments: Lessons Learned from Year 1

In its second year, Project POEM (Project-Based Learning Opportunities and Exploration of Mentorship) engages middle and high school students with visual impairments with experiences to support their knowledge, interest, and ability to pursue STEM subjects and careers. The project intentionally combines project-based learning in Earth and space sciences with a dual-tiered mentoring experience (i.e., mentoring with an industry mentor who has a visual impairment and a university mentor). Students begin the program in a week-long readiness academy during the first summer of their experience. During this experience, students are exposed to different STEM careers through hands-on activities and conduct and present their own investigations in a research topic of their choice under the direction of a research mentor. Students learn about sky island ecology, biology, geology, and astronomy. During the next school year, students engage in exploration activities utilizing 3D-printed tactile models of planetary terrain from Earth, the Moon, and Mars. During these activities they are supported by their university mentors and learn more about working in STEM fields from their industry mentors. In the second summer, students complete a week-long enrichment institute at the University of Arizona where they get to experience college life. During the week, they visit labs and job sites in STEM-related fields and learn about resources for students with visual impairments on college campuses. Based on their ongoing work, each group prepares a 15-20 minute presentation for the Project POEM Symposium in which each presentation is judged for clarity, thoroughness of data analysis, presentation style, and presentation quality of materials used. Results from the first-year pilot study of Project POEM has revealed that students value their interactions with industry mentors who help them understand how to navigate a professional STEM career with a visual impairment. Additionally, students have increased in their knowledge of practical science skills and their knowledge of STEM careers. We discuss how mentors are trained and how the project facilitates interactions between mentors and students.