Math Accessibility A 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 Consider how properly structured math supports inclusive teaching and learning. Apply an understanding of access technology and web accessibility to the challenge of online math. Reflect on the way collaboration can ensure workflows produce properly structured math. Gain familiarity with tools and techniques. AHEAD Conference 2017

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 Shared path closed sign" by Orderinchaos is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 AHEAD Conference 2017

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 AHEAD Conference 2017

What Works? - Math Support Finder Options change rapidly – testers evaluate and report on usability https://msf.mathmlcloud.org/ AHEAD Conference 2017

What Works? – Specific Title Testing How do we collaborate to support faculty in adoption choices? www.pcc.edu/publishers AHEAD Conference 2017

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 AHEAD Conference 2017

Key Terms & Tools - MathML A specification for online mathematical and scientific content Generated from other sources, not typically authored directly AHEAD Conference 2017

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 AHEAD Conference 2017

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) AHEAD Conference 2017

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 AHEAD Conference 2017

Key Terms & Tools - AsciiMath An easy to write math language http://asciimath.org/ AHEAD Conference 2017

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 http://www.pcc.edu/resources/instructional-support/access/math.html AHEAD Conference 2017

Key Terms & Tools – PreTeXt + WeBWorK PCC is creating online accessible open textbooks with homework PreTeXt is an open source authoring system allows authors to focus on content with presentation handled by compilers Integrates with WeBWorK – open homework system AHEAD Conference 2017

Key Terms & Tools - MathML Cloud Enter math (Ascii, LaTeX or MathML) Output (text based description, png, svg, or MathML) https://mathmlcloud.org/ AHEAD Conference 2017

Key Terms & Tools - Infty 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) http://www.inftyproject.org AHEAD Conference 2017

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 http://www.mathtalk.com/ AHEAD Conference 2017

Key Terms & Tools – Central Access Reader Free software for Windows or Mac that opens Word documents and reads content aloud including Math https://www.cwu.edu/central-access/reader AHEAD Conference 2017

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 AHEAD Conference 2017

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 AHEAD Conference 2017

Key Terms & Tools – Accessible Equation Editor From Pearson – this editor offers braille users and qwerty keyboard users shared live access to structured math content http://accessibility.pearson.com/aee/demos.html AHEAD Conference 2017

Key Terms & Tools - WIRIS Accessible authoring environment that outputs equations as images with pre-scripted alt text. http://www.wiris.com/en/editor/docs/accessibility AHEAD Conference 2017

Key Terms & Tools - Desmos A free and open source keyboard accessible graphing calculator Provides audio trace and sonification https://www.desmos.com/accessibility AHEAD Conference 2017

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 AHEAD Conference 2017

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 AHEAD Conference 2017

Support for Faculty Creative Commons Licensing attached to entire PCC Handbook www.pcc.edu/access AHEAD Conference 2017

Support for Faculty Subject Area Studies – Faculty led discipline specific inquiry http://www.pcc.edu/resources/instructional-support/access/subject-area-studies.html AHEAD Conference 2017

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 "This work" is in the Public Domain, CC0 AHEAD Conference 2017

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 "Brick Wall" is in the Public Domain AHEAD Conference 2017

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 "Nautilus" by Chris 73 is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 AHEAD Conference 2017

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 AHEAD Conference 2017