Educational Design for Accessible Materials in Mathematics Education project

Educational Design for Accessible Materials in Mathematics Education project

Current methods of teaching GCSE-level mathematics to blind and vision-impaired students present significant barriers. Diagrammatic materials often require specific guidance for navigation and interpretation due to their intricate nature. These materials are challenging for students to follow and frequently rely on tactile images that lack clarity. When 3D shapes are used, they are often makeshift objects crafted by educational assistants, which demands considerable time and creativity. This pilot project aims to explore how 3D printing technology can be leveraged to create more accessible and effective teaching materials for mathematics. The study will focus on intricate shapes used to teach and assess trigonometry concepts. By co-designing and trialling assistive technology-designed materials—such as tactile computerised graphics and 3d printed objects—with educators and blind students, we aim to evaluate their utility and effectiveness in making teaching more accessible.