As part of high school and college general education requirements, I would take a different science class each year. My high school science classes included earth science, biology, chemistry, and AP environmental science, while in college I took geology and several data science classes that incorporated applied science topics.
One of the most helpful tools in the science classroom for a low vision student like me was an iPad so that I could access applications that make it possible to enlarge content and hold the screen closer to my face than a laptop or desktop computer. I frequently used my iPad in some capacity to work on assignments or make things bigger on my own, which helped prepare me for accessing information independently in college and beyond. Here are five apps I use in the science classroom as a low vision student, available on iPad and/or Android.
Completing science labs and assignments: Notability
With Notability, students can upload Word and PDF documents and annotate/write on top of them with their finger, a stylus, or text boxes for typing. I was introduced to this application my junior year of high school, and this was a game changer for enlarging chemistry assignments as I could use pinch-to-zoom to make text larger and undo/erase work more easily compared to if I was writing on paper. Because content is displayed on my iPad, I can adjust the screen to fit under the bifocal in my glasses and hold my face closer to the screen compared to a traditional computer, and find it much easier to write neatly on a slanted/tilted screen instead of having paper flat on my desk.
I still use Notability in college for writing on top of assignments and files, and I love that I can apply settings like invert colors and change ink colors to make content even easier to see. In high school, I had a shared folder for uploading/downloading assignments that my teacher could access from their computer, and I would export everything as a PDF.
Notability is free to download and has a free plan available, which is what I use for my classes. Notability is only available for iOS, iPadOS, and Mac.
Related links
- Notability and Low Vision
- Digital Rulers For Dysgraphia and Low Vision
- Assistive Technology For Dysgraphia
- Implementing Shared Folders For Accessible Materials
- How I Use The Apple Pencil With Low Vision
- How I Show Work For Math With Low Vision and Dysgraphia
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Tablets
- Why I Prefer My Schoolwork Digitally: Updated Edition
- Adapting Page Layouts: Math Problems and Low Vision
Taking notes and scanning in documents: Microsoft OneNote and Microsoft Lens
I use the free Microsoft OneNote app on my computer and iPad for taking notes in all of my classes, not just science classes. OneNote offers several options for adding notes that aren’t just text, such as pictures, hyperlinks, math notation, drawings, audio recordings, and integrations with other applications like Microsoft Whiteboard (a tool I used in college classes). While students can create collaborative notebooks and share their notebooks with others to view and/or edit, I did not personally use this feature in any of my science classes— my teachers would usually give me a copy of notes from the board in another format, and I would be expected to import them into OneNote myself.
Another tool that I would use with OneNote in college science classes is Microsoft Lens, which is a free scanning application that takes high-quality scans of whiteboards, documents, business cards, and other physical media and converts them into images or documents that can be read or shared with other applications. I would use Lens to take pictures of the dry-erase board in class and attach them to my notes, or use a personal dry-erase board as scratch paper for assignments and scan them with Lens so I could attach them to my assignments. Microsoft Lens is available for both iOS and Android, but I use the Android app more frequently because it is easier to hold my phone than an iPad.
Related links
- How I Use Microsoft OneNote With Low Vision
- How I Use Microsoft Lens With Low Vision
- How I Use Microsoft Whiteboard With Low Vision
- How I Outline Research Papers With OneNote
- How I Take Notes During Video Lectures With Low Vision
- How To Make Things On The Board Easier To See
- Common Classroom Accommodations For Low Vision
Identifying objects and searching for high resolution images: Google Lens
Google Lens is a free smart camera application that can be used to identify objects, search for high resolution images, recognize text, and provide additional information about different types of items. When I was taking a college geology class, I would use Google Lens to take photos of specimens and view high-resolution images so that I could examine details visually without holding a pointy rock super close to my face. I’ve also used Google Lens to aid with plant identification, viewing items at a science museum, and reading labels/instructions for products.
Google Lens is not just a single app, but rather it is an image recognition technology incorporated into several Google products, such as:
- Google Search application for iOS and Android devices (look for the camera icon in the search bar)
- Google Lens app for Android— this is what I would use in science classes
- Lens feature in Google Photos app for getting information about pictures in the Android gallery
- Built-in features for Camera app on Android devices (such as QR scanner and document scanner, which copies text to clipboard)
- Google Lens shortcut is pinned to default Pixel launcher on supported devices.
Another way I would use Google Lens is to search for digital 3D models of images, which I could often enlarge at a higher resolution than 2D photos that could become pixelated. These would often be visible in search results, or I could edit my search to request 3D models.
Related links
- Google Lens on Google Play Store
- How I Use Google Lens With Low Vision
- How I Use Google Assistant While Traveling
- How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions For Flowers
- Microsoft 3D Models and Low Vision
- How To Access Images Without Alt Text
- How To Create High Resolution Images For Users With Low Vision
Enlarging environmental objects or observing visual changes: Camera/Magnifier
Since I didn’t have access to a video magnifier until college, I would use my phone’s camera or a magnifier app to zoom in on text, symbols, or objects so that I could get a closer look. Sometimes, I would use the camera app on my phone because I could turn on a flashlight/flash or discreetly point my phone at something to take a photo and zoom in. Apps like Magnifier provide much more options for enlarging content with low vision, including options for adding display filters, adjustable brightness, and high-contrast mode.
Another helpful app for the science classroom that I would use for a graduate school project is the image recognition tool in Microsoft Seeing AI, which can provide detailed image descriptions of content from my camera roll or pictures that I would take in class. Unlike Google Lens, this does not search the web for related content or provide an option to view an image in higher resolution, but it does provide text-based descriptions that I can read in large print or listen to. Microsoft Seeing AI is free to use and does not require a Microsoft account.
Related links
- iOS Magnifier and Low Vision Accessibility
- How I Use My Phone As Assistive Technology In Class
- Reading Handwriting With Assistive Technology
- All About The Eschenbach SmartLux Digital Video Magnifier
- How To Create Accessible Diagrams For Low Vision
- Science Labs and Low Vision
- My Experience With Virtual Classes in High School
- Recognizing Images With Seeing AI
Watching videos with audio description: DCMP/YouDescribe
I didn’t start watching videos with audio description until I was in college, but I wish I had started doing this sooner! The Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) provides free educational videos with audio description, an additional narrative track that describes key visual elements for audiences that might not be able to see it, and also offers transcripts that can be read with large print or on braille displays. Another option for creating or finding science videos with audio description is the free YouDescribe platform, which can be used for adding audio description to any public video on YouTube.
Another strategy I have used with students is audio narrated images, which incorporate audio content and annotation to provide additional context and/or clarification about what is in an image. This is really helpful for science classes, which often feature visually complex diagrams and drawings.
Related links
- DCMP: Free Audio Described Videos For Classrooms
- How To Describe Science Experiments For Visually Impaired Students
- YouDescribe: Audio Description For YouTube
- How To Make Classroom Videos Easier To See
- Recording Video Lectures For Visually Impaired Students
- Solar Eclipse Accessibility Resources: Assistive Technology For Blind and Low Vision
- Creating Audio Narrated Images For Low Vision
Bonus: Reading the Periodic Table/Using a calculator: Multiple options
I have used a few different Periodic Table options over the years in my science classes, and maintain a list of accessible Periodic Table applications for low vision and nonvisual learners, including an accessible version of the Periodic Table used for standardized testing in Virginia. I’ve also linked a few options for accessible calculators and other apps and strategies I use in the science classroom as a low vision student. Check it out!
Related links
- Free Accessible Periodic Tables For Low Vision
- Five Accessible Calculator Apps For Low Vision
- How To Describe Science Experiments For Visually Impaired Students
- Science Labs and Low Vision
- Science Fairs and Low Vision
- How To Create Accessible Diagrams For Low Vision
- Accessible Python IDEs For Low Vision
- Tuva Tools and Low Vision Accessibility
- Choosing Accessible Microscopes For Low Vision
Published January 23, 2018. Updated January 2025