WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Access and Online Math Classes

for

From: Andrew Kirkpatrick
Date: Aug 15, 2001 7:58AM

I would add that NCAM has been dealing with this issue in its PIVoT project
(creating an online Physics resource site with MIT). You might want to talk
to Geoff Freed ( <EMAIL REMOVED> ) about his experience dealing with this
issue.
PIVoT project: http://curricula2.mit.edu/pivot/
NCAM's PIVoT site: http://ncam.wgbh.org/webaccess/pivot
Andrew
On 8/14/01 5:12 PM, Reidy Brown ( <EMAIL REMOVED> ) wrote:
> John,
>
> You can find information on this in the National Center for Accessible
> Media's online guide "Making Educational Software Accessible: Design
> Guidelines Including Math and Science Solutions," which is at
> http://ncam.wgbh.org/cdrom/guideline/.
>
> The University of Toronto's SNOW group is also doing some interesting work
> in this area, and that information can be found at
> http://nide.snow.utoronto.ca/MathML/ (Taras Kowaliw, at
> <EMAIL REMOVED> , is the contact person for that project).
>
> Unfortunately, though, this is still a challenging problem. Although there
> are several authoring tools that allow users to create MathML markup quickly
> and easily (some of which also generate images of the equations as well--
> take a look at WebEQ at http://www.dessci.com/webmath/webeq/features.stm), I
> don't believe that screen readers and browsers can correctly interpret the
> results-- yet.
>
> However, if you create content that contains a structured representation of
> the math (e.g., MathML), you are in a good position when user agents (screen
> readers and browsers) support MathML-- your content will then "become"
> accessible with no further effort on your part.
>
> Good luck,
> Reidy
>
> -------------------------------------------
> Reidy Brown
> Accessibility Coordinator/
> Sr. Software Engineer
> Blackboard, Inc.
> 1899 L. St., NW, 5th Floor
> Washington, DC 20036
> (202) 463-4860 x236
> -------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: <EMAIL REMOVED> [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2001 4:28 PM
> To: WebAIM forum
> Subject: Access and Online Math Classes
>
>
> We will be addressing the access issues related to online math classes in
> the coming academic year. The classes are heavy on math notation and have
> used both PDF files and the use of graphic images to convey this online.
> Any input as to how to meet the instructional need for having this notation
> while addresses access concerns would be greatly appreciated.
> John Elmer
> Ventura College
> Ventura CA
>
--
Andrew Kirkpatrick, Technical Project Coordinator
CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media
125 Western Ave.
Boston, MA 02134
E-mail: <EMAIL REMOVED>
Web site: ncam.wgbh.org
617-300-4420 (direct voice/FAX)
617-300-3400 (main NCAM)
617-300-2489 (TTY)
WGBH enriches people's lives through programs and services that educate,
inspire, and entertain, fostering citizenship and culture, the joy of
learning, and the power of diverse perspectives.