Math AccessibilityA Tour of Tools and Techniques

Presentation offered at AHEAD conference on July 21, 2017

By Portland Community College Disability Services Director Kaela Parks

AHEAD Conference 2017

Learning Outcomes for this Session

1. Consider how properly structured math supports inclusive teaching and learning.

2. Apply an understanding of access technology and web accessibility to the challenge of online math.

3. Reflect on the way collaboration can ensure workflows produce properly structured math.

4. Gain familiarity with tools and techniques.

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Important Message

• Workflows MUST ensure math is structured• Content prepared ahead of time should be fully accessible• Activities should be designed to work for AT users• Design should support equitable use

• More than one way to get it done • Consider institutional culture – faculty production/adoption• Consider student preferences - need for mobile access

AHEAD Conference 2017 "Important Message" by Patrick Denker is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Math Accessibility - Workflows

• If interactive websites are not accessible from the outset, it is very difficult to “fix” with accommodation

• It is hard to ensure equivalent ease of use in a timely manner when the content is stored beyond a firewall

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Shared path closed sign" by Orderinchaos is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

Math Accessibility - Workflows

Addressing accessibility proactively requires that we:

• Know when/where accessible versions exist

• Increase adoption of those accessible options

• Work interactively and collaboratively with content publishers

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What Works? - Math Support Finder

Options change rapidly – testers evaluate and report on usability

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https://msf.mathmlcloud.org/

What Works? – Specific Title Testing

How do we collaborate to support faculty in adoption choices?

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www.pcc.edu/publishers

Accessible Math Online

• Multiple authoring processes are available, for example:• Compiled from LaTeX (or PreTeXt)• Published from Word or Scientific Notebook• Converted through MathML Cloud

• Need MathML for proper structure• Need MathJAX to render well in Browsers• May need MathPlayer to work well with AT

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Key Terms & Tools - MathML

• A specification for online mathematical and scientific content• Generated from other sources, not typically authored directly

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Key Terms & Tools - MathJax

• A JavaScript display engine that is highly modular and works in many browsers• Uses MathML, TeX or ASCiimath as input to produce HTML+CSS, SVG, MathML

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Key Terms & Tools - MathPlayer

• Allows user preferences to dictate how Math is rendered

• Works online with NVDA and Firefox or IE (enterprise mode)

• Works (with MathType) in Word and PowerPoint

• From Design Science• MathPlayer works with Word and

PowerPoint (but does require MathType to also be installed)

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Key Terms & Tools – MathType

• Plug and play for other authoring environments

• Has licensing fee - lite mode after 30 day trial

• Works with MathPlayer in Word and PPT

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Key Terms & Tools - AsciiMath

• An easy to write math language

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http://asciimath.org/

Key Terms & Tools - LaTex

• A document preparation system that allows typesetting of math content, favored by some math/science faculty but also a good option for students who need a way to produce mathematical content for others.

• Free to use with many open source options for authoring and compiling across platforms

• PCC offers 1 credit course as well as short list of essential commands

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http://www.pcc.edu/resources/instructional-support/access/math.html

Key Terms & Tools – PreTeXt + WeBWorK

• PreTeXt is an open source authoring system allows authors to focus on content with presentation handled by compilers

• Integrates with WeBWorK – open homework system

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PCC is creating online accessible open textbooks with homework

Key Terms & Tools - MathML Cloud

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https://mathmlcloud.org/

• Enter math (Ascii, LaTeX or MathML) • Output (text based description, png, svg, or MathML)

Key Terms & Tools - Infty

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http://www.inftyproject.org

• Optical Character Recognition software for math• Infty bundle includes Chatty and Reader

•ChattyInfty is a math editor with voice output, usable by visually impaired people.

•The default file format of ChattyInfty is identical with that of InftyEditor.(iml)

Key Terms & Tools – Scientific Notebook

• Software licensed through MacKichan• Combination of a scientific calculator

and word processor providing graphical user interface with text/math modes

• Can be used to review .tex files before sending to Duxbury to generate .brf or to publish html with MathML

• It also works with Dragon via MathTalk

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http://www.mathtalk.com/

Key Terms & Tools – Central Access Reader

Free software for Windows or Mac that opens Word documents and reads content aloud including Math

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https://www.cwu.edu/central-access/reader

Key Terms & Tools – g(Math)

• Free add-on for Google Docs• Allows typed entry• Handwriting analysis• Voice input• Inserts graphics

• Math expressions• Graphs• Statistical displays

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Key Terms & Tools – Equatio

• The free g(Math) was purchased by TextHelp and rebranded as Equatio• It works as a chrome extension to add voice, handwriting, and LaTeX

authoring of equations to google documents.• Has prediction built in for math and chemistry in full version• Not accessible to those who are blind

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Key Terms & Tools – Accessible Equation Editor• From Pearson – this editor offers braille users and qwerty

keyboard users shared live access to structured math content

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http://accessibility.pearson.com/aee/demos.html

Key Terms & Tools - WIRIS

• Accessible authoring environment that outputs equations as images with pre-scripted alt text.

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http://www.wiris.com/en/editor/docs/accessibility

Key Terms & Tools - Desmos

• A free and open source keyboard accessible graphing calculator • Provides audio trace and sonification

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https://www.desmos.com/accessibility

Recap - Offering Math via HTML

• Multiple authoring processes are available, for example:• Compiled from LaTeX (or PreTeXt)• Published from Word or Scientific Notebook• Converted through MathML Cloud

• Need MathML for proper structure• Need MathJAX to render well in Browsers• May need MathPlayer to work well with AT

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Math Accessibility for All

• Users need flexibility and robustness when interacting with math • zoom/re-size or change color or contrast• keyboard navigation of content at preferred level of detail

• Users need flexibility and robustness when creating math • independent authoring• checking work in progress• working collaboratively with others

• Users rely on Institutions to ensure materials and activities are usable• Professional Development & Technical Support = Ethical Responsibility

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Support for FacultyCreative Commons Licensing attached to entire PCC Handbook

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www.pcc.edu/access

Support for FacultySubject Area Studies – Faculty led discipline specific inquiry

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http://www.pcc.edu/resources/instructional-support/access/subject-area-studies.html

Summary - Math Accessibility Challenges• Math is represented spatially - often treated as image which is hard to OCR• Alt text as means of providing access is limited – static rendering

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"This work" is in the Public Domain, CC0

Summary - Math Accessibility Challenges

• Math content (even when properly structured) is not always accessible via assistive technology

• Math content is found in (much) more than just math courses• Providing inclusive math is especially important because math is a

pre-requisite for many other areas• People may have strong emotional associations with math• Math can be a “brick wall” if there are teaching/learning mismatches

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"Brick Wall" is in the Public Domain

Summary - Math Accessibility Opportunities

• Math is beautiful and full of natural connection points that are grounded in reality and leverage all the senses

• Technology can create structure that is perceivable in many ways, supporting individual learner preferences

• Collaboration can bring divergent perspectives together to address complex challenges in unique and creative ways

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"Nautilus" by Chris 73 is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

Support for Diverse Learners

The bulk of this session has focused on tools and techniques to make math accessible online, but here are additional links/ideas to share

• Integrated Study Skills - http://spot.pcc.edu/mathstudyskills/• Alternative Courses - http://www.pcc.edu/access/math.html• Tactile Learning Objects - http://tinyurl.com/PCC-FractionKits• Socially Relevant and Contextualized Content!

Contact Kaela with questions, ideas, etc.kaela.parks@pcc.edu

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