Using your Computer for Maths

Have you considered your students using their computers for mathematics (and other subjects)? One method (for PC) is described below. By tiling your windows horizontally or vertically, you can easily move from one program to another – with the click of your computer mouse or by pressing Alt and Tab.

You Will Need

Your Text Book on CD-ROM

Several publishers are now marketing their texts on CD-ROM or including a CD-ROM with the print version of the book; and the price tends to be less than the print version (eg Heinemann texts are available from their customer service department for about 85% of the price of the print edition – tel: 1800 810372). Typically they are presented as a pdf file, accessible via Adobe Acrobat Reader. You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader from the Adobe website. Adobe Acrobat Reader has a built-in zoom feature or may be accessed via enlarging software (eg ZoomText, MAGic) or voice (eg JAWS, PAC Mate).

A Maths Program eg Equation Editor

Microsoft Office includes Equation Editor, software for writing equiations. I located Equation Editor by typing ‘equation’ into my ‘Search’ window, then double clicking on the resulting folder or exe file (eg eqnedt32.exe). You might then like to make a desktop shortcut to the program so that it can be located more easily. If it is not available on your computer, you’ll need to install it from your Microsoft Office disk.

A Graphing Program such as GTCalc, Capgraph, Graphmatica or Excel – optional

These programs may not have been designed with students with vision impairments in mind however some are accessible via enlargement software and some provide voice output or auditory cues. See Calculators and Maths Solutions.

Word or some other Word Processing Program – optional

For more flexible word processing, you may wish to cut and paste your completed equation into Word.

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The Steps

Setting up the screen in the above manner allows you to simultaneously view your text book and write your answer to the question in Equation Editor, utilising the many mathematical symbols available in the pull-down menus. The mathematical symbols available may also be accessed through key commands. You can also write text answers in Equation Editor by going into Text mode, located under the Style menu. For example, see enlarged view of Split Screen with Text on CD-ROM and Equation Editor.

Once students become familiar with using their maths text and Equation Editor, they may wish to try running a graphing program such as Excel and/or Word simultaneously in the same manner. For example, see enlarged view of Split Screen with Text on CD-ROM, Equation Editor, Word and Excel.

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Access for Low Vision Users

Your student may be using enlarging or voice output software to access these programs. They may also wish to consider the built-in features described below.

Adobe Acrobat Reader (Text Book)

Equation Editor

Your student may wish to Cut and Paste their responses from Equation Editor into Word, although they will appear in a graphics box in Word and therefore cannot be edited easily.

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Producing Graphs with Your Computer:

Use one of a variety of graphing options to perform graphing functions on your computer. Examples of graphing programs include: