Activity
Graph Board to Desmos series: Setting up JAWS for Desmos
Learn how to set up JAWS for a smoother, more accessible experience with the Desmos graphing calculator in this quick-start guide for teachers and students!
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, laying the groundwork for meaningful interaction with online graphing tools.
Previous activities included identifying attributes of the coordinate plane and determining locations of ordered pairs, plotting points and graphing a line.
- Graphing concepts activity 1: Attributes and coordinates
- Graphing concepts activity 2: Plotting points
- Graphing concepts activity 3: Graphing a line
Students may benefit from having access to a graph board or pegboard to read or create tactile graphs that correspond with the examples shown in the Desmos graphing calculator.
Activity 1: Setting up JAWS for Desmos
Objective
- Configure JAWS to work efficiently with Desmos.
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
The focus of these activity sets is Desmos with JAWS, because that is the screen reader that the majority of my students use. The Screen Reader Setup reference on the Desmos Accessibility web page includes setup instructions for other screen readers.
What follows is taken mostly verbatim from the Desmos Accessibility web page and reorganized for clarity. Even though the information is available online, I like to have it formatted as a lesson in a document. I walk students through the steps, and they navigate JAWS settings independently. So, this can function as a technology lesson and/or assessment of a student’s navigation skills.
If a student is still learning to use JAWS, navigating the screen reader settings may be difficult. In such cases, the focus of instruction may center on learning and using the Desmos graphing calculator. To support the student, a teacher can pre-adjust the necessary settings on the student’s computer before instruction begins.
Setting up JAWS for Windows
- Set “Speech On Demand” mode to “Full Speech.” This is especially important for users of ZoomText Fusion 2018 which leverages JAWS to provide speech and Braille support. To cycle through the various “Speech On Demand” options, press JAWS key + SPACE, S.
- Disable keyboard echo. Because the Desmos equation editing component provides its own verbal output, disabling keyboard echo completely is recommended. To do this from anywhere while JAWS is running, press JAWS + 2 until “none” is spoken. Alternatively, key echo can be changed within the JAWS Settings Center.
- Adjust the punctuation level. Depending on the active voice profile, JAWS may speak extraneous symbols as you work with the calculator. As Desmos voices pertinent symbols on its own, setting the punctuation level to “some” is recommended. These settings may be changed in Options > Voices > Voice Adjustment.
- Adjust tutor messages. The calculator often times attempts to speak evaluations or whether the current equation has a graph while you type. It is possible that this speech could become chopped off if JAWS tutor messages are active. If you experience chopped off speech, we suggest going to JAWS > Options > Basics and setting tutor messages to either “Turn Off Menu and Control Help” or “Announce Custom Messages Only.”
Additional Considerations
The virtual PC cursor
The instructions below are given for the virtual PC cursor with Desmos. I have Automatic Forms Mode set to Semi-Auto and have not noticed a instance when I have needed to turn the virtual PC cursor on or off. However, it is not bad idea to practice the virtual PC cursor with students and discuss the concept.
When the virtual PC cursor is active in JAWS, you can use the arrow keys and other single-letter commands to browse a web page. When off (such as when Forms Mode is active), all keyboard input passes through to the browser which is needed to enter expressions into the calculators.
JAWS has a few ways to turn the virtual PC cursor on and off (such as entering Forms Mode). Other methods include:
- JAWS key + z is the fastest method for turning the virtual PC cursor on and off, and it can be done at any time.
- Set the Automatic Forms Mode setting to “semi-auto” to have the virtual PC cursor disengage when appropriate. In JAWS Settings, navigate to Forms Mode > Select Forms Mode > SemiAuto.
The pass-through command
If any Desmos-specific commands conflict with the screen reader, use the latter’s pass-through command before pressing the Desmos shortcut. In this instance, press JAWS + 3.
Braille Display Setup
If you use a Braille display, the following adjustments are recommended:
- Press JAWS + 6 to open Settings Center.
- Navigate to Braille > General > Translation.
- Press the DOWN ARROW until Output is selected.
- Press SPACE until “Computer Braille” is selected. If “Computer Braille” is not available, you will also need to choose a language with a Computer Braille table, such as “English United States.”
Depending on the Braille display in use, there may be a keyboard shortcut available to change the output translation table. Consult the “JAWS and Refreshable Braille” book in the JAWS help system for more information. All JAWS keyboard shortcuts are available on the Freedom Scientific website.
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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