[nfbcs] Math software

[Hyde, David W. (ESC)]

This is an IEP issue. It also is a good opportunity for self-advocacy. It is required that the text be accessible. Parents and student need to talk to the TVI and the school. Taking the book home is an IEP issue IBID. As much as some schools and some teachers think that software is the solution, it isn't. You can contact me off list, or you can get help from teachers on the teachers and educators' lists.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nicole Torcolini
Sent: Sunday, April 07, 2013 4:39 PM
To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Math software

My responses written inline.

I was at our NFB chapter meeting the other night and some of the kids I was chatting with were saying how difficult it is to do math.

I could relate since I remember sitting in class when I had zero technology and couldn't read the board ... you sort of just zone out.

Someone needs to tell the teacher that he/she needs to read what is on the board. If that is not enough, then the students should be allowed to have a notetaker. I did ot have a notetaker in high school, but I did in several of my college classes, particularly the math/science ones.

They told me that some of the schools (high school I believe) don't let you take the book home.  And since they can't see what's going on in the class and can't take the book home, they struggle terribly.

That's ridiculous. Even if that is what the rules are, sometimes acceptions can be made. It's called accommodations.

Also, some were saying even if they could take the book, they couldn't read it, and some said their parents didn't know enough math to help them.
Bottom line, math was a huge struggle for these kids.

 Why aren't TVIs working with these students to help them find a method of reading/writing math that works for them?

I haven't done any searching, but I was wondering if there are software solutions out there that could allow some of the following:

I agree that it is a good thought, but I am not sure that software is necessarily the solution, or, if it is, that it is the only thing that needs to be done. 

1. The textbook is in accessible format so that a student can access it at home or at school with Jaws/Braille.

2. Allows the teacher to compose lessons - when the student can't read the book and doesn't have access to an electronic version of the book.

3. Allows teacher (as part of composition) to enter the problems to be solved in a "problem set".

4. Teacher should be able to save to disk, web, etc 

4. Allows students to access the lessons from disk/web and problems composed by the teacher.

5. If student can't solve the problem presented, have an automated "solution solver" that will take student step by step through the solution.

Student should be able to see a line by line solution so they can see the steps necessary to solve the problem.

6. Allow student to work the problems and have computer check the solution and tell student when right or wrong.

7. If homework, allow student to compose solution and save to disk or upload to web.

8. Allow teacher to access students work for grading.

 

Does anybody know if something like this is available?  Granted, this would NOT be trivial software to write, but having something like this would allow the students to deal with complex math such as elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, trig, etc, and get it in a format they can deal with.
I think I would have found this useful back in the stone age when I was in high school.

 

Anybody know of anything?  Or, would you reply.... "you're a software guy, write it!".

 

Thanks

 

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