Sonic Interaction Design for Science Education

The PhET project is a collection of over 130 interactive simulations (or “sims”) designed to teach physics concepts to students from elementary to university levels. The sims rely heavily on visual representation, making them inaccessible to students with disabilities, including those with visual impairments. We present the theory, methods, and process behind our audio design and provide example mapping strategies from two of the simulations. We compare physical, abstract, and musical mapping strategies, noting the strengths of each. We conclude with design recommendations that have arisen in our work, and for which we think would benefit the field at large.