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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Hello Esteban,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">I welcome your question about using VS Code, especially because it is more accessible than RStudio. I hope the experts will step up with the corresponding advice for its use.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">As an educator with a busy, sometimes frantic, workload, I am loathed to make a significant change like dropping RStudio for any alternative. I might welcome alternatives if and
when students want/need one though. I’ve generally kept away from having to support multiple cohorts within the same course, except in a planned transition year. I also operate in a collaborative teaching group and making a change is not just about what I
want to make happen; some colleagues over the years have been quite backward with respect to modernising their teaching methods and materials.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">One key aspect for using RStudio in my teaching, even though I can’t use it myself, is that the product has remained relatively stable in recent years. I seldom need to alter any
descriptions of processes etc. within the course material. Another is that I have zero setup concerns once the student has installed the basic software. This has reduced my headaches from bearable to almost non-existent. Dropping this near-optimal scenario
for an unknown is somewhat counter-intuitive to my general philosophy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">When/if the way people work in VS Code is as mature as it is in RStudio, including how well blind people and non-Computer Science students can fare, I’ll expect a major migration
and welcome it. In the meantime, I support the vast majority of the student body in as simple a fashion as I can manage, leaving me more time to help the extraordinary cases.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">So, what makes an improved course and materials for successful inclusion? I’ll be announcing changes to my WriteR app sometime soon, which supports screen reader users; it could
be used for students not so happy in RStudio too. The long term strategy for my teaching is to ensure that as much of my material is totally accessible. Everything except for an assignment (legacy process) is made in HTML via R markdown.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">I would probably give serious consideration to using Quarto documents instead of R markdown if I was starting a new course and had the cooperation of my colleagues. Knowing this
is coming means I am going to have to make sure I have an accessible environment for editing and processing my Quarto documents. Perhaps VS Code will be that environment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">All the best,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">Jonathan<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> BlindRUG <blindrug-bounces@nfbnet.org>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Esteban Montenegro via BlindRUG<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, September 17, 2024 5:54 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> blindrug@nfbnet.org<br>
<b>Cc:</b> Esteban Montenegro <estebanmonte@gmail.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [BlindRUG] VS Code setup for screen readers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Greetings list members,<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I'm Esteban, I'm a faculty member at California State University, Stanislaus. Currently, I'm preparing materials to make my lectures and teaching method more accessible for screen readers. I teach statistics using R and RStudio, but I know
RStudio is not friendly with screen readers. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">As an alternative, I've been thinking to use VS Code to teach R, does any person in this list have attempted to use VS Code for teaching R? Do you use VS Code with screen readers? If so, would you share with me your setup and possible add-ons
for VS Code?<br clear="all">
<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Finally, any recommendations on how to teach R and screen readers are always welcomed!<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Have a great week!<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmailsignatureprefix">-------------</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p style="margin:0cm"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:blue">Esteban Montenegro-Montenegro, PhD.</span></i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:blue;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm">Assistant Professor</span></i><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:blue;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm">Psychology and Child Development</span></i><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:blue;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm">California State University, Stanislaus</span></i><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:blue;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm">Stockton Campus</span></i><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:blue;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm">612 E Magnolia St, Stockton, CA 95202</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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