[Blindmath] Visually Impaired Students Needed for Research Study

[Amanda Lacy]

Sorry, you don't qualify. You're blind, not visually impaired.<G>

On 3/12/15, Sabra Ewing via Blindmath <blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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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>
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