Math & STEM Content Made Accessible in an eLearning World

Date & Time

Thursday, March 17, 2022 - 9:20 AM PST  

Location

Grand ABCD  

Description

The definition of normal for classrooms has changed significantly over the past two years. There's no longer certainty around how many students can be in a classroom, whether the same students will be there each day, or even if there will be a physical classroom at all!

Times like these call for new and different measures, especially for students that struggle. While these changes won't occur overnight, there are steps that all educators can begin taking now, in addition to many supports that can make teaching in a blended learning environment much easier.

For starters, professors and higher education institutions must adopt a digital first strategy when it comes to instructional materials. Creating digital content is important. It is much more likely to be accessible than its paper based equivalent. Moving towards digital materials means being inclusive of all learners, giving them multiple ways to understand concepts and express their learning.

Where does one start with this process? In this session, the product manager from Texthelp will walk participants through the use of its popular Math & STEM support tool, EquatIO, which is used by millions to help make content digital and accessible.

It's no secret that due to the complexity of math symbols, the plethora of worksheets in circulation, and the requirement for students to "show their work," it has been difficult, if not impossible to create a digital equivalent. Until now…

EquatIO is Texthelp's STEM tool that helps to level the math playing field for students, educators, and disabilities services departments by making it easy to create math that is both digital and accessible. It provides simple, easy access to nearly all forms of existing math. In addition to reading math aloud, users can also use EquatIO to easily convert inaccessible print or digital math documents into their accessible equivalent to be used with many existing Assistive Technologies.

Working in popular platforms like Microsoft and G Suite, EquatIO is now being integrated into Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Canvas, Schoology, D2L, Moodle, & Blackboard to provide accessibility in online assessments inherent in these programs. In many Higher Education settings, antiquated, inaccessible, and frustrating palette based math tools are still being used in unsuccessful attempts to make math digital. EquatIO is a STEM accessibility game-changer!

To conclude the session, attendees will learn how EquatIO Mobile can now scan full page documents instead of scanning one problem at a time which will allow instructional designers even more opportunities to create content as well as save them ample amounts of time. This will allow for easy access to once inaccessible materials and open the accessibility door for many challenged learners.

This Presentation Link is provided by the Presenter(s) and not hosted by the Center on Disabilities at CSUN. The Center on Disabilities has confirmed, as of February 16, 2022, content linked is relevant to the presentation, but has not been reviewed for accessibility nor will the Center on Disabilities attempt to remediate any accessibility issues in the linked content. Please contact the Presenter(s) with any accessibility concerns.

 

Audience

• Higher Education
• Disability Specific

Audience Level

Intermediate  

Session Summary (Abstract)

In today’s world of learning, uncertainty is the only thing that is certain. In this session, participants will learn how to create and share digital STEM content and make sure it’s accessible for a diverse range of learners in the classroom, at home, or anywhere in between.  

Session Type

General Track  

Topics

• Blind/Low Vision
• Design
• Digital Accessibility
• Education

Presenter

• Louis Shanafelt
  Texthelp

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