Youtube's "Living Blind" Blog

Labs: Enzymes

stephie2010 — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:12:32 +0000

This lab was over enzymes. It was interesting to see (or feel) what enzymes can do (or not do) to certain substances. Sometimes there was a reaction, and sometimes there wasn’t one.
An enzyme is a substance that dissolves other substances. In this case the enzyme was Hydrogen Peroxide, and the substances we were attempting to dissolve (or attempting to dissolve) varied.
The lab started with the group pouring Hydrogen peroxide into baking soda. It did bubble, which was what was supposed to happen. The professor put Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda into a smaller glass cylinder so that I could feel it bubble. She explained that that was the reaction they were seeing.
Then We had to mix Hydrogen Peroxide into a cylinder of water. I got to pour. We had to stir for 20 seconds, then stop to see if it had a reaction aka see if there were bubble at the top of the cylinder. There was no reaction.
Then we tried liver and hydrogen peroxide. There was a reaction before we could even finish pouring in the hydrogen peroxide. Sense there was a reaction we had to measure how far up the cylinder the bubbles went.
Next was hydrogen Peroxide and Pine Apples. I think this was supposed to produce a reaction, but it did not. Not even when we added water.
We tried hydrogen peroxide and cold water which didn’t produce a reaction. Then we boiled the water using a hot plate. We measured the water first using a talking thermometer (which I might add could have a better voice and tone). We discovered that there was a reaction when the peroxide was mixed in with boiling water.
Then we tried more of something such as water, hydrogen Peroxide and discovered that there was in fact a reaction if more of these things were added to the mix.
The lab continued on like this. Adding more of a substance, adding less of another substance, and so on.
That’s all I have for today.
Thanks for reading!

Do you use a magnifier?

stephie2010 — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:56:43 +0000

I don’t know why, but it seems like every time I tell someone that I use a screen reader (text to speech program.) The next question out of their mouth is, “Do you use a magnifier?”Now before I continue with this blog let me explain something for those of you who don’t know.
I have some vision, but it isn’t enough to do anything with. I can’t read print (at all), in fact I usually can’t even see the letters unless they’re really huge, and outlined in black. At elast I use to be able to do that. Not sure if I can any more. I think my vision has deteriated some sense the last time I was tested. When I look at a screen or a piece of paper that is supposed to have words written on it. It just looks like a blank piece of paper or screen. Though, I can distinguish between some colors like blue and yellow.
Now that I’ve explained that aspect of things. The answer to this particular question is, of course a big fat “NO”.
Thanks for reading.
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Note: as of now if you live in Canada you will not have access to this podcast. We’re very sorry. And we’ll update you as soon as it becomes available (if it ever does.) So, for our Canadian friends let’s hope that it does. You can still listen to the podcast though. We’ll post a blog to let every one know that a new podcast has been posted.
Update:
The podcast is now available in the Canadian Itunes store.

Testing the player for the podcast.

stephie2010 — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:46:00 +0000

Hi everyone.
So we’re testing the podcast player. So to listen to the introduction for the podcast copy and paste this link:

http://youtubeslivingblind.podomatic.com/embed/frame/posting/2012-02-13T16_20_16-08_00?json_url=http%3A%2F%2Fyoutubeslivingblind.podomatic.com%2Fentry%2Fembed_params%2F2012-02-13T16_20_16-08_00%3Fcolor%3D43bee7%26autoPlay%3Dtrue%26facebook%3Dtrue%26height%3D85%26minicast%3Dfalse%26objembed%3D0%26width%3D300

Thank you!

Labs: Mitosis and Meiosis

stephie2010 — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:17:46 +0000

This lab was over Meiosis and Mitosis. Now before I continue with this critique let’s explain what Meiosis and Mitosis is. Because if you’re like me you will tend to get these processes confused.
Mitosis includes: Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, and Telophase. In this process everything gets multiplied by two. However, in Meiosis everything is halved. So that instead of having just two haploid cells there would instead be four of them. Anyway on to the lab.
The lab started out well. We had to answer a ton of questions while we completed the lab. One of the things we had to do was look at a fish to determine if we could spot the mitosis process. Sense I couldn’t look through a microscope I used models for each of the four stages. My professor explained that what I was looking at in these models was what I would see if I were able to look through a microscope. This helped me get an idea of the Mitosis process. Then, the other students had examine an onion root to see what phase it was in. Again, I used the models.
Then we got to that question about beads. I got to do that one. I had to in order to answer the entire set of questions. I think the beads were to show the crossing over process, but I’m not sure. I really liked the idea behind the beads though.
Thanks for reading!

Bio lab: Cell fusion

stephie2010 — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:45:58 +0000

This lab was on cell fusion. In the beginning we had to smell this oil that smells like Cherries, but had some kind of nuts and alcohol in it. (I really don’t remember what it’s called.) Then we had to put in a cabinet and wait for an hour.
While we waited on that I answered the questions about the lab. The other students looked at a cell or two through a microscope. However, I wasn’t able to do this because I am not able to see it. Though part of me wishes it had been descried to me.
After the oil was placed in the cabinet, we had to spray perfume. To do this we had to go out in the hallway. We had to measure how far it permeated. My table used my nose because they said I had a better sense of smell then they do.
After an hour had passed we made eatable cells. We made them out of candy including: Gummy worms, raisins, gum drops, Jell-O, and M and Ms. We were allowed to be creative with our cells. The only rules were that we couldn’t eat any of the candy, that we had to make two cells, and that we couldn’t eat the cells until the professor looked at them. We also had for which part of the cell the candy represented. Okay so there were a few exceptions like for example the cell walls had to be made up of sour gummy worms, but other then that we got to build the cell any way we wanted.
After the eatable cell was complete we had to smell the cabinet to see if the cherry oil had permeated it. Then I finished answering the questions, and was able to leave. I didn’t really find much to critique in this lab. I do hope you find this useful in some way.
Thanks for reading!

Lab: Measurements

stephie2010 — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:21:47 +0000

This lab was on measurements. As with any sort of math, measurements and I don’t really get along. But I think I did okay. Now let’s get to the lab shall we?
The first thing I had to measure was a block of wood. I had to measure the length, with, and depth of the wood. Sense I’m horrible at measurements this was sort of hard for me, but I think the measurements are pretty accurate. Then I had to do the same with a sponge.
The next thing I had to do is weigh the wood. This part was easy because I’m pretty good at guessing how much something weighs just by holding it. The weights I used were “Shake weights.” Then I had to weigh a marble. This proved a little more difficult because two of the weights I picked up weighed about the same as the marble. I finally settled on one and had my personal assistant (note taker.)
The biology professor had my note taker show me a slide, then a “wet slide.” Which is when you put a drop of water on a slide and put it under a microscope.
I kind of like the shake weight idea. It was a great idea. When my personal assistant showed me the microscope, and the slides I got the feeling that he was sort of feeling like the teacher. When I asked him if that was how he was feeling he said “Sort of. Yes.” I remember when I was in school and my aid would often say that she felt more like my teacher then my aid. While I understand that the teacher is often busy with other students. I also feel like it’s the teacher’s job to introduce a student to new things. It was kind of nice to see the Wet slide, though part of me wanted to se what the water contained. But, I know that that’s impossible unless someone looks at it through the microscope and describes it to me. I imagine that it would be a lot of extra work for them.
That’s all I have for you today.
Thanks for reading!

Lab Critique: Pill bugs

stephie2010 — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:40:36 +0000

The first lab we did was over Pill Bugs. Also known as pill bugs, sow bugs, rolly pollies, and by its scientific name Armadillidium vulgare. As far as labs go this one was fairly easy. We did this one in groups, so it made some aspects of this lab easier then if I’d had to do it alone.
The first thing we had to do is observe a pill bug. We had to watch it through a microscope. We had to count how many pairs of legs it had. The rest of the group had to observe what the shell of a pill bug looked like, but I got to feel it. Just so you know it’s soft, not hard. I got to hold the pill bug, and it started walking around in my hand. It kind of tickled my hand when it walked.
Then we had to observe what the pill bug would do when it was placed in an empty bowl. After completing the “empty bowl” part of the lab we had to observe what the pill bug would do when it was placed in a dry, or wet substance. The rest of the group told me that it liked the sand, did not react the corn starch, and hated the water. If this hadn’t been a group lab, I would’ve had to touch the pill bug in order to see what its reactions wwould be.
The group had to look for certain things on the pill bug such as where the pill bug’s eyes are located etc. If they hadn’t described to me what they saw, then I would not have been able to do that part of the lab.
Instead of having me draw the pill bug the Biology professor had me describe to my Personal assistant (note taker) what it looked like. I personally am not a good artist, so this method worked well for me. However, a blind or visually impaired person may find it easier to draw a picture using a Raised-Line Drawing Board. Not many critiques on this one, but I do hope you find the ones that I do have useful.
Thanks for reading!

Intro to the new series that I’ve been tweeting about.

stephie2010 — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:53:12 +0000

Okay so I guess you’re wandering what this new series is that I’ve been tweeting about. Well… You know how I sometimes critique (tell what works, what doesn’t, and how to fix it) my professors? My Biology proffessor has given me permission to critique her and the labs that we have to do in that class. So I decided to turn it into a series. Maybe my observations about what works and what doesn’t will help another teacher or help a student explain to a teacher exactly what they need to succeed in their science class.
This series still doesn’t have a name, so if you’d like to suggest one reply to LivingBlindBlog on twitter, or my personal twitter Stephie2010. If I get enough suggestions I may narrow it down to two or three and let the ones who follow LivingBlindBlog choose what this series will be called. So make sure you are following LivingBlindBlog if you wish to participate. I am so excited to be doing this series. Thanks to the professor (who shall remain nameless unless she tells me other wise) for letting me do this.
Thanks for reading!
P. S.
I’m a couple of labs behind so expect two more blogs at some point this week. It will probably be on either Friday, Saturday, or sunday. Unless I change my mind of course.

How do I (as a blind person) know who you are?

stephie2010 — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:32:04 +0000

Okay so let me get this out of the way first. I meant to post this a long time ago, but I kept forgetting to do so. Now having said that, let’s continue.
A couple of semesters a go I had an english professor who used a new technique with me to let me know who was talking to me. (Well… It was new to me.) He even had the rest of the class do it to. This technique helped me remember who was speaking to me. Especially if I didn’t see them on a regular basis.
So What is this technique?
I don’t think it has a name, but here’s how it works. You (assuming you’re sighted) walk up to a blind person. Instead of just saying “Hi.” You say “hi ____. It’s ____.” This way the blind person (me) will know both that you’re talking to us and who you are.
As a blind person I always feel awkward asking “Who are you?” especially if it’s someone that I’ve know for a while. So this really helps I know what you’re thinking “If you’ve know them for a while why would you not know who they are? The reason is because everyone’s vooice changes as they age. (I may try to explain more in a future podcast or blog.)
There is a downside to this technique though. You can really “overe use” it. What do I mean by this? Say that you have contact with the same blind person every day through work, school, or colleg etc. It might get a little annoying for the blind person to hear “It’s ____.” every day. However I do reccamend that you do continue to say “Hi ___.” When talking to a blind person. For all we know you could be talking to the person next to us, behind us, or down the street.
I hope this helps someone else who is struggeling with this issue. Thanks to the professor who shall remain nameless for first using this technique with me. I’ve found it to be very helpful.
Thanks for reading!
P. S.
For those who don’t follow the twitter(and why not?) I’m going to start a new series on here. The intro for this series will (hopefully) be up sometime to night. I hope you don’t mind that I’m posting two blogs in one day.

This is a test. That is all.

matt692 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:09:35 +0000

Hi. this is only a test to see if twitter will work. Fingers crossed!