Category: Cram Session
Hi. I'm in a College Algebra class. It's pretty much like Algebra II from high school in what we're studying, in my opinion. Anyways, I'm really really having trouble in there and have a question and request. First, for other blindies who are in/have been in college, how did you get your math done and/or how were you able to understand how to do all those equations? I mean, did you have someone explain them to you and were just able to understand from that, or did you need to have Braille or other hands-on way of learning it? Now, my request, for anyone from Texas, is, if you have any algebra materials in Braille that you're not using could you please send them to me? You can PM me, and I'll give you my address and everything. For those who will post here, again I'd be interested to know how you handled your math classes. thanks in advance to all!
Leilani
The reason I was hopeing for a response for this was because I am trying in this class but it's still hard to get work done. I have a scientific calculator (and have been trying to get this free scientific calculator program which can only be used with DOS). I also have some raised-line graphing paper, and once in awhile a sister who is good at explaining because she uses more hands-on ways of working with me such as moving my hands to where the numbers would go on an equation or finding ways to get real raised numbers such as thru drawing on aluminum foil. But although I have these resources and although I do pay attention in class, it's hard to follow without anything at that moment to refamiliarize me with what the teacher's talking about. Sorry if it sounds like I'm complaining or something, but yeah, that's why I'm wanting to know what y'all do for getting thru math classes, particularly algebra ones. I've talked to a man who is also blind, and he told me how he got thru it, and just that was both informative and encouraging for me. So anyways... If y'all have any thoughts on this, let me know here. Thanks.
Leilani
Awww. Tinkerbell. I'm sorry I can't help you on this. I am actually going to take a math course this up coming semester and am feeling very nervous about it. I just hope that I won't have trouble!!!
*sexy*
yeah, I did all my math classes with braille texts, I think that helped alot. Also, if you get ot know the teacher and let him/her know that you're having trouble understanding, maybe they can spend some 1 on 1 time with you and help you learn the materials. Also, maybe find out about tutors through your school or try your disabled students office, they should be able to point you in teh direction of tutoring services or other ways to help you. HOpe this helps.
s on how others dealt with math.
Leilani
I actually took a lotof math and statistics classes at university. I used audio books for the texts, wchih wasn't fun, I basically designed my own math language that I could write out in Word or notepad, special symbols for greek letters and integration etc, it wasn't pretty but it was clear enough to make the professors follow what I was doing. I had a great reader who was a math student and could explain to me very well. I used programming to get around a lot of math problems and a program called Derive which worked with Dos only but is really powerful, as well as Excel and Mat Lab, depending on the course I was taking. I took a lot of statistics so Excel and Mat Lab worked very well for me.
It's just a matter of getting over the fear of failure and dig into the problems one problem at a time and not give up, try very very har before you get the professor to help you so that his explanations will make snse, if you don't try hard as you can and he helps you solve the problem you haven't achieved any understanding. It' very time consuming and initially it's very aggrivating and you feel like you're going too slow and are way behind but you catch up real quick once you get the basics down. It's hard to say, I liked math, it wasn't easy but I feel I learnt a lot from it, so best of luck.
cheers
-B
wow tink, Maths certainly wans't my subject at school either. not because I didn't understand the concepts, but getting it out into a comprehendable format that everyone could understand was the tricky part like b said. luckily for me I had a braille note for maths in year 12, which was fantastic because it used the nemoth code, but again I only did general maths, I started 2 unit maths in year 11, but once we started to play with calculis it jsut completely blew me out of the water, I could have got it eventually I guess, but the interest just wasn't there. I'll see if I can find anything to help you. private message me maybe and explain more what the problems your having are, and perhaps I can help explain it to you? is it actually understanding the algibra, and the formulae necessary to work out the answers? or is it the accessability issue
Matlab rules the world.
Tinkerbell,
I took an algebra class in college a couple years ago. I used a tape version of the math textbook from Recordings for the Blind and Dislectic. When taking notes, I used a braille writer to write down equations and the steps for solving problems. My math teacher and one of the college's tutors were very patient and were willing to explain everything so that I could understand it. When it came to tests, I used the braille writer to work out the problem and had the tutor write down my answers after I read off the braille version.
Thanks everyone for your help. *smiles* As for the math class I was taking, it's already ended last week, and the teacher was nice enough to give me a W, otherwise I would've failed. So I'm getting another chance and taking the class again during the fall semester. I called my Commission for the Blind councillor, and she's been very helpful in that she found a tutor for me. He might not be able to work with me during the fall though because he will have a job of his own, but I want to still work with him when or if possible. But if I did find another taid tutor that could meet up to work with me, my counsilor said just to let them know and they would pay for it. Also, one of the people at the DSS office has been very patient as I've bought that Math Window thing and she would set up the problems so I could work them out during tests. Then I could try to work them out and she would also know what I was doing and would write it down.
Oh, I just realized I never mentioned Math Window like I thought I had. Math Window is a framed board that has magnetic tiles with Brailed and printed numbers and math symbols.