Sight, touch, hearing – the current digital options and challenges in access to math content for learners with visual impairments

Jarosław Wiazowski

doi:10.21697//fp.2018.2.16

Published: 2018-10-06

Vol. 8 No. 2 (2018)

Sight, touch, hearing – the current digital options and challenges in access to math content for learners with visual impairments

Jarosław Wiazowski

Pedagogical Forum

Section: Colloquia

https://doi.org/10.21697//fp.2018.2.16

Abstract

Mathematics as a mandatory subject for maturaexams needs to be taken by all high school students, including those with visual impairments. Naczelna Izba Kontroli (or Supreme Audit Office) reported in 2012 that 45% of Polish schools had inadequate learning material for learners with disabilities. It seemed prudent to investigate whether teachers and students have options to choose from. Furthermore the author implies that for any existing digital learning aids to be effective, the best format should be established. Available solutions usually have a combination of input and output methods ranging from visual, auditory to tactile or vibro-tactile systems. The author also discusses advantages and disadvantages of traditional versus digital learning aids and teachers' views of available accessible math instructional solutions.

Keywords:

mathematics, visual impairments, STEM, digital, accessible

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Wiazowski, J. (2018). Sight, touch, hearing – the current digital options and challenges in access to math content for learners with visual impairments. Pedagogical Forum, 8(2), 227–240. https://doi.org/10.21697//fp.2018.2.16

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Jarosław Wiazowski

jarwiaz@gmail.com
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6198-0370

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Jarosław Wiazowski– doktor nauk społecznych, tyflopedagog, anglista, specjalista do spraw technologii wspomagających. Swój warsztat pracy doskonalił studiując i pracując z dziećmi i młodzieżą z dysfunkcją wzroku w Polsce, Norwegii, Stanach Zjednoczonych i Republice Południowej Afryki. Prowadził szkolenia i warsztaty dla nauczycieli z zakresu urządzeń i oprogramowania asystującego oraz szereg szkoleń z zakresu pracy z uczniami z dysfunkcją wzroku. W RPA pracował jako doradca metodyczny przy tworzeniu edukacji włączającej w tamtejszym systemie oświaty. Współautor w piątym i szóstym wydaniu podręcznika Assessing Students’ Needs for Assistive Technology(ASNAT). Autor wielu publikacji poświęconych technologiom asystującym dla osób z dysfunkcją wzroku, sytuacji niewidomych na świecie oraz edukacji włączającej w Afryce. Prowadził liczne wykłady gościnne: Silver Lake College, Manitowoc, USA; University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA; University of Venda, RPA; Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, USA. Uczestnik światowych konferencji takich jak ICEVI, WBU, ATIA, czy CSUN. Uczestnik krajowych i międzynarodowych projektów badawczo-rozwojowych, m. in. projektu EuroMath. Obecnie prowadzi firmę konsultingowo-szkoleniową Includo, której celem jest szerzenie wiedzy i umiejętności z zakresu doboru i stosowania technologii wspomagających i technologii informacyjno-komunikacyjnych. Jest wykładowcą na Uniwersytecie Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego w Warszawie a także metodykiem w Niepublicznej Szkole Podstawowej Inspiracja w Warszawie. Adres e-mailowy: jarwiaz@gmail.com