Empowering the Blinds by Enhancing Their Mathematics Education
Nasrollah Rezaey and Fatemeh Hani
Isfahan Mathematics House (IMH)
http://www.mathhouse.org
1. Introduction:
a. Reza Story
Reza is a blind graduate who was interested in mathematics sciences .His major in high school was mathematics. His high school teacher helped him for learning mathematics. He finally admitted to university as a success, due to his mathematics knowledge and his power in problem solving. But at the university nobody helped him, so he had to change to economics
After his graduation, he was employed in a call center and he is not satisfied with his present job. Most of the blinds are not able to continue their studies in mathematics and mathematically related areas, although they are interested in mathematics and problem solving.
b. What is the percentage of VIP in the society?
Less than 1 percent of every society is blind. In Iran we have not exact statistics. But there are about 5000 blind students in high schools and primary schools and 4000 blind students in the university.
c. Why mathematics education for VIP?
d. Math is a basic subject for all the sciences.
These days, for having a fruitful life, you need to know mathematics.
e. Mathematics needs teaching tools.
Learning mathematics needs many visual understandings. So for the blinds we need some teaching tools so that the blinds can touch them, and by feeling the concept the understanding will follow.
f. Vertical dependency exist in learning mathematics
If a student in primary school doesn’t understand mathematics, it is difficult for him or her to learn mathematics in high school.
2. Different methods of teaching the V I Ps:
a. special schools:
All the students in these schools are blind.
b. Integrated schools:
The blinds go to common schools. They are being thought along with sighted students. A special teacher helps the blinds for translating their home works and examinations to Braille.
Usually in primary ages, the blind students go to special schools, and in high school they go to integrated schools. We do not have special university for the blinds.
3. Challenges facing mathematics education of the VIP:
a. Writing & reading the mathematics
i. Braille
Braille has 6 points. If point 1 stick out, it shows number 1, etc …. By using these points, numbers, letters and special characters are shown, so the blind can read and write, using the Braille writing.
ii. Calculation board
It is a board with some holes. We can put number, variables, and special characters in these holes, and calculate. So the blinds can read and write mathematics by using this tool.
iii. Magnifier
Low vision people can use magnified books, magnified glasses, special tools that magnify texts and pictures exist. Also the blinds can use marker to write on white board and paper.
iv. Voice
The blinds can use recorded voices or a secretary for their communications with others.
v. Computer
The blinds can read and write by using computer, and low vision can read and write magnified text and pictures by using computer. (This is a new tool which has been enhanced by Isfahan Mathematics House throughout Persian language speakers in the world.)
b. Lack of special Teachers
About less than 1 percent of the teachers of the blinds know mathematics well enough to help these students.
c. Text books are not suitable for the blinds.
d. Teaching aids for mathematics teaching are not useful enough.
4. Some solutions ( by a group of Iranians in IMH and other parts of the world who are working together to resolve these problems)
a. Preparing suitable books and texts for the blinds
Mathematics books have many visual parts. We stick out or frieze the geometric figures, so that the blinds can touch them, get some feeling and understand them.
b. Preparing Teaching tools for mathematics training
Like: special compass and ruler
c. Preparing manual books
Prepare manual books for the mathematic teachers, so that they can teach mathematics to the blinds by using proper books and teaching tools.
d. Preparing self-study books
The blinds need special books, especially in high school and university, so we have to prepare suitable books for them for having a better understanding of mathematics.
e. Education centers
Education center is a place that all the blinds can go there to solve their problems. In this place, there are mathematics teachers, braille printer, teaching tools, suitable books and any item that a blind needs for a better learning. IMH is an education center for the blinds as well as other students and teachers who need help in enhancing their mathematics knowledge.
f. Workshops
At IMH, we are running many workshops for the blinds to teach them how to learn mathematics and computer.
5. Details of the project:
a. Previous works:
Some geometric figures of the elementary mathematics text books have been frizzed (highlighted), and its models have been made, and some manual books are being prepared. This book is taught now, and the students found this suitable book very useful for their understandings.
b. Short period plans:
In next six months, we hope that we can prepare some other suitable mathematics text books .
c. Long term plans:
In next two years, we hope that we can prepare all suitable mathematics text books for elementary schools.
d. Expanding the project for high schools:
Then, we must prepare suitable text books for first other students in high school.
e. Continuing the project:
We hope we can continue this project for the university students, as well, and using computer as another tool for understanding mathematics (due to the fact that our experiences show that the blinds can use standard computers by listening. So it is a very interesting tool for the blinds.)
6. Benefits for the blinds:
a. Gaining problem solving skills:
By understanding mathematics the blinds can think better and solve their problems easier.
b. Choosing the favorite major:
If the blinds learn mathematics, they can choose their favorite major, not just the humanities.
c. More jobs:
They can find more jobs, because they can choose more majors.
7. How you can help?
a. Helping us in enhancing the project scientifically:
We can have cooperation with every scholar in the world that is able to give us new ideas and exchange the experiences in working with the blinds.
If you know anyone or any company that work on this kind of project, please introduce them to us.
b. Introducing the instructors:
If you know any instructors that teach mathematics to the blinds, please introduce them to us.
c. Introducing some sponsors:
If you know anyone or any company that can be our sponsor, please introduce them to us.
8. Conclusion:
Mathematics education, a new world for VIP
By understanding and learning mathematics, the blinds will have more convenient lives, better education and more jobs
Wash eyes, and see the world again. (Sohrab Sepehri)