Math Accommodations

1. Math Accommodations

2. Issues • Accessing books/problem sets • Doing homework/tests • Getting information in class

3. Tips for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

4. Suggestions for Instructors • Face the students • Do not talk facing the board • Repeat student questions • The deaf student may not have been looking at the questioner • Make sure you can be seen clearly • Do not stand and talk in front of a bright window • Use gestures • Pointing to what you’re talking about is helpful • Build in pauses • Deaf students do a lot of multi-tasking, allow some pauses

5. Tips for Students with Upper Limb Impairments

6. Software • Math equation programs allow keyboard entry • Scientific Notebook • MathType (plug-in for Word) • MathTalk allows voice entry • Requires MathTalk, Dragon NaturallySpeaking and Scientific Notebook (all three!)

7. Books • Scan to PDF • Read on-screen • Foot pedal mouse • Use Dragon to advance pages onscreen • Remove spine and rebind to lay flat • Use hardware page-turning systems

8. Tips for LD Students

9. Verbalize • Instructor side • Concrete, specific descriptions • Verbalize equations and operations • Student side • Verbalize the process • Have students explain patterns they see

10. Strategies • Spread one semester courses over two • Teach strategies, not just algorithms • Tactile graphs • Manipulatives • Color highlighting • Draw pictures

11. Self-help • Work in quiet without clutter • Videotape students studying • Students may be totally unaware of what they are doing while studying—videotaping provides feedback

12. Word Problems • Learn key words • “and,” “sum,” “increased” mean add • “take away,” “difference,” “less” mean subtract • “of,” “times” means multiply • “per,” “out of,” “ratio of,” “quotient” mean divide • Highlight what is important • Look for key words • List information • Draw pictures

13. Auditory Math • Math books in MathML • Create in MathType or Scientific Notebook • MathPlayer reads and highlights • Free download from Design Science • http://www.dessci.com/ • Read&Write Gold, Dolphin Tutor, and WYNN work with MathPlayer • Kurzweil only works from the Web interface.

14. Online for LD* • ModuMath Tutorials • Video tutorials for basic math and algebra • http://www.modumath.org/ • ALEKS • Assessment and learning • http://www.aleks.com/highered/math/ • Khan Academy (videos) • http://www.khanacademy.org/ * Please note: Although helpful, these programs not fully accessible—do not require them for all students.

15. MuchoMath • Professor Larry Perez atSaddleback College • lperez@saddleback.edu • You Tube math videos • www.saddleback.edu/faculty/lperez/

16. Learning Styles for Math • Christine Tunstall at Mt. SAC • Instructional Specialist in ABI • Resources to help students learn how to learn math • http://instruction.mtsac.edu/ctunstall/ • http://instruction.mtsac.edu/ctunstall/dsps_33/class_handouts.html

17. Math Anxiety Article • Sian Beilock, Journal of Cognition and Development • Anxiety harmed the highest-achieving students, who typically have the most working memory • Worry disrupts working memory • Reframing anxiety improves performance • http://tiny.cc/jdjwkw

18. Tips for Low Vision Students

19. Software for Writing Math • Keyboard entry • Scientific Notebook • MathType • Equations can be enlarged • Voices what is written • Chatty Infty

20. Creating Large Print • Start with PDF • Crop pages • Print to fit page (11 in. x 17 in.) • Can tile pages • Portion of page enlarged to full sheet

21. Enlarging Math in Word • Math equations created withMathType plug-in • http://www.dessci.com/en/products/ • Create a “Preferences” file • Can save multiple preference files • Apply preferences • Enlarge text with Ctrl + Shift + >

22. Tips for Blind Students

23. Use Meaningful Words • Use concrete terms • Meaningless! • “Here is the equation.” • “We start with the equation and factor.” • “Set both factors equal to zero and solve to get the result.” • Avoid • This, that, here, there, thing

24. In the following example, you would say everything! • Don’t just write it; verbalize it! Say each step. 6x 2 = 53x + 9 Subtract 53x and 9 from both sides 6x 2 – 53x – 9 = 0 Trinomial factoring gives us (6x + 1)(x – 9) = 0 Set both factors equal to zero 6x + 1 = 0 and x – 9 = 0 Solve each equation…etc.

25. Be wary of assumptions • Blindness covers a range • Most blind folks have some sight • Many do see color • Not all blind people read Braille • In fact, many CC students do not • Not all students who read Braille read Nemeth math Braille

26. Your Brain on Nemeth • Students who read Nemeth braille “think math” differently from sighted students • Difficult to transition for those who originally learned math sighted • Sighted reads learn math “spatially” • Nemeth is linear

27. 1 = #1 2 = #2 3 = #3 4 = #4 5 = #5 6 = #6 7 = #7 8 = #8 9 = #9 0 = #0 Single-digit Numbers

28. Various Symbols • 1,000 = #1,000 • 98.6 = #98.6 • x = 4 = x .k #4 • Sigma ∑ = .,s • (1) = (#1) • ¼ = #1_/4

29. Spatial Language • Over? • 1½ • #1_?1_/4_# • ½/¾ • ,??1_/2#,_/?3_/4#,#

30. More Spatial Language • Raised? • x² + 2x + 2 = 10 • x^2"+2x+2 .k #10

31. Braille options • Brailling math is expensive and time-consuming • Algebra books can cost $25,000+ • Calculus books can cost $100,000+ • Check books already in Braille and see if instructor is willing to use the problem sets • Work with an instructor on “independent study” with a book already in Braille

32. Lots of Math in Braille! • Alternate Text Production Center (ATPC) • www.atpc.net • ATPC produces Braille and tactile graphics free for the CCCs • Sells books to those outside CCC system • Must have syllabus to begin project • They braille only required chapters • The more advance notice, the better • Syllabus can be from previous term!

33. Other Nemeth Resources • American Printing House for the Blind hosts the Louis Database • Anyone can search for Braille materials • www.aph.org • Hadley School for the Blind • Free courses • www.hadley-school.org/Web_Site/2_b_ae_and_hs_program.asp

34. Nemeth on Campus • Scientific Notebook documents can be translated into Nemeth math Braille • www.mackichan.com • From other equation editors, save as LaTeX • Take into Scientific Notebook and save • Open with Duxbury Braille Translation Software (www.duxsys.com)

35. What about graphing?? • Corkboard and string • PIAF graphs

36. Tactile Diagrams • PIAF paper • “Pictures in a Flash” (www.optelec.com) • Microcapsule paper • Can start from any computer file

37. Graphics Printer • Tiger Embosser • Embosses graphics in raised dots (www.viewplus.com) • Creates Dots Plus math Braille

38. Other Tactile Strategies • Be creative! • Magnet boards • Letters and numbers can be purchased • Symbols can be cut from magnetic sheets • Corkboard for graphics • Glue thread to make a grid • Push-pins and string for graphing

39. Be Creative! • Manipulatives • Many standard K-12 manipulatives will work • Collage • Puff paint • Cut-outs • Real objects

40. Commercially Available • Wikki Stix • www.wikkistix.com • Sewell Raised Line Drawing Kit • www.maxiaids.com • Non-slip abacus (Cranmer Abacus) , Braille ruler, protractor, compass, Cubarithm • www.aph.org • MathWindow • www.mathwindow.com

41. Scientific Calculator • Orion TI-36X • Hand-held, talks • American Printing House for the Blindwww.aph.org • MaxiAidswww.maxiaids.com

42. Other Calculators • www.maxiaids.com • Search on “calculator”

43. Software Calculator • Audio Graphing Calculator • Computer software, talks • ViewPlus Technology www.viewplus.com • Note: Graphs can be printed on Tiger Embosser or to PIAF paper

44. MathTrax • Free from NASA • http://learn.arc.nasa.gov/mathtrax/index.html

45. Useful Sites • http://www.inftyreader.org/?p=92 • http://accessiblemath.dessci.com/ • http://www.calstate.edu/accessibility/tutorials/math.shtml