Service Learning in Information Science: Web for the Blind

The biggest problem to blind and visually impaired people poses the integration in various aspects of the social life. Since computer technology with its domi-nantly visual interface increasingly becomes the prime media for communica-tion, these people are faced with a new obstacle – the ability to work on a com-puter and use it to communicate with others. Technologies that enable the blind to use the computer do exist, both hardware and software, but they have diffi-culty learning to use them. The reason for this is lack of standardized educa-tional program so that computer education of blind is usually left to themselves and a few associations that do not have sufficiently qualified staff for such a task. Our service learning project offers the first step to possible solution of the current situation. Service learning is a methodology where learning occurs when students apply what they learn to community problems. It was introduced into information sci-ence curriculum in the academic year 2006/07 for the first time in Croatian University with the goal to transform the old teaching style, give the final yea