Improving reading and comprehending mathematical expressions in braille

Abstract

Improving reading and comprehending mathematical expressions 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.