betty.marshall
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Hi Susan
When I initially looked at your attachment, I immediately thought of Computer Braille Code. Upon further thought, I agree you would not use the calculator key symbol, and that you could continue in Nemeth Code. I would not use contractions for the items in the 2nd coloumn. It is my opinion that it would be obvious to the reader (from the context) what is meant by CTRL and follow the same format as the other entries with the plus sign unspaced. I'm sorry that I cannot point you to a specific rule that confirms this.
If these are used often throughout a chapter, at the first occurance you could insert a transcriber's note explaining how you are handling them in braille.
BettyHi there,
I haven't ever seen this many colours used for Algebra tiles either! When you say that you have always done Algebra tiles as a tactile graphic with key, do you mean a texture key or an alphabetic key? I don't think that you would be able to maintain the size (and placement) of the tiles relevant to each other, if you placed the values inside the tooled shapes. The surrounding text refers to the colour, so I believe that you will need to indicate it in some manner. (It is difficult for me to visualize how the print looks in colour.) Are there several of these activities? Does the print always use the same colour for size and/or for negative vs positive values? Would it be possible to use your usual method and simply add a TN with the information you have stated in the last paragraph concerning the colour? Alternatively, if you used an alphabetic key, based on the colour name for each type of tile, it would give a clue to the reader and yet would only be 2 cells rather than the label that would need to be placed inside the shape. The explanation of the key symbol would have to include both the label and the colour. As long as the shapes remain proportionate, I believe that the concept could be understood.
This is the best answer I can give you, based on the information you have given me. You may also wish to check with the moderator of the Tactile Graphics section of the Forum.
BettyIt may depend on whether you have the "Home and Student" version that, according to this website, http://coreldraw.com/blogs/gerard/archive/2010/09/22/introducing-coreldraw-home-amp-student-suite-x5.aspx does NOT support VBA (macros).
There is also an "Education" program at Corel that offers the full package at reduced rates to educators. It has the "Not for commercial use" designation, as does "Home and Student".
If you already have the software, it is easy to check by going to the Tools menu to see if macros are listed.
I hope this information is helpful.
BettyYes, I would use the Nemeth bold typeform indicator for these words to which attention is drawn in print. Please also refer to the posts below entitled "Font Attributes" that is dated Friday, October 5, 2012. It more fully explains how Braille Formats and Nemeth Code are applied in a Nemeth transcription.
Betty[u]I may have found the answer to my question.[/u] A paragraph with an example was found about 50 pages further into the book. Here is copy of the text:
To lift the heavier plant, you would have to exert a force of 100 newtons. So the amount of work you do would be 100 newtons × 0.5 meter, or 50 N•m.
My first idea was correct, that the dot represented the multiplication dot. I then questioned that and continued looking and found that it could also refer to a chemical period (dots 1,6). The N•m expression appears numerous times but not in a chemical context (this text is also formatted using Chemical Notation).
I feel confident that the multiplication dot is the correct format.
FredPersonally, I would follow the print placement. While the first few numbers may show a vertical arrangement, the rest of them don't follow that pattern. Feel free to also check with the Tactile Graphics moderator -- I believe their guidelines say to move the number outside of the shape.
BettyThis probably goes without saying, but if the [braille]$w is used, it must be listed on the special symbols page because it is not a symbol of the Nemeth Code, as [braille]$k is.
Hi Susan
In the Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics, there is an extensive section (6.5)on number lines. Specifically, 6.5.1.1 says that a number above the number line must use the numeric indicator (regardless of whether the text is transcribed in literary or Nemeth. Page 6-23 of this section also shows an example. Your example [u]looks[/u] as though you have a blank line above and below the axis line. There should be a blank line above the first row of numbers, followed by the axis line, then the numbers below the axis line, and then followed by a blank line.
Hope this helps!
BettyI have about 100 calculator screen shots in an appendix for a precal textbook. I've looked at the tactile graphics manual and know I need to draw the screens with graphing as a tactile but can't find much on what to do with screenshots containing only text. I'm attaching a page with some of the material that I have questions about. I'm finishing the book that I started in the old textbook format. Do I ignore Nemeth formatting for the matrix displayed on the screen and follow print exactly for spacing?
What about spacing for operation symbols--follow print?
It is important to inform the reader about which items are highlighted. Should I use Nemeth bold indicators, even thought it throws the alignment off?
Also am I correct in using uncontracted Braille for all the text in the screenshots?
Is there a good source I'm missing on where to find information on how to handle screenshots with text only? Thanks so much for your help.There have been a few of us discussing the question you have posted. Generally anything that the reader is required to input (key) into the computer should be transcribed in Computer Braille Code. It has been suggested that computer terms written in a different typeface should be enclosed in CBC symbols. I didn't notice at first, but if you look carefully, you will see that LOWER, UPPER, STEP, #define, getchar, putchar, and printf are in a slightly different typeface. However, the phrase, text stream, seems to be italicized because it is a definition -- is there perhaps a glossary of terms at the end of the book? I would transcribe that phrase as per the rules of italics.
Sorry for the delay in my response! I hope this helps to clarify things for you.
BettyBetty,
Attached is .doc2 showing 3 samples of braille. Sample #3 is the one I decided on. See what you think. The proofreaders' only comment was to "insert the words 'Shared pair of electrons'." I placed an entry on the TN page alerting the student that circles around shared pairs are omitted in braille.
FredCan you please provide a print illustration? Since this is a sign of operation, it would normally occur between two numbers and the numberic indicator would have occurred before the first number. Section 9.(8) on page 6 of An Introduction to Braille Mathematics provides an example.
Yes, Section 134 of the Nemeth Code says that when these are arranged either vertically or horizontally, the combination of them must be regarded as a single sign of operation. It also says that the numeric indicator must be used before a numeral following a minus sign when the minus sign follows a space. In this case the number doesn't immediately follow a minus sign (it follows a "minus or plus sign") and the number is separated from the minus by a plus. My personal opinion would be that a numeric indiator is not necessary, however I do not have a specific rule to back my opinion. If you can provide a print example, I would be happy to pole the rest of the mathematics committee members. We provide this service to assist in your braille transcription, not just to address "what if's" or to solve disagreements. 🙂Betty
In print, it has already explained the convention that has been used to check an addition answer. It says, "Check your answer by drawing two lines above the problem and adding up. Write your check above the two lines".
You could spur in the two lines in braille, or you could explain in a TN what convention you are going to use in braille to for indicating the two lines.
Depending on whether or not that section of the book has taught carried numbers, you could [u]possibly[/u] use dots 2356 to represent the double line. If this symbol has already been used to indicate carried numbers, it may be confusing to the reader to see it used that way here. It is difficult to give suggestions based on one page of print, and not knowing the grade level. If you chose this option you would need to make it very clear in your transcriber's note that it applies only to this particular set of questions. My first choice would be to use spur lines.Betty Marshall
The exception in 5.8.3 is just that -- it is an exception that is applied to a particular print graphic. If a tactile has been split into layers of information with more then one key, and one of the keys takes more than one page, in such a case you apply the exception to all of the key pages in braille that are used to represent that particular print graphic. The rest of the braille volume would follow the usual practice of having a key page prior to the tactile graphic and bound as a facing page to the tactile graphic page.
Betty Marshall
Committee MemberYou have certainly done your homework before posting your question. Well done! You are on the right track! The guideline do encourage the use of graphics in early grades so that a student has the opportunity to explore and learn how to read graphics. Having said that, they must be simplified and only used under specific circumstances.
Examples where you would use tactile graphics are counting exercies in math. In these situations you would substitute the print shape (such as a car, dog, or apple), which would "utilize visual discrimination or visual perception" for a simple shape, such as a circle, thus allowing the reader to explore the shape and texture of the circle, and count how many of them are shown.
The example that you have included in your question falls under the following catagory (which you have cited).
Unit 11.1.2 instructs the transcriber to not create graphics.
Activities that require the reader to perform the tasks below should not be produced as tactile graphics:
- match pictures to sounds, letters, words, or sentences (e.g., phonics activities)None of the pictures in your example should be done as tactile graphics, nor should words be substituted. You will need to insert a transcriber's note instead.
Hope this helps to clarify the thought process of when it is appropriate to include a tactile graphic for early grades.
Betty Marshall
Committee Member
