[AERNet] Middle/high school math tools

[susie]

I have used the braillenote with math for 3 blind students in the past 5 
years. All of them have been highly successful using the braillenote to 
do math. Classes included 7th grade math, algebra I, algebra II, and 
geometry. For two students who were just learning the braillenote, their 
math textbooks were in braille and they brailled the problems and worked 
them out on the braillenote. These two students were not very good in 
math but plugged away at using the braillenote and eventually became 
highly successful.

The third student had better math skills and better computer skills and 
quickly became an expert at using the braillenote for all things. I 
produced all of her math materials in e-braille (using megadots), 
textbooks, worksheets, tests, etc. She was able to insert her answers 
into the e-braille. She embossed the files and I interlined them and 
turned them into the math teacher.

It took a little getting used to for all the students to get used to 
doing math only horizontally and not using paper. I think my comfort 
level with the braillenote also influenced their success with math and 
the braillenote. Once we all learned how the braillenote worked, how to 
print out, how to emboss, etc, the students became more successful. It 
is a little harder to do math on the braillenote than straight literary 
text.

I am assuming of course that you have the refreshable display. It would 
be easier with the more cells on the display. To use the braillenote to 
do math only auditorally would be silly.
Susie in Maryland