Grant replies:
Well, no. MathML by its nature is not purely for the visual register.
And no - we should not have to realign a complex formula if the
materials merit it because what we are doing then is making the content
less accessible/comprehensible for many people to allow it to be equally
accessible to all. If breaking the formula up into little chunks makes
comprehension harder for the vast majority of people then we should not
do it and I do not agree with your assertion that breaking a complex
formula will make it more understandable - it may in fact undermine the
learning. In most learning materials complexity builds throughout the
learning.
Breaking the formula into smaller chunks made it easier for all
learners to comprehend (not stated explicitly in the paper, but
mentioned at the conference).
We should be very wary of dumbing down content in the name of
accessibility. Accessibility is a continuum not an absolute and we often
have to make judgement calls that balance the interests of one group of
people against another. Equally accessible doesn't exist. As accessible
as possible is a fine aim.
I'm not saying we should change the formula or dumb it down. The
information inherent in the equation remains the same, but as with
many aspects of accessibility, by transforming it we can make it
easier for everyone.
For me accessibility starts before we create the content, not after.
I'm not saying it's easy, but my experience has been that accessible
design from the ground up results in better content, not worse.
Cheers,
Damian
--
Damian Sweeney
Learning Skills Adviser (online)
Language and Learning Skills Unit
Instructional Designer, AIRport Project
Equity, Language and Learning Programs
University of Melbourne
723 Swanston St
Parkville 3010
www.services.unimelb.edu.au/ellp/
www.services.unimelb.edu.au/llsu/
airport.unimelb.edu.au/
ph 03 8344 9370, fax 03 9349 1039
This email and any attachments may contain personal information or
information that is otherwise confidential or the subject of
copyright. Any unauthorised use, disclosure or copying of any part of
it is prohibited. The University does not warrant that this email or
any attachments are free from viruses or defects. Please check any
attachments for viruses and defects before opening them. If this
email is received in error please delete it and notify us by return
email or by phoning (03) 8344 9370.
******************************************************
The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/
See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm
for some hints on posting to the list & getting help
******************************************************
