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From: JElmer@vcccd.net
Date: Tue, Aug 14 2001 2:30PM
Subject: Access and Online Math Classes
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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

From: Reidy Brown
Date: Tue, Aug 14 2001 3:18PM
Subject: Re: Access and Online Math Classes
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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 ADDRESS 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 ADDRESS REMOVED = [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS 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

From: Andrew Kirkpatrick
Date: Wed, Aug 15 2001 7:58AM
Subject: Re: Access and Online Math Classes
← Previous message | No next message

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 ADDRESS 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 ADDRESS 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 ADDRESS 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 ADDRESS REMOVED = [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS 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 ADDRESS REMOVED =
Web site: ncam.wgbh.org
617-300-4420 (direct voice/FAX)
617-300-3400 (main NCAM)
617-300-2489 (TTY)
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