Under this theme you can find considerations and tutorials on how to create coordinate systems and graphs with various methods for different occasions. You can use the TactiPad drawing board, the TactileView software and the motorised drawing arm (MDA) or a combination.
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This document is in work in progress. Sections will be added over time. If you have any remarks, suggestions or questions for clarification, please let us know.
Considerations for the methods
Purpose of the graph
The purpose for the coordinate system or the graph is important for the method to choose. Is it required to get a general overview for just the tendency of the graph or is it required to read (accurate) values from the graph and axis?
Is it important for the student to be able to add a complete graph manually to the coordinate system or markings to specific positions on an already plotted graph?
Or is it important to read the graph and also all related text such as the text for the formula in a mathematical notation. In the rest of this introduction page you will find a quick overview of aspects that are involved in selecting the method and/or tool.
Other considerations for selecting the appropriate tool
Considerations for the method and tools
TactiPad: Manual sketching
The TactiPad can be used to draw the coordinate system with the ruler and then add the curve for the graph manually. This is the quickest method for showing the tendency of the graph.
Using the ruler, placed on two of the vertically or horizontally positioned buttons, and the triangle positions on the graph can be set.
Foto (coming soon): ruler and triangle prepared for setting points
When placing the GraphGrid on the TactiPad the rubber bands indicate the grid boxes. With the pen positions can be marked and after removing the GraphGrid, they can be interconnected.
The add-ons for GraphGrid (sinus/tangent wave, the hyperbolics and the parabolics) are templates to draw standard graphs by hand on the TactiPad. Trace the shape with the pen.
Foto (coming soon): GraphGrid and add-ons
MDA: creating coordinate system for TactiPad
It is time consuming to prepare a coordinate system with value indicators on the axis over and over again.
The MDA can perform this task in a matter of seconds by means of the interactive module ‘Coordinate systems’. The position of the axes, the number of value tics and the type of the grid boxes can be set. After this you can add your graph(s) manually.
A 3D coordinate system can be created to add stereometric shapes.
Foto (coming soon): Screenshot of the MDA interface
TactileView: Digitally draw graph
The ‘draw graph’ module has a large number of examples for grids (the axis setup, formulas and appearance settings). Selecting an example and modifying this will get you in a few steps to a tactile usable graph that can be produced on swell paper, a braille embosser or on the motorised drawing arm (MDA).
Produced in braille or on swell paper, it also will present the text label for the formulas in different math braille notations.
External math software such as MathType can be used to import a formula to have this plotted in a graph.
Foto (coming soon): Screenshot of the TactileView draw graph tool
Available topics in this theme:
Creating Mathematical Graphs (TactileView) Depending on the specific phenomenon to be displayed as a mathematical graph or on the kind of data that you have, you will need to create grids with different kinds of scale types. In the TactileView software, you have this option. This tutorial will enable you to create grids with linear, logarithmic or degrees/radians scales.
The tutorial uses the example of a classical quadratic function with a parabola for the linear scale grid. Covid19 infection cases are taken as an example for a logarithmic Y axis. Sine/cosine functions will make you familiar with a grid, whose X axis is in degrees or radians. Enjoy the full tutorial
Ideas for future topics in this theme:
A Quick method to create a graph by hand (TactiPad)
Sketch coordinate system (TactiPad / MDA)
Create bar chart with (TactiPad and GraphGrid)
Pie chart with basic tools compass, triangle and pushpins (TactiPad)
Sketch a pie chart or bar chart (TactiPad / MDA)
Sketch 3D coordinate system on TactiPad and use a 30/60/90 degrees triangle (MDA)
