[Blindmath] Visually Impaired Students Needed for Research Study

[Sabra Ewing]

I am interested in this study. Right now, I do my math and computer braille. I either do it on my note taker so that I can read it, or I type it on the computer and I send it to my teachers. I also read my math that way too. They say my man when you're in awkward for them to read, but I like it that way, so I was thinking maybe a program like this would be able to produce mass that we could both enjoy reading. I do know Nimeth, But sometimes I have to look up a symbol if I don't know it because I don't think it's possible to know all of them and less you have taken the most advanced math courses. I am in calculus right now, and have started getting some electronic braille files that show up on my braille display that way, and I have been able to read them fine, but I did have to learn some new symbols because I had not  done things like take the derivative of a function before so I didn't know that symbol. 

Sabra Ewing

> On Mar 12, 2015, at 1:50 PM, P. McDermott-Wells via Blindmath <blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> What is the study about? 
> If you are a visually impaired student who knows Nemeth Braille, you are
> invited to participate in a research study. A computer software program is
> being developed that will provide tools to assist visually impaired students
> in doing mathematics. This program will provide a Nemeth Braille editor and
> a real-time chat feature.  It will translate Nemeth Braille to MathML, which
> can be inserted into a Microsoft Word document. The chat feature will allow
> you to communicate real-time with a math instructor, by translating Nemeth
> Braille to MathML and back as you communicate. The goal of this study is to
> determine if this program will reduce the time required for a visually
> impaired student to create math documents representing typical math
> assignments encountered in high school or entry-level college mathematics
> courses.
> 
> When and where will this study occur?
> We will schedule a test session with you at your convenience. You can
> participate from home, and do not need to travel to the researcher's
> location.
> 
> Why are you asking me?
> You have been invited because you have been identified as a visually
> impaired university or high-school student who knows Nemeth Braille.
> 
> What will I be doing if I agree to be in the study?
> You will be given two sets of math problems typical of coursework found in a
> high school math course or an entry-level college math course, and asked to
> work through those problems.  For the first set, you will use your current
> methods to work the problems and produce results in a form that could be
> submitted to a sighted instructor.
> 
> You will need to tell us what tools and methods you normally do your math
> homework, and you will need to measure the time it takes you to complete the
> first set of problems. 
> 
> For the second set, you will be asked to use a computer program that allows
> you to enter and edit Nemeth Braille math expressions and produce a document
> with your work in a form that could be submitted to a sighted instructor.
> You will have the opportunity to utilize a real-time chat communication
> feature that will give you access to a math instructor who will be able to
> help you solve the math problems as needed.
> 
> You will need to spend some time practicing with the program to become
> comfortable in its use prior to the study session.  We estimate that you
> will need a minimum of 1 hour of use to become comfortable with its use. You
> will spend 60-90 minutes during the actual research study session using this
> program.  
> 
> We are NOT testing your math abilities!  We are testing to determine if this
> program will make it easier for you to produce your math work and/or to get
> instructor help when you need it. 
> 
> Is there any audio or video recording?
> This research project will include audio and/or video recording of your
> actions using the computer program. Your computer screen is what will be
> video-recorded, and your voice will be audio-recorded during the test
> session.  These audio and video recordings will be available to be heard
> only by the research team. 
> 
> Will I get paid for being in the study?  Will it cost me anything?
> There are no costs to you and there will be no payments made for
> participating in this study. You will, however, have an opportunity to
> obtain a copy of the final version of the software program for your use when
> it is released, at no charge to you.
> 
> You will have to install on your computer the computer program we provide,
> and also install the free personal version of the TeamViewer software
> program (http://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx) that will allow the
> researcher to watch your actions while using the program. You will also need
> to have a working microphone on your computer, or be able to use a cellphone
> during the study session.
> I have some questions.
> 
> If you would like to know more about this study, please contact the
> researcher (contact information is at the end of this document).
> 
> Researcher: Patricia McDermott-Wells, PhD student at Nova Southeastern
> University
> Telephone: 561-798-3940
> Email: pmcdermo at nova.edu 
> 
> 
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