Activity
Digital Math Summary Page
Resources for accessible digital math: How to create digital assignments, how to complete assignments with a screen reader, lessons, and more!
Today’s students are accessing educational materials online or in a digital format. COVID school closures have sped up the process of transitioning to digital classrooms; states/districts have fully embraced digital classrooms or are working to incorporate technology into every classroom – including math courses. After all, the goal of education is to prepare students for careers and today’s work force relies heavily on technology.
The College Board is also changing with the times and is moving from traditional paper-and-pencil to computer-based testing. According to the College Board, “Students are now doing more of their learning and testing digitally, and the SAT shouldn’t be the exception.”
What does this re-alignment to digital math mean for TSVIs and BLV students? In the past, K-12 students received textbooks, assignments, and tests in braille. Currently, many K-12 students still receive all their math materials in paper braille, and they complete these assignments using paper braille. Other students are successfully completing assignments and tests in a digital format – after learning math concepts tactually. Many students prefer pairing a braille display with their device; this enables the student to hear the math equations read aloud while using their fingers to read the refreshable braille along with using the braille display to input math expressions. The goal is to move to access and complete assignments and tests in digital formats.
One of the biggest challenges for BLV college freshman is accessing and completing math courses, as universities typically do not provide paper braille resources. College students often must learn digital math tools while re-training their brains to make the switch from paper braille to digital formats. . . without the support of a TSVI. College math courses are challenging and move quickly! As always, students should be using the same tools to access and complete assignments in K-12 that they will be using in college and careers. This means that students should be learning to access and complete digital math assignments in K-12 math courses.
It is important to remember that braille displays currently are one line, meaning that the digital math equations can only be viewed as horizontal equations. When using paper braille, students can create, access and complete math problems in horizontal or vertical formats.
General
While this post, Digital Math Summary, concentrates on digital math tools geared for older students, it is important to understand that young students should be introduced to digital math concepts and tools (paired with tactile materials) early on! The posts in the General section below focus on transitioning to digital math. The Math apps and activities summary page for students K-3rd grade offer a full range of math apps and activities; below are a few of these math transition posts to help jump start your journey into digital math!
- Moving forward with accessible digital math: Part 1
- Moving forward with accessible digital math: Part 2
- Digital transition #2: Math grid activities
- Digital transitions #4: Bar charts (Fall leaf activity)
- Introducing accessible digital grid and table (includes student videos using tactile materials transitioning to digital materials)
- Teaching positions in a table: iOS activity
Creating accessible digital math content
Unfortunately, most digital and online math resources are not accessible. The age-old question, “What comes first, the chicken or the egg?” applies to accessible digital math. Textbook publishers hesitate to add new math tools to online math assessments because students are not efficient with digital math. However, students cannot become efficient without having access to new math tools.
There are tools currently available that most TSVIs are not aware of and/or have not used yet. Can educators create digital math assignments with math expressions and can students complete these assignments in digital format? You bet! There are several types of options for creating accessible digital math expressions. Markup languages are the most robust and have been around for a while; this is the preferred method for BLV professionals in STEM fields. Math editors are newer and easier to use, but may not have the full list of features required for high level STEM courses or careers. Are these available math tools compatible with screen readers and braille displays? YES, screen readers and braille displays are can read and interact with math content created with both markup languages and math editors.
Creating math expressions: Markup languages
For decades, college students and professionals with visual impairments have been using math markup languages to access and create digital math expressions. MathML and LaTeX are two popular math languages. Using markup languages is a robust way to access higher math and STEM materials; however, there is a learning curve with these math languages, as they require additional symbols to be added to the math expression. Most TSVIs are not familiar with markup languages and few K-12 students are learning these markup languages prior to entering college.
LaTeX
LaTeX is a high-quality typesetting system designed for the production of technical and scientific documentation. It is available as a free software. (First released in 1984.)
MathML (Mathematical Markup Language)
MathML is a mathematical markup language, an application of XML for describing mathematical notations. It aims at integrating mathematical formulae into World Wide Web pages and other documents. (First released in 1998.)
MathJax
MathJax is a cross-browser JavaScript library that displays mathematical notation in web browsers, using MathML, LaTeX and ASCIIMathML markup. It is an open-source software. (First released in 2010.)
Creating math expressions: Math editors
More recent options are math editors, which use editable text boxes to type in the math expression which is then automatically translated – no extra symbols are required, simply enter the math equation like normal using a QWERTY keyboard or braille input using a braille display. Microsoft Word has a robust, built-in math editor; this is a mainstream tool that is also fully accessible that is being used by classroom teachers to create educational worksheets. JAWS released the Braille Math Editor feature and Pearson is working on the Accessible Equation Editor. These two math editors are new and are currently under active development and/or being fine tuned.
Microsoft Word math editor
Microsoft Word has a built-in math editor (sometimes called Equation Editor); the feature is found in Word’s ribbon. The accessible math editor is used to insert mathematical expressions into a Word document. Mathematical expressions in a Word document are fully accessible with a screen reader and/or a screen reader paired with a braille display. (First released in 2007?)
- Accessible Math Editor: Word (Microsoft Word’s built-in math editor; includes demonstration on how to read the math expressions)
MathType
MathType is a software application created by Design Science that allows the creation of mathematical notation for inclusion in desktop and web applications. (First released in 1987.)
- Creating digital math worksheets that can be accessed on Windows computers post (MathType an equation editor)
- Producing Nemeth Code through MathType, Word and Duxbury
Braille Math Editor (BME)
The Braille Math Editor is a new math editor feature in JAWS by Freedom Scientific designed to insert mathematical expressions into a Word document. (Released 2021)
- Braille Math Editor: JAWS and Fusion
- Braille Math Editor: Student video tutorial post (Feature in JAWS; currently Nemeth code only)
Accessible Equation Editor (AEE)
Accessible Equation Editor is a program used in a number of Pearson products that enables users to create math expressions within a web page. (Prototype is currently available.)
- Recruiting for Accessible Equation Editor user study post (Pearson’s math editor that supports Nemeth code; post has a link to try the Accessible Equation Editor)
Braille notetaker
Some braille notetakers such as the BrailleNote Touch, BrailleNote Touch Plus, and Braille Sense Polaris have built-in software that enables math output and input.
Reading digital math expressions
- How to read math expressions with a screen reader on a Windows computer (Using MathPlayer)
- JAWS 2021 math support update (Includes JAWS commands to read math expressions)
- How to read math expressions with a screen reader on an iOS device
Under development
Automated Translation Team (AMT): AMT is working on developing software that will automatically translate printed mathematics text into Nemeth Braille. The goal is to provide Braille textbooks in a timely manner and at lower costs to universities.
Graphs and charts
SAS Graphics Accelerator
SAS Graphics Accelerator is a free Chrome extension that enables blind and low vision users to access digital charts, graphs and maps. There are numerous posts on SAS Graphics Accelerator; see SAS Graphics Accelerator Summary Page for a full list of posts. Two posts in particular are beneficial for all digital graphing:
- Sonification: Sounds with meaning activity (Provides audio examples of different types of graphs and explains what is heard.)
- Charts and graphs skills review (Each type of chart is defined, the layout of each chart is described, and instructions on how to read each chart; includes files to emboss the sample charts and nonvisual digital versions of each chart are available.
Excel Spreadsheets
- All about Excel spreadsheets
- Creating charts and graphs using Microsoft Excel
- Graphing with Microsoft Excel and JAWS (student video tutorial)
Accessible iOS bar charts: Pages
- Creating an accessible bar chart in the Pages app: iOS 11 (accessible bar charts were released in iOS 11 and continue to be accessible now)
- Digital transitions #4: Bar charts (Fall leaf activity) (Tactile bar charts and accessible digital bar iOS charts in the Pages app; includes step-by-step instructions and video tutorial)
Misc. charts and graphs
- Equatio and Google Docs tutorial
- Highcharts: Accessible, interactive charts and graphs
- How to create accessible map charts for low vision
- How to create accessible pie charts for low vision
- Making sense of math with audio graphs (SenseMath app)
Graphing calculator
Desmos (app and website)
Desmos is an advanced graphing calculator implemented as a web application and a mobile application. It is fully accessible with a screen reader and braille display, or simply convert your keyboard to a six key Braille input. Desmos is an embedded tool or is allowed to be used on College Board assessments, NWEA Map Growth test and many state assessments and is backed by Pearson.
- Accessible, interactive math with Desmos (recorded webinar)
- Desmos audio tracing: Introducing sonified graphs (recording of student lesson)
- Exploring math with Desmos: Getting started
- Graphing for blind students tutorial (Video tutorial demonstrating Excel, Desmos and Sheets to master accessible graphing)
- Test-approved graphing calculator app (Desmos)
- Understanding Desmos: Sonification lessons
- Create embosser ready graphs directly from Desmos
Misc. digital math
- Tech standards: Navigating a table using JAWS
- Tips and strategies to make statistics and probability accessible
- Google Docs table activity: Warm/cold-blooded animals
- Algebra by Hand: A Web-based tool
Low vision
- How to create an accessible equation formula sheet (high tech and no tech)
- How to create accessible map charts for low vision
- How to create accessible pie charts for low vision
- Math test accommodations for low vision
- No-tech solutions for drawing graphs with low vision and dysgraphia
BlindMath listserv is a wonderful, in-depth resource for students, BLV professionals and educators. This listserv is a place to ask questions, share knowledge and frequently hosts virtual discussions and trainings. [email protected]
Share your math tools!
Accessible digital math is rapidly evolving! I’m excited at the new and/or updated options that have been developed in the last couple of years. Please help us keep up-to-date on accessible digital math tools by sharing what tools YOUR students are using and their strategies for success! Contact us: [email protected]
By Diane Brauner, 2/24/23
Back to Paths to Technology’s Summary page
Back to Paths to Technology’s Home page
