Improving reading and comprehending mathematical expression in braille
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Thesis Annemiek van Leendert, Universiteit Utrecht
Improving reading and comprehending mathematical expression in braille |
The main research question guiding this study is: How can braille readers improve reading and comprehending of mathematical expressions? We have studied that question from different perspectives. The emphasis was on research into tactile perception, professionalization of mathematics teachers and representing mathematical expressions in braille.
Braille readers read expressions by moving their fingertips over the braille characters. We have gained a lot of insight into this with the help of finger tracking technology. The results show that braille readers have developed their own ‘reading strategies’, making little use of the mathematical structure of expressions. Therefore, we developed an intervention teaching braille readers to use finger movements that focus on the structure of the expressions. As a result, they picked up on the features of the mathematical structure more quickly. We then gave a professionalization course to mathematics teachers of braille readers. Tactile and auditory perception played a crucial role in this course. The results show that teaching mathematics to braille readers is not just a matter of translating teaching materials into braille. Reading in braille also has repercussions for teaching and learning mathematics. Finally, we examined mathematical braille notations in various countries. The results show that the expressions are usually represented in such a way that they support the braille readers themselves in obtaining a mathematical overview, or that they support communication between braille readers and readers who do not use braille.
References
- Van Leendert, A. J. M., Doorman, L. M., Drijvers, P. H. M., Pel, J. and van der Steen, J. (2019). An exploratory study of reading mathematical expressions by braille readers Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 113(1), 68–80. 10.1177/0145482X18822024
- Van Leendert, A., Boonstra L. G., Doorman, M., Drijvers, P., van der Steen, J., & Pel. J. (2021). An Exploratory Study to Improve Reading and Comprehending Mathematical Expressions in Braille. British Journal of Visual Impairment. https://doi.org/10.1177/02646196211044972.
- Van Leendert, A.J.M., Doorman, L.M., Drijvers, P.H.M., Pel, J., & van der Steen, J. (2019). An exploratory study of reading mathematical expressions by Braille Readers. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 113(1), 68–80. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X18822024
- Van Leendert, A-M., Doorman, L. M., Drijvers, P., Pel, J., & van der Steen, J. (2019). Supporting braille readers in reading and comprehending mathematical expressions and equations. In U.T. Jankvist, M. van den Heuvel-Panhuizen, & M. Veldhuis (Eds.), Proceedings of the Eleventh Congress of the European Society for Research in Mathematics Education (pp. 4704–4711). Freudenthal Group & Freudenthal Institute, Utrecht University and ERME. https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/3.9215.5/Supporting_braille_readers.pdf?sequence=1
- Van Leendert, A., Doorman, M., Drijvers, P., Pel, J., & van der Steen, J. (2021). Teachers’ skills and knowledge in mathematics education for braille readers. Technology, Knowledge and Learning. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-021-09525-2
- Van Leendert, A.J.M., Doorman, L.M., Drijvers, P.H.M., Pel, J. & van der Steen J. (2021). Supporting braille readers in mathematical practices using the braille display in coordination with the speech synthesizer. Journal of the International Association of Special Education, 20(1), 20–31.
- Van Leendert, A.J.M., Doorman, L.M. Drijvers, P.H.M. Pel, J., & Van der Steen, J. (in press). Towards a Universal Mathematical Braille Notation. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness.
