Take a moment to think about maths class in your 7th year of school. Do you remember learning about the Pythagorean theorem by drawing right triangles with corresponding squares on each side? Or, did you use graphs to analyze functions when you were a bit older? When you think back, you probably also remember how helpful visualizations can be for understanding abstract mathematical concepts. Imagine how much more difficult it would be to understand such concepts or complex data if, because of a sight impairment, you could not rely on this method for assistance
To make maths and science concepts more accessible, researchers at the University of Konstanz led by Johannes Huwer and Lars-Jochen Thoms (both with expertise in teaching methodology for the natural sciences) teamed up with colleagues from universities in Spain and Italy. Their goal is to work with ONCE – a Spanish organization for people with sight impairments – to develop teaching materials for school and university students that make it possible to "grasp" mathematical concepts and scientific data using touch instead of sight.
Open educational resources from the 3D printer
The EUniWell-funded project "Geo3DTouch" enables the development of tactile learning materials that allow students to use touch to examine data gathered in scientific experiments or analyses – such as spectroscopy data from the field of chemistry. A 3D printer produces the spectra as three-dimensional graphs so that students can feel the peaks of the spectrum with their fingers. The collaboration between the four EUniWell universities and ONCE will tailor the materials precisely to the needs of people with sight impairments. Teachers as well as students with sight impairments are included in the development process.
The first prototypes for teaching materials took shape during the project's kick-off meeting in January 2025 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. As a next step, students and didactics experts from the participating universities will now refine and implement these concepts. "Through the constructive, joint effort of researchers and practitioners we can develop and test suitable teaching materials, opening an inclusive access road for people with sight impairments: touch makes it possible to truly 'grasp' the data", Huwer says.
At the end of the project, the teaching materials will be available for anyone to print with a standard 3D printer. The corresponding print templates will be provided online and free of charge from the Geo3DTouch team. In addition to this, the team will develop detailed instructions for how to use the materials effectively, with suggested teaching methods and potential learning activities that dovetail with the tactile teaching materials.
About the EUniWell Seed Funding Programme
The project Geo3DTouch is supported by the Seed Funding Programme of the European University of Well-Being (EUniWell), the central funding instrument of the EUniWell alliance consisting of eleven European universities. Funding is provided for projects that align with EUniWell's core commitments to advancing well-being in health, education, the personal and institutional sphere, as well as in society and culture. Each project can receive funding of up to 25,000 euros.
Key facts:
- An international team from the European University for Well-Being (EUniWell) is developing tactile teaching materials to make maths and science more accessible to people with a sight impairment.
- Institutions involved: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (Spain), University of Murcia (Spain), University of Florence (Italy), University of Konstanz (Germany) and Spanish National Organisation of the Blind (ONCE; Spain)
- EUniWell – the European University for Well-Being – is a European University Alliance funded by the European Commission under the ERASMUS+ programme. The alliance consists of eleven universities from Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Hungary, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. More information
- Project funding: European University of Well-Being (EUniWell) Seedfunding Programme
Note to editors:
Photos are available here:
Link: https://www.uni-konstanz.de/fileadmin/pi/fileserver/2025/geo3dtouch_2.jpg
Caption: A prototype of three-dimensional tactile material for learning about the spectral irradiance on a probe
Copyright: Huwer research team, University of Konstanz