[nabs-l] graphing and graphing calculators

[Arielle Silverman]

Hi Ashley,
If she did fine in honors Algebra I then she should have the chance to
at least try Honors Algebra II. I would need to know more about the
curriculum to offer specific solutions, but I personally believe that
graphs are overrated. Like you, I always solved equations
algebraically and wrote down text descriptions of the graphical
solutions instead of actually graphing them. I had tactile graphs in
my Braille math books and worksheets, which helped me to visualize the
basic kinds of equations. But once I had seen the Braille versions I
could visualize graphs in my head when I was solving equations. Keep
in mind, I took honors Algebra I and II, advanced precalculus and
advanced-placement calculus without a graphing calculator. Every once
in a while I skipped an equation that could not be solved by hand but
that was rare. I have also taken four statistics courses in college
without ever using a graphing calculator or drawing graphs So I think
this student should at least be able to discuss the option of solving
problems mathematically rather than graphically, because after all,
the skill that needs to be learned in Algebra II is how to solve
equations, not how to draw lines. I also have a hard time believing
that a reader wouldn't be an acceptable accommodation for state tests.
What accommodations are acceptable, then, if a reader is not? If
technology is not allowed, do sighted students still get to use
graphing calculators on these tests? What is the blind student
expected to do, just skip those sections of the state test?
That said, though I personally think graphs are overrated, some blind
mathematicians do find them useful. There is an audible graphing
calculator and there are a number of tactile drawing kits. I'll post
your question to the BlindMath list and forward any responses I get to
this list (as other high school students here might have similar
questions).
As for an accessible scientific calculator, can this student use Excel
on the computer, or do they have a Braille notetaker? Either option
should be sufficient.
Arielle

On 8/22/12, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> It recently came to my attention that my friend’s vision teacher discouraged
> algebra 2 honors based on its pace and visual emphasis; more graphs are
> involved. She told me she  took algebra 1 honors and did fine and felt the
> next part would be okay but wasn’t sure how to do the graphing part other
> than by hand. She said there is no accessible graphing calculator. I only
> know of the computer audible graphing calculator for blind students which
> obviously displays the graph in an audible sound.
>
> I did not have to use these fancy graphing calculators in algebra 2 much but
> apparently the curriculum changed to involve more graphic equations since I
> took it in this same county. When I needed to use it, I had a reader who was
> my vision teacher type in the info in the calculator and then draw the graph
> once it came up. I have some vision so could see  it on large graphing paper
> with a bold pen.
> Most equations I just solved algebraically, as opposed to graphing them.
>
>
> So, what have you done? What do you do when other students use scientific
> graphing calculators? How do you access the same info? What options are out
> there for scientific talking calculators? This student has no vision. I
> thought she could just use a reader and they could show her the graph but
> they do not think it’s a good idea. Also, she was told she could not use a
> reader on the state standardized test. I was shocked as this seems like a
> reasonable accomodation, if she cannot operate the calculator herself.
> She is in public school as well, and its sad that the teacher of the vision
> impaired isn’t coming up with a solution.
>
> So curious to know how you handle it. One idea I had was to use the computer
> such as excel to draw some of the graphs, but this couldn’t be used on state
> tests, as its my understanding no technology can be used there.
>
> Thanks.
> Ashley
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