1. Teaching Graphicacy: Reading More Than Words Part II
ATIA Chicago 2011
Schaumburg, IL
© Lucia Hasty and Dawn Wilkinson 11/2011

2. Assistive Technology Consultant
Dawn Wilkinson, M.Ed.
Assistive Technology Consultant
Technology and Curriculum Access Center
Easter Seals Arkansas
© Lucia Hasty and Dawn Wilkinson 11/2011

3. Braille & Tactile Graphics Consultant
Lucia Hasty, MA, CTVI
Braille & Tactile Graphics Consultant
Rocky Mountain Braille Associates
© Lucia Hasty and Dawn Wilkinson 11/2011

4. Do You Teach Graphicacy?
What skills?
When/what age?
Curriculum?
Strategies?

5. Graphicacy Ability to decode information presented in a graphic
Integral part of literacy
Often overlooked
Rarely taught
Includes reading and writing graphics
What is it?

6. So what’s the big deal about graphics?
Significant amount of content in graphics/images
Textbooks
Work environment
Daily information
High stakes tests
Presentation of data in graphic formats
Understanding of image descriptions

7. Tasks in Decoding a Graphic
Understand intent of graphic
Decode symbols
Interpret content of graphic
Apply content to task
Lucia Hasty and Dawn Wilkinson 11/2011

8. Required Skills for Successful Graphic Reading
1. Identify characteristics/significant elements of image-
land/water on a map
blood flow direction on an anatomy diagram
the sides of a polygon shown in 3-D
Lucia Hasty and Dawn Wilkinson 11/2011

9. Required Skills for Successful Graphic Reading
2. Be able to use the language to discuss components of a graphic
Areas lines, point symbols, labels
Key, keyed symbols
Proximity, directionality, spatial relationships

10. Required Skills for Successful Graphic Reading
3. Identify attributes of symbols used in graphic
--Rough line means rivers, smooth line means state boundaries
-- The label “s(ch)” means Schaumburg

11. Required Skills for Successful Graphic Reading
4. Develop a system for
scanning graphic and key
searching for specific information
Lucia Hasty and Dawn Wilkinson 11/2011

12. Successful Readers Ask:
1. Where am I?
Look for title
Scan whole graphic and key
Identify a point of reference
2. Where am I going?
Look for important clues, prominent textures
Compare area textures, trace major and minor
lines, examine point symbols
Lucia Hasty and Dawn Wilkinson 11/2011

13. Successful Readers Ask, cont’d:
3. What am I looking for?
Search key for details
Read labels
4. How do these pieces fit together?
Actually starts reading the graphic rather than scanning it.
Moves more slowly and intently
Begins to put parts into whole picture
Lucia Hasty and Dawn Wilkinson 11/2011

14. Tactile complexity vs Conceptual complexity
Readers Describe
Tactile complexity vs Conceptual complexity

15. How do I teach graphicacy?
Determine reader’s experience with graphics
Identify strengths and weaknesses of current graphicacy skills
Use materials from reader’s current tasks (textbooks, work assignments, mobility maps)
Teach graphics in context as much as possible
Make sure to include both READING AND WRITING of graphics!!!!!

16. Resources for Reading and Writing
Data Presentation (i.e. graphs and charts)
Tangible Graphs (APH, not currently sold, under revision)
Tactile graph paper (APH; make your own if you have a graphics embosser
Graphic Aid for Math (APH)
Magnet board and magnets

17. Resources for Reading and Writing
Math
Geometry Tactile Graphics (APH)
Geometro Sets (APH)
Nemeth Reference Sheets (NBP)
Draftsman Drawing Board (APH)
MathWindow (Wolf Products)
Braille Transcribers Kit- Math (APH)

18. Resources for Reading and Writing
Science
Sense of Science series (APH)
Science Tactile Graphics (APH)
Astronomy
APH
Edinburg University
NASA
Touch the Universe series
Periodic Table of Elements:
Touch Graphics STEM binder and Pulse Pen

19. Resources for Reading and Writing
Social Studies/Geography
Maps of the World (APH)
Outline Maps (APH)
Talking Tactile Tablet and National Geographic Atlas (Touch Graphics)

20. Lucia Hasty and Dawn Wilkinson 11/2011
Graphics Resources
Lucia Hasty and Dawn Wilkinson 11/2011

21. Download this powerpoint
© Lucia Hasty and Dawn Wilkinson 11/2011