Dear Colleagues, If you are interested in assisting the American Printing House for the Blind field test a product, please read the information below. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Karen Poppe at: kpoppe@aph.org *FIELD TEST ANNOUNCEMENT* The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is currently seeking field evaluators for *Room with a View (RWAV): Map-Reading Skills and Concepts. RWAV* provides an interactive “room” and an assortment of 3D models and 2D graphics that can be used to represent the interior layout of a single room (e.g., bedroom, kitchen, school classroom) or larger venue (e.g., grocery, library, etc.). The use of the tactile room and related tangibles encourages the development and practice of cognitive mapping skills and spatial understanding. Specifically, *Room with a View* provides students with visual impairments and blindness with the following: 1) interactive tactile materials to assist them in understanding the world around them; 2) exposure to tactile graphic displays within a purposeful context; 3) opportunities to transition from three-dimensional layouts to two-dimensional displays; 4) experience with top-view and side-view perspectives (visual and tactile); 5) practice understanding how the view of a room changes depending on one’s perspective and physical location; 6) a tool for demonstrating knowledge of a variety of basic spatial concepts (e.g., *next to*, *between*, *near*, *behind*, *opposite*, *through*); and 7) creative activities, such as designing and constructing room layouts. The overall objective of *Room with a View* is to provide tactile literacy building experiences for both young and older students. The prototype set of materials includes the following: - Assortment of 3D models including tables, chairs, school desks, grocery checkout counters, grocery carts, service desks, staircase, office desk, refrigerator, oven/stove, sink, bookshelves, classroom desks, bed, person figurines, and more. - Interlocking foam walls in two different lengths and configurations (with or without windows and doors) - (3) Roof sizes (important to teach top view) - 2D Tactile/print room layouts - Layout of top and side view perspectives of selected 3D models - Felt board (as a base/floor for building each room layout) - Sheet of adhesive-backed low-profile hook material (for applying to 3D models—if desired) - Instruction Booklet - An active link to a vector template to digitally customize your own room layouts using the same room features and wall styles encountered in RWAV. - A carrying/storage box *Field testing will be initiated in late November 2016 and extend through the end of February 2017*. Ideal field test sites will be able to use *Room with a View* with multiple students with visual impairments and blindness. The number of prototypes is limited. Field test sites will be chosen based upon location, type of educational setting, number of students per site, and age/grade level of students. Teachers/parents who have not field tested for APH in the past are especially encouraged to participate. All evaluators will be asked to complete and return a Product Evaluation Form and related student outcome data by the end of the field test session. If you would like to be considered as a field evaluator for* Room with a View*, please forward the following information to Karen J. Poppe, Tactile Literacy Project Leader by October 20, 2016, at kpoppe@aph.org: · Your full name · Your professional title · School or Agency Name · Type of setting (e.g., Residential, Resource, Itinerant) · School or Agency mailing address including city, state, and zip code · Your preferred reading medium (print, large print, braille, electronic) · Email address · Best phone number to reach you · Number of your students who are able to participate · Students’ ages · Students’ grade levels · Students’ primary reading medium (e.g. large print, braille, dual reader) · Short explanation for your interest in field testing this product with your students