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<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Visually Impaired Students Needed for Research Study
</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">What is the study about? </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">If
you are a visually impaired student who knows Nemeth Braille, you are invited to
participate in </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">a
research study. A computer software program is being developed that will provide
tools to </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">assist visually impaired students in doing mathematics.
This program will provide a Nemeth </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Braille editor and a real-time chat feature. It will
translate Nemeth Braille to MathML, which can </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">be
inserted into a Microsoft Word document. The chat feature will allow you to
communicate </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">real-time with a math instructor, by translating Nemeth
Braille to MathMl and back as you </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">communicate. The goal of this study is to determine if
this program will reduce the time required </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">for a visually impaired student to create math documents
representing typical math assignments </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">encountered in high school or entry-level college
mathematics courses. </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">When and where will this study occur? </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">We
will schedule a test session with you at your convenience. You can participate
from home, </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">and do not need to travel to the researcher’s location.
</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Why are you asking me? </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">You have been invited because you have been identified
as a visually impaired university or </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">high-school student who knows Nemeth Braille.
</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">What will I be doing if I agree to be in the study?
</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">You will be given two sets of math problems typical of
coursework found in a high school math </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">course or an entry-level college math course, and asked
to work through those problems. For </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">the first set, you will use your current methods to work
the problems and produce results in a </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">form that could be submitted to a sighted instructor.
</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">You will need to tell us what tools and methods you
normally do your math homework, and you </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">will need to measure the time it takes you to complete
the first set of problems. </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">For the second set, you will be asked to use a computer
program that allows you to enter and </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">edit Nemeth Braille math expressions and produce a
document with your work in a form that </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">could be submitted to a sighted instructor. You will
have the opportunity to utilize a real-time </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">chat communication feature that will give you access to
a math instructor who will be able to </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">help you solve the math problems as needed.
</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">You will need to spend some time practicing with the
program to become comfortable in its use </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">prior to the study session. We estimate that you will
need a minimum of 1 hour of use to </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">become comfortable with its use. You will spend 60-90
minutes during the actual research study </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">session using this program. </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">We
are NOT testing your math abilities! We are testing to determine if this program
will make it </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">easier for you to produce your math work and/or to get
instructor help when you need it. </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Is
there any audio or video recording? </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">This research project will include audio and/or video
recording of your actions using the </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">computer program. Your computer screen is what will be
video-recorded, and your voice will be </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">audio-recorded during the test session. These audio and
video recordings will be available to </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">be
heard only by the research team. </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Will I get paid for being in the study? Will it cost me
anything? </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">There are no costs to you and there will be no payments
made for participating in this study. </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">You will, however, have an opportunity to obtain a copy
of the final version of the software </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">program for your use when it is released, at no charge
to you. </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">You will have to install on your computer the computer
program we provide, and also install the </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">free personal version of the TeamViewer software program
</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">(http://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx)</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">that will allow the researcher to watch your actions
</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">while using the program. You will also need to have a
working microphone on your computer, or </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">be
able to use a cellphone during the study session. </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I
have some questions. </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">If
you would like to know more about this study, please contact the researcher
(contact </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">information is at the end of this document).
</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I’m really interested and would like to participate.
</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Great! Please contact the researcher (contact
information is at the end of this document). </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Researcher: Patricia McDermott-Wells, PhD student at
Nova Southeastern University </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Telephone: 561-798-3940 </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Email: </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><A style='href: "mailto:pmcdermo@nova.edu"'><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">pmcdermo@nova.edu</FONT></FONT></A></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></FONT></FONT> </P>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial'; COLOR: #000000"><BR>Edward C.
Bell, Ph.D., CRC, NOMC<BR><BR>REGISTER TO TAKE THE NATIONAL CERTIFICATION IN
LITERARY BRAILLE (NCLB) Exam
http://www.nbpcb.org/pages/announcements.php<BR><BR>Director, Professional
Development and Research Institute on Blindness Louisiana Tech University<BR>210
Woodard Hall<BR>PO Box 3158<BR>Ruston LA 71272<BR>Office: 318.257.4554<BR>Fax:
318.257.2259 (Fax)<BR>Skype:
edwardbell2010<BR>ebell@latech.edu<BR>www.latech.edu/instituteonblindness<BR>********************<BR>"I
am somehow less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein's brain
than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in
cotton fields and sweatshops."<BR>-- Stephen Jay Gould<BR><BR></DIV>
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style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt tahoma">
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=pmcdermo@nova.edu
href="mailto:pmcdermo@nova.edu">P. McDermott-Wells</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, July 22, 2014 12:29 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=ebell@latech.edu
href="mailto:ebell@latech.edu">ebell@latech.edu</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Visually Impaired Students Needed for Research Study - Math
in the Dark </DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV
style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal>Thanks for taking the time to chat with me at the recent NFB
conference in Orlando. As I discussed with you, I need to recruit some visually
impaired students who know some amount of Nemeth Braille and beginning algebra
at the high school or college level. The test sessions can be done
remotely from the student’s home location. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Attached is the official IRB-approved recruitment flyer for
my dissertation research work. I would appreciate your help in
distributing this flyer to anyone who might have contact with visually impaired
students who would be willing to participate in my research.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Thanks in advance,<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Patricia McDermott-Wells <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Doctoral Candidate – Nova Southeastern
University<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=2
face=Arial></FONT></o:p> </P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>