[kdejute]

Thank you for the question, Susan.

What we've got is a skeleton table (BF2016 section 11.9), which seems to tell us to do what you've described: use guide dots to indicate empty column entries and include a TN explaining that "This table does not have a specified number of rows." We can also include explanation of the guide dots in our TN. Then, we'll just apply Nemeth Code switch indicators in the box lines that enclose material that should be transcribed in Nemeth, and I think we'll be rocking and rolling.

Attached is a .BRF that represents this transcription of your print sample (Thank you for including the sample!).

• This reply was modified 8 years, 1 month ago by kdejute. Reason: Add to TN in order to explain guide dots in skeleton table

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[kdejute]

The fraction "1-1/2" from the print you shared (thank you for including a print sample) is a mixed number. To transcribe it in this situation, I would either follow standard mixed number rules and include a TN to make note of the hyphen that appears in print, or I would follow print exactly and permit the braille reader to make a judgment based on the same information that is available to the sighted reader.

Attached is a .BRF that represents two possible transcriptions of the print sample you shared (using Nemeth-EBAE).

Please see sections 63 [especially 63.b] and 64 of the Nemeth Code.

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[kdejute]

Good day, Susan!

Thank you for the question and the supporting images.

I think you've done an excellent job of setting up this nontraditional spatial arrangment. (I assume that your "key to labels for the model" is outside the Nemeth Code switch indicators.) Your fifth grader will likely be able to parse this layout and so work with essentially the same information with which his or her print-reading counterparts are working.

–Kyle

[kdejute]

Greetings, Rebecca!

In both examples that you highlight in your attachment, the opening Nemeth Code indicator has been placed on the first line of non-spatial displayed material that does not require special margins instead of at the end of the preceding line of text, because it would not fit at the end of that preceding line.

Although RUEB section 14.6.3 says "When the Nemeth Code text is displayed on one or more lines separate from the UEB text, the Opening Nemeth Code Indicator and the Nemeth Code Terminator may each be placed on a line by itself or at the end of the previous line of text.", this sentence does not list the only allowable placements of the opening Nemeth Code indicator.

In response to your second/subsidiary question, if you were to place the opening Nemeth Code indicator on a line by itself before displayed material, the most appropriate indention would be in the runover position of the text that precedes the displayed material, as you would do if you were inserting an opening Nemeth Code indicator at the end of instructions before a series of exercise items in Nemeth Code.

Thank you for the question, and please do respond with any remaining concerns and/or comments you have.

–Kyle

[kdejute]

Good day, Tung:

I see your question. Thank you for sharing it.

Section 6.8.2.2 of the Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics says that for grades 4 and up, "Counting items can be represented by using the letters 'on' for one, "tn" for ten, ... A transcriber's note must be added explaining the use of braille symbols as a representation of the print object." So it's tempting to just use a TN for the shapes in your print, but the example you shared (thank you for posting the print page) is more than just a "counting item".

The shapes in your print appear to be an integral part of the exercise (They are even referenced in the instructions). So, I would advise you to include them as tactile graphics. If there are multiple exercises that include models to be shaded, you could reduce the number of tactile graphics required by including a representation of a ten block, a hundred block and a thousand cube in the preliminary pages and then referencing that prelim page at points in the text where such images appear.

Thank you again for your question; please let me know if you have follow-up queries.

–Kyle DeJute

 

 

 

[kdejute]

Julia,

Thank you for your question. Thank you especially for sharing  your reasoning, which I believe is on the money.

I agree that you would follow rules for abbreviations in transcribing the single letter chemical symbols you mention (N for Nitrogen, N[superscript 3 minus] for the anion of Nitrogen that has three extra electrons, O for Oxygen, etc.) By this logic, yes, you would also need an English letter indicator for the O in "3 mol O = 3×16.00 g = 48.00 g O".

If I find a really good reference for this (or really good reference against this), I will post here again.

–Kyle

[kdejute]

Beth,

Thank you for the question and for your thoughts.

Although the Guidance for Nemeth Code within UEB  does not address this directly, it is practical and considerate to list number sign symbols on the Special Symbols Page. Please refer to the discussion in the Ask an Expert topic special symbols for horizontal number lines for more information about number line symbols on a Special Symbols Page, including an example document that shows number line symbols in a cell-5-headed portion of a Special Symbols Page.

As in all Nemeth-within-UEB transcriptions, your Transcriber's Notes Page must include a note explaining that mathematical content is transcribed according to Nemeth Code (Braille Formats, 2016, section 2.6.1c).

I hope that helps. Thank you again for your question. You are not the only one who has it I'm sure!

–Kyle

[kdejute]

The "Guidance for Transcription Using the Nemeth Code within UEB Contexts" provides the "single-word switch indicator" for instances in which A SINGLE WORD appears between two math expressions. A word that is preceded by the single-word switch indicator should be transcribed according to the Rules of Unified English Braille, which may include contractions.

In the "Guidance for Transcription Using the Nemeth Code within UEB Contexts," please see #4 under Basic Guidance on When to Switch as well as the examples on page 4.

Again, the single-word switch indicator allows ONE non-mathematical word to appear between pieces of technical material within Nemeth switch indicators, and that one non-mathematical word could include contractions.

Any word that is part of a mathematical expression cannot include contractions. Any series of two or more non-mathematical/narrative words that occurs between mathematical expressions must be preceded by a Nemeth Code terminator and followed by an Opening Nemeth Code indicator.

Thank you for your question.

–Kyle

[kdejute]

Well, hmmm.

I think your set-up is a good start. Please consider the set-up in the attached .BRF, which makes more use of keying in the interest of keeping horizontally related the equations that are communicated via the column headings. I've followed your (I think appropriate) decision to, within this table-style presentation, align numbers by place value and allow dollar signs and operation signs to stick next to their related numbers.

Thank you for your neat question as well as your patience.

–Kyle

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[kdejute]

Good morning and good day to you, Susan!

Thank you for the question. If in a transcription using Nemeth within UEB, you have a series of multiple choice items and not all of them need to be transcribed in Nemeth Code, then the item identifiers should all be transcribed in UEB, and only the material that needs to be in Nemeth Code should be enclosed in Nemeth Code switch indicators.

[The point of the provision for transcribing item identifiers (e.g. problem numbers, answer choice letters, etc.) in Nemeth Code is to reduce the number of switch indicators used when a series of items all should be in Nemeth Code. In the example you shared, the number of switch indicators required would be the same whether the identifiers were in UEB or in Nemeth, and there is no reason for them to be in Nemeth Code.]

A .BRF of the print sample you shared is attached.

–Kyle

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[kdejute]

Rebecca,

I'm afraid that your sample file is larger than the forum will allow, so unfortunately I cannot offer any thoughts on what that looks like.

In partial response to your message, indeed the numeric indicator should be used or not used according to the rules of the Nemeth Code, and I might assume that in your example, the numeric indicator would be left out more often than included. Again, without seeing the example, I would be inclined to align dollar signs separately from signs of operation in the interest of reading ease.

Thank you for your question, and I will keep an eye out for a compressed upload of your sample file.

Cheers!

–Kyle

[kdejute]

Tabitha,

Thank you for following up and clearing things up.

In response to your question, a tactile graphic would likely give the most clear representation of a broken number line. However, if you must use braille cells, I would suggest the configuration in the image attached (in which slashes are used to represent the break in the line) paired with a transcriber's note stating something to the effect of "diagonal slashes / indicate a break in the number line" (It would be ideal to use wording from the video you mention).

Thank you again for your question. And keep on rocking the transcription!

–Kyle

[kdejute]

Tabitha,

I know what I want to say, but I am checking with other brains in order to confirm. Thank you for the astute question and for your patience.

–Kyle

[kdejute]

Tabitha,

I'm afraid that your WORD file did not upload, because it exceeds the allowed file size for this forum.

In addition, could you please let me know if you are transcribing the worksheet using only UEB, or are you using Nemeth within UEB?

Thank you.
–Kyle

 

 

[kdejute]

Susie,

Thank you for your question; thank you especially for including the print example (mathematically incorrect though it may be).

There is no particular meaning to the fact that question 2's three steps are arranged horizontally across the page, so you do not need to retain that arrangement or describe the print for the braille reader.

I would suggest treating each step number as a heading and ignoring the print box lines entirely.

–Kyle

 

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