The overarching goal of the project is designing an innovative multi-module ICT application called EuroMath to support teachers and learners with visual impairments in math instruction. The application would be made available and distributed as freeware. The project attempts to meet ICT needs that will level the playing field of learners with visual impairments in gaining math competencies aligned with the elementary and secondary education curriculum. Along with the learners educated in the inclusive setting, their teachers will also benefit from the outcome of the project. The educational math platform PlatMat is the foundation for the projected EuroMath model. PlatMat was developed by Instytut Maszyn Matematycznych as a result of two research projects conducted between 2014 and 2017. The PlatMat supports math instruction and is available only for the Polish learners and teachers. It received two awards at international innovation contest (Tell Us Awards, ITEX 2015). EuroMath will be enhanced by: - UEB/MathML Braille converters - Additional ASCII formula editor - Communication and synchronization with interactive boards and monitors - Two new formula semantic readers (English, Dutch) - Special mathematical gestures - Math graph acoustic navigation interface - Localization in three languages (Polish, English, Dutch) Teachers and learners who are blind or have low vision attending elementary and secondary education (approx. 160 persons) in Poland, the Netherlands and Ireland will participate in the project. Representatives of institutions and organizations that serve people with visual impairments in mainstream and special education, research and innovation institutes will also be involved in the project. The objectives of the projects are as follows: 1. Development of the knowledge base on the current situation and needs of learners with visual impairments in math instruction with focus on ICT tools in Poland, the Netherlands, Ireland and neighboring countries. This information will be used to design EuroMath functions that will match the needs of target groups in these countries. 2. Development of technical and functional features of the EuroMath platform that follows the conclusions in the knowledge base. 3. Designing model tools and integrating them into the EuroMath platform. 4. Implementation of EuroMath platform components: a. a set of ICT math tools for teachers (N), blind learners (UN) and learners with low vision (US) in elementary and secondary mainstream and special education; the tools will communicate with one another and will be customisable b. two supplementary tools: cubarithm and calculator c. portal and communicator 5. Assessment and validation of the EuroMath platform in schools provided by learners and their teachers 6. Development of learning material for learners and teachers in EPUB 3 format as content of the open educational resources (OER) 7. Development of multimedia EuroMath instruction guides for learners and teachers (OER). 8. Development of EuroMath Quick Start Guides 9. Dissemination of the intellectual outputs Project Activities will be conducted in a close partnership with teachers and their learners with visual impairments in Partner countries to ensure the results meet particular needs and expectations of the target groups. The quality and usability of the EuroMath tools will be verified by the end users during assessment and validation activities and the workshops on features and functions of EuroMath. The following intellectual outputs will be created in the project: 1. Knowledge base about assistive technology and ICT tools in math education of learners with visual impairments in inclusive settings in Poland, the Netherlands, Ireland and neighboring countries. 2. EuroMath model– its structure, functions and technical documentation. 3. Implementation of EuroMath model – a set of 5 EuroMath modules in three languages (Polish, English, Dutch), available as freeware; modules will communicate with the portal and online communicator. 4. Repository of interactive math content (OER) in three languages (Polish, English, Dutch). 5. A complete set of EuroMath Quick Start Guides (as part of OER) in three languages (Polish, English, Dutch). The project is expected to increase the inclusion of ICT support to educational practice and to raise the implementation of digital support to math instruction as best educational practices. Long term benefits of the project will include the development of innovative ICT-based EuroMath application to support math instruction to learners with visual impairments in inclusive setting in accordance with their needs and expectations, available as freeware three languages, accompanied by multilingual repository of math content (OER).
Students with visually impairments, especially blind, have difficulties with editing and reading mathematical content, especially 2-dimentional objects such as formulas and mathematical graphics (geometric shapes, function graphs). Teaching methods based on Braille techniques and limited access to many mathematical educational resources make learning mathematics difficult and time-consuming. The results of the published research conducted by IMM in Poland on the needs of computerization of mathematics teaching of the blind and partially sighted students showed that the only non-computerized subjects are the sciences, and the reason for the low results on the matriculation examination in mathematics is, among others, lack of support with ICT tools. The success of the PlatMat educational platform developed in projects preceding the EuroMath project in the EU TellUs Awards competition (2014-2015) disseminating the best innovative ICT solutions for formal education systems in the EU, and the award obtained at the international ITEX 2015 exhibition, confirmed the deficit and needs of this type of solutions in Europe and in the world. The aim of the EuroMath project was to develop, make available under open licenses and disseminate in Europe, innovative specialized ICT tools supporting teachers and students with visual impairments in math lessons and extracurricular activities in mathematics. EuroMath technology combines selected innovative solutions in PlatMat and new functions to cover the identified needs of mathematical inclusive education in Poland, the Netherlands and Ireland. About 100 people took part in the project, including teachers, pupils, students and scientists from 24 educational institutions in Poland, Ireland and the Netherlands (first and second degree schools and universities), as well as education organizers and representatives of bodies and institutions operating in favour of people with disabilities. The following activities were implemented in the project: 1. Knowledge about the state and needs of mathematical education of blind and visually impaired students was gathered, especcialy on support with ICT tools, in Poland, the Netherlands, Ireland and in neighboring countries for the purpose of adjusting EuroMath tools to the expectations of target groups. Questionnaire research and literature analysis were carried out. 3 short-term joint staff training events were organized. The final report with conclusions was prepared. 2. Based on the state of the art and the IO Report1, the technical and functional assumptions for EuroMath tools were formulated. 3. EuroMath tools have been implemented, including: a. EuroMath web application in PL and EN language version with built-in tools for editing and reading math content (4 formula editors, graphics editor, formula navigator, graphics navigator, quiz module, UEB and BNM converters, black and white/Braille printouts and tactile graphics); b. 2 Windows applications: CUBARITHMS i CALCULATOR, (PL, EN); c. portal and repository of open math educational resources (OER) available to users with sight disabilities (PL, EN). 5. 3 documentation was developed - technical, functional and functional documentation for the needs of blind users of the EuroMath web application (PL, EN). 6. The EuroMath model verification tool was developed and the technical correctness of the model was verified by the Partners. 7. The EuroMath valorisation tool was developed and the teachers' valorisation of the EuroMath tools was performed. 8. A research tool and a comparative analysis of Braille techniques in the 3 countries of the Partnership were made and a summary report (in EN) was prepared. 9. 340 didactic materials and 10 interactive lessons for students and teachers were developed in .docx files, including 140 in Polish, compliant with the Polish core curriculum in mathematics and 210 in English, including 100 compliant with the Irish core curriculum and 110 - with Dutch. Using EuroMath tools, they were converted to the EPUB3 electronic publication standard format and then published in the OER repository. Additionally, a comparative analysis report (from p. 8) was published in the repository, constituting the 351st resource in the repository. 10. 42 video tutorials on the use of EuroMath tools and OER were prepared (PL, EN). 11. 5 Quick Start Guide brochures for EuroMath tools were prepared (PL, EN). 12. Multiplier events were done. Activities in the project were carried out in close cooperation with the educational community in the Partnership countries, and the quality and usefulness of the developed EuroMath tools was assessed by end users as part of verification and valorization tasks. Intellectual outputs obtained during the project: IO1 – Report “A comparative Analysis of ICT Tools and the Mathematical Education of Blind and Visually Impaired people in Ireland, Poland, the Netherlands, and Neighbouring Countries” in 3 language versions (PL, EN, NL) available on the project website https://project.euromath.eu under free Creative Commons open license. IO2 - EuroMath technology model - assumptions (EN, PL) and technical and functional concept in Technical Documentation (EN, PL). IO3 - implemented EuroMath model (PL, EN), including: the EuroMath web application with functional documentation and documentation dedicated for blind users; 2 Windows applications CUBARITHMS and CALCULATOR with manuals; portal (https://www.euromath.eu) supporting the OER repository and communication with the EuroMath web application. The applications are available on the portal, free of charge under the GNU LGPL 2.1 open license, along with the documentation under Creative Commons open license. IO4 – OER repository on the portal with 350 mathematical educational resources, including 340 didactic materials and 10 interactive mathematics lessons (PL, EN); 42 instructional videos on the YouTube channel (EN, PL); report on the comparative analysis of mathematical education of braille readers in 3 countries of the Partnership (EN). OER are available free of charge under the Creative Commons open license. IO5 – set of 5 Quick Start Guide brochures for EuroMath tools (PL, EN) available on the portal in the Catalogue menu, free of charge under the Creative Commons open license.