Harnessing the Power of Technology to Support Mathematics: Challenges, Solutions & The Future : Harnessing the Power of Technology to Support Mathematics: Challenges, Solutions & The Future Dr Abi James
Assistive Technology Consultant
iansyst
The Challenges: Understanding & recognition of the student's difficulties : The Challenges: Understanding & recognition of the student's difficulties
How many student's with SpLD are studying math or science? : How many student's with SpLD are studying math or science?
How many student's with SpLD are studying math or science? : How many student's with SpLD are studying math or science? Science related subject
Other factors to consider : Other factors to consider Identifying students who will struggle with the course requirements
Understanding by students of the requirements of the course
Departmental & Institutional change required
Use of technology, the web and different teaching styles
Learning Environment… : Learning Environment… Is varied for science students
Lectures
Tutorials
Lab sessions
Computer lab sessions
In the field
Work placements
E-learning
Library
Need… : Need… Support for note taking
For specialist language
Diagrams, equations & mathematical notation
Support for proof-reading
For specialist language
Diagrams, equations & mathematical notation
Support for understanding & visualising mathematical concepts in an accessible format
The Challenges: Mathematical and scientific language : The Challenges: Mathematical and scientific language
Mathematical Language… : Mathematical Language… Needs to be learned and manipulated by scientists, engineers & mathematicians.
Symbols & expressions must be accurately recalled during lectures, exams, lab sessions & assignments.
Support through technology does not bypass this knowledge requirement.
The Challenges: Integrating with existing technology : The Challenges: Integrating with existing technology
High user of technology : High user of technology Many science students will be required to use computers & technology as part of their course
Each course and department may use different systems
Making each system and program accessible is challenging!
Technology Solutions : Technology Solutions
Existing Solutions… support with specialist language : Existing Solutions… support with specialist language Spellex adds subject specific terminology into MS Word’s available for medical, pharmaceutical, legal, biotech, botanical, technical, geographical
Wordbar provides a word bank for quickly entering phrases or keystrokes
Existing Solutions… support with specialist language : But…
Most resources have to be created for re-created for each student or course.
They can not handle symbols or equations Existing Solutions… support with specialist language
Existing solutions… for note taking : Existing solutions… for note taking Need tools for digital storing of equations and graphics.
Audio recordings do not work on there own.
Tablet PCs, Webcams & digital cameras may provide solutions
Word 2007 greatly improved equation entry
Existing solutions for note taking: Tablet PCs : Existing solutions for note taking: Tablet PCs Windows XP plus ink facilities to write on screen. Enables users to:
Annotate Office documents
Draw on screen
Select, copy, paste & highlight using pen
Convert handwriting to text
Convert hand written equations to text!
Tablet PC software : Tablet PC software Equation Writer (part of MS Education pack) converts handwritten equation to text via clipboard.
Maths Journal 2 (www.xthink.com) evaluates & converts hand written formula. Saves as Tex or MathML.
OneNote will be included with Office 2007 Student Edition
WriteOn lets you annotate over any application
Microsoft OneNote : Microsoft OneNote
Existing solutions… for supporting writing : Existing solutions… for supporting writing MathTalk with Dragon NaturallySpeaking & Scientific Notebook enables scientific notation to be dictated.
Good for writing reports but not note taking
User needs to be fluent in terminology and symbols
Suits auditory learners and disadvantages visual learners
Existing solutions… for supporting reading & writing : PDF or postscript file currently used by academics from LaTeX
OCR software don’t recognise equations
Can convert from digital photos and screen captures.
Recognise some programming languages
Equations can be read aloud if in MathML format – a version of html.
Existing solutions… for supporting reading & writing
Slide21 :
Need… : Need… Academic staff to produce notes & worksheets in an accessible format
Currently produce PDF files
Can be made accessible using PDF Accessibility Editor but time consuming
Create html files with MathML equations – accessible to all.
The future… : The future… Digital cameras, webcams & mobile devices
Office 2007
Contact details: : Contact details: Abi James
Iansyst
Fen House
Fen Road
Cambridge
CB4 1UN Email: abi@dyslexic.com
Tel: 01223 420101
Web: www.dyslexic.com
www.iansyst.co.uk
www.itspc.co.uk