Activity
Graph Board to Desmos series: Plotting Points and Audio Trace
Discover how students can build coordinate graphing skills and explore points using Desmos and Audio Trace in this hands-on, accessible lesson!
The Graph Board to Desmos Series is a 3-part resource of accessible lessons that help students transition concepts from using tactile graph boards to navigating digital graphs on Desmos. The first post in the series focuses on configuring JAWS settings for optimal accessibility and to better understand JAWS tech options used with Desmos. This second lesson in the Graph Board to Desmos series focuses on plotting points and using the Audio Trace feature in the Desmos graphing calculator. Students build skills in identifying and placing coordinates while developing auditory graph interpretation through screen reader feedback. The activity supports both spatial reasoning and accessible tech fluency.
Activity 2: Plotting Ordered Pairs in Desmos
Objectives
- Input a set of ordered pairs into the graphing calculator.
- Use Audio Trace to get information about the graph and hear plotted points.
Materials Needed
- PC Laptop with JAWS
- Desmos Accessibility for reference
- Desmos and JAWS keyboard commands
- Desmos Keyboard Shortcuts Shortlist (web page)
- Desmos Keyboard Shortcuts Shortlist (Word doc)
- Desmos Supported Functions reference (Note: the functions supported for the Four-Function and Scientific calculators are also supported for the Graphing calculator.)
Lesson/Activity Sequence
This activity aligns with Graphing Concepts Activity 2: Plotting Points. Students can review plotting points on a graph board prior to plotting points in Desmos. Alternatively, a teacher can plot the points in advance on the graph board for the student to examine before or during instruction using Desmos.
Now that JAWS settings have been adjusted, students can open a web browser and navigate to the Desmos Graphing Calculator: desmos.com/calculator
The JAWS focus will be in the Expression List, in expression 1. The Expression List is the region where a user can input expressions, equations, functions, tables and notes. There are also options for inputting folders and images in the expression list, but we will not get into those during these activities.
Troubleshooting Tips
If the student’s JAWS focus is not in the expression list, Control + Alt + e should send the focus to the expression list.
- If Control + Alt + e does not send the focus to the expression list, the JAWS focus may be outside of the Desmos environment. Pressing Tab or Shift + Tab to navigate forward or backward in the browser until the focus is in the Desmos environment. Alternatively, Ctrl + r or F5 are both keyboard shortcuts that will reload the page. There may be a message asking if you are sure; press Enter to proceed.
- The JAWS focus may be in a different application, in which case holding Alt and pressing Tab will cycle between open applications until locating the web browser.
- The process of adjusting the settings for Desmos should only need to be done once, however it will be required again if JAWS settings are reset.
Inputting Ordered Pairs
- In expression 1, input the first ordered pair. Ordered pairs should be enclosed in parentheses and separated by commas. Input: (5, 8)
- Press Enter to go to expression 2. You can also use down arrow. You can also use tab, but that is not recommended for beginners. Input: (−5, 8)
- Press Enter to go to expression 3. Input: (−8, −5)
- Press Enter to go to expression 4. Input: (8−5)
Audio Tracing Ordered Pairs
Now that the four ordered pairs are input, students can practice using the Audio Trace feature.
- Press up arrow to navigate to expression 1. In the expression list, up and down arrows navigate between expressions. This is a good opportunity to practice that.
- With the focus in expression 1, open Audio Trace (Alt + t). Prior to opening, remind students to listen to everything that JAWS says.
- When Audio Trace first opens, we hear a lot of information about the graph:
- x-minimum and maximum
- y-minimum and maximum
- grid lines visible (not voiced if grid lines are off)
- the number of traceable curves (Desmos uses the term “curves” for anything that is traceable in the graph), in this case there are four audio traceable curves – the four ordered pairs
- audio trace on
- use arrow keys to navigate
- to hear graph, press h
- to move between expressions press Alt + up arrow or Alt + down arrow
- to disable Audio Trace, press Alt + t
- the definition of the currently selected expression.
This is a lot of information, but it is good for beginning users to listen to it all. It tells us some important details and gives us reminders about important keyboard shortcuts. One of the keys to understanding the graph is knowing the x- and y-minimums and maximums. Knowing the x- and y-minimums and maximums gives us an understanding about what appears on our graph. If the y-minimum is −6 and the y-maximum is 6, then two of the points we plotted, (5, 8) and (−5, 8), will not appear on the graph. We would need to change the graph settings if we wanted them to appear on the screen or on a printed copy of the graph.
- Navigate between expressions. Press Alt + up arrow or Alt + down arrow to move between the expressions, each a unique ordered pair. JAWS will read the expression number and the definition of that expression, in this case the ordered pair.
- Press Alt + t or Escape to disable Audio Trace and return to the Expression List.
Now students have adjusted JAWS settings for Desmos and begun exploring the Desmos environment by plotting four ordered pairs in the graphing calculator. In the next activity, we will practice representing linear functions and audio tracing them.
Resources
Graph Board to Desmos Series:
- Post 1: Setting up Jaws for Desmos
- Post 2: Plotting points and navigating Audio Trace
- Post 3: Representing functions in Desmos
- Input functions into the expression list
- Create tables from functions
- Navigate tables
- Editing expressions
- Sharing a graph
Graphing Concepts Series:
- Graphing concepts activity 1: Attributes and coordinates
- Graphing concepts activity 2: Plotting points
- Graphing concepts activity 3: Graphing a line
Additional math resources by TEAM Initiative:
- Digital math: Introducing skill level checklists
- Digital math: Workflows from teacher to student and student to teacher
This post was created as part of the TEAM Initiative to support Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVIs) in preparing students to be successful in algebra using digital tools. This series focuses on building foundational math and technology skills that empower students to confidently transition from tactile graphing methods to using the Desmos graphing calculator for exploring and analyzing algebraic concepts. Written by TSBVI Short-Term Programs math instructor John Rose, who teaches a hybrid Algebra I course that combines online and in-person instruction supporting students with visual impairments across Texas in earning high school credit. If you would like more information about the TEAM Initiative, contact Leslie Thatcher at [email protected].
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