Almost all of the math classes I have taken in college have either been online or had a significant online component-. I know a lot of people who think that taking math online is impossible or terrifying, but I enjoy it because I can use my own technology and use a variety of free math websites to help me understand concepts. Today I will be sharing math websites I have used over the years and that are accessible to a user with low vision or blindness on a Windows computer, iPad, or Android phone. So without further ado, here are five free math websites that help students with low vision in the math classroom.
Related links
Kate’s Math Lessons
I discovered Kate’s Math Lessons when I was preparing to take a math placement test and was blown away by how great the large print looked, as well as how readable the website is. Kate’s Math Lesson offers practice for pre-algebra, algebra 1 and 2, and geometry. Students can find pages for the specific concept they are learning about and read examples, watch videos, and even do written practice. I worked a lot with the algebra 1 resources when studying and found that it was really easy for me to navigate. I mostly use it on my computer, but it also works on the iPad and pairs well with VoiceOver.
Related links
PurpleMath
PurpleMath is another free website with homework help for high school math, college algebra, and standardized test preparations for exams like the SAT. The website provides detailed written explanations for different concepts with lots of examples. The homepage promotes a paid service called MathHelp, which I have not tested, so I am linking directly to the free PurpleMath explanations. I found this website easy to enlarge and it worked great when I zoomed in on my web browser.
Related links
Khan Academy
I can’t talk about free math websites without mentioning Khan Academy. Khan Academy offers resources for math in grades 6-12, though I find myself using the website frequently for concepts covered in my college math classes. There are also categories for science, engineering, computing, humanities, economics, test prep, and even college resources. The website is filled with captioned videos that are easy to follow, along with written explanations and practice problems. The videos are easy to listen to and take notes on, and I usually stream them to my Chromecast while I work on the computer. I also like doing practice problems on the iPad app.
Related links
- Khan Academy website
- App accessibility checklist
- Ways I Use My Google Chromecast For Virtual Learning
- Zoom Magnifier and Low Vision
Wolfram Alpha
Wolfram Alpha is like a cross between an encyclopedia, a calculator, and a search engine. While it can be used for several different things, I like using it for math, and it is available for math at all levels, from middle school all the way to college. I can enter in math problems and see them solved, and have the answer easy to see on a graph. Answers can be read and copied in plain text, which is helpful for screen reader users, and the answers can also be downloaded. The pro function is available for $5 a month and acts as a virtual tutor, going over problems step by step. While this website can’t be used for testing, it’s great for understanding how math concepts work.
Related links
- Wolfram Alpha math website
- MyMathLab for Vision Impairment
- Brainfuse Free Online Tutoring Review
- Using Online Homework Help In College
Cool Math
Almost every middle school student (or former student) can tell you about how awesome Cool Math Games is. The original Cool Math website is filled with so many great explanations of math concepts related to pre-algebra, algebra, and pre-calculus. The website has a high-contrast theme and large, bold text that is easy to navigate with a screen reader or other assistive technologies. The graphing examples are also easy to magnify in a new tab, though some may seem blurry when magnified. If the colors are an issue, copy and paste the text into another program like Microsoft Word.
Related links
- Cool Math website
- Using High Contrast Themes In Windows 10
- Designing Accessible Documents With Microsoft Word
- Windows Magnifier and Low Vision
Final thoughts
I hope that these five math websites are able to help students with low vision in the classroom or teachers finding resources for students with vision impairments. If I have missed one of your favorite websites, comment below and tell me all about it!