The document discusses the STEMReader project, which aims to develop a tool to read aloud math notation to improve accessibility for students with reading difficulties. It notes that while reading assistance is allowed for other subjects, reading symbols is currently not allowed for math exams. The project seeks to create guidelines for reading math aloud and a platform-independent tool integrated with other accessibility software. This would help the many students with dyslexia or visual impairments who struggle with the visual nature of math. The tool is undergoing user testing and aims to launch in May 2016.

1. Making Maths
Accessible to All:
STEMReader
project

2. Accessible to all…
but what does “Accessible”
mean?
When something is accessible, it means it’s usable by
everyone (UK Government Digital Inclusion Strategy, 2014)
1. able to be reached or entered.
2. able to be easily obtained or used.
3. easily understood or appreciated.
4. able to be reached, entered, or used by people who
have a disability
“Assistive technology” = in this case technology that
allows users to access content in different formats
sometimes known as alternative/multiple formats.

3. Potential barriers to success
• Visually impaired students – 23,500 in FE
• Specific learning difficulties – 161,300 in FE
• Students with English as a second language
How large is the problem?
– Apprenticeship success rate 4.4% lower for
dyslexia/dyscalculia; 5.1% for VI – differential
increasing
– 61% of apprenticeships in business, health and
engineering sectors
– Estimate 132 000 print disabled post-16 students
studying STEM subjects

4. Do difficulties with reading
impact maths learning?
• Maths is a visual subject…. Learners with impaired
sight need additional support
• But other students impacted by difficulties with
reading, with 10% of population estimated to be
impacted by a SpLD
– 55 000 GCSE candidates a year require reading
support; 100 000+ receive extra time
– 161 000 students in FE with SpLD
– 4% of HE student population receives support
for SpLD

5. Access Arrangements for
qualifications
“Computer readers” (text to speech) are
– allowed in all GCSEs, including English
– candidates who qualify for a reader & it is their
usual way of working.
Potential impact (Runshaw College, Learning Futures
Project):
“Being offered a computer reader takes away the
embarrassment, or the stigma, of requiring someone to sit with
you in the exam to read the question.”
“Using the software improved my mark. I got a grade C (in the
mock exam) and I’ve never had a C on a paper before.”
“Becoming an adult, I feel it has helped me to become more
independent, preparing me for getting a job”

6. Runshaw College project
Numbers of students: GCSE English
No. of students overall who sat GCSE English
reading paper, with grades ranging from X (no
grade) to grade D.
478
No. of students who did not have an assessed
difficulty with reading.
434
No. of students who had been assessed as having
difficulties with reading
44
(9%)
No. of students who used a computer reader in
the GCSE English reading paper.
29
(6%)
No. of students who did not have reading help in
the GCSE English reading paper.
15

7. Runshaw College project
Percentage of students achieving a
grade C
Students who did not have an assessed
difficulty with reading.
51%
Students who used a computer reader in
the GCSE English reading paper.
48%
Students who did not have reading help
in the GCSE English reading paper.
27%

8. http://talkingtechnology.app.appery.io/

9. But reading assistance in
maths is limited, why?
1. Symbols are not allowed to be read within
exam arrangements
2. Lack of consistent & agreed approaches for
reading aloud maths
Flickr: tkamenick CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

10. Maths reading challenges…
How to create
accessible maths
notation
Reading text and
maths
How to read
aloud maths
notation
STEMReader for
Windows
ATbar
Guidelines on
reading aloud
maths
Web Accessibility
Standards (WCAG)
National STEM
accessibility
resource

11. STEMReader project
Develop a usable, sustainable tool for reading aloud maths
notation to use alongside their current support strategies.
Goals:
• Improve solutions for reading aloud maths notation for
students studying from functional skills through to degree
level maths and science
• Platform independent tool for rendering & speaking MathML
with definitions and suitable reading rules
• User-centred design throughout user trials throughout
development
• Due to launch May 2016

12. 1. STEMReader
• Read aloud maths
accurately but without
overloading the user
• Highlight the equation
as it is read
• Provide users with
different options for
speaking equations
• Investigating different
ways of displaying the
semantic relationships
within the notation

13. 2. Reading guidance on
maths equations
• Currently no guidance on reading aloud maths to
support learners in the UK (rules available for the
US)
• Reading aloud tests and exams - must consider
assessment criteria. Access arrangements state:
“reader must not decode any symbols and unit
abbreviations, e.g. 22 should not be read as two
squared, but the function simply pointed to by the
reader. Part of the assessment is recognising
what the superscript 2 means”

14. Guidelines for reading aloud
maths notation: UK, level 2
maths
http://www.stemreader.org.uk/guidelines/

15. 3. ATBar for reading
assistance
• Free browser toolbar for reading & accessibility
assistance
• Developing free Windows version with:
– Computer reader / text to speech
– Colour overlay
– STEMReader integration

16. 4. Accessible learning
materials: Load2Learn
https://load2learn.org.uk/

17. Interested in trialling
STEMReader & ATbar?
www.stemreader.org.uk
info@stemreader.co.uk
Abi James, Teresa Binks and E.A. Draffan
University of Southampton
http://www.slideshare.net/eadraffan/collaboration-to-
enhance-digital-accessibility