Breakout 3D

Session Description:

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Mathematics is foundational to STEM fields, but the focus of accessibility efforts is typically on the written word, overlooking the information conveyed in equations. In this session, we will share background information on why disability inclusion and equitable access to math content matter for disabled STEM students and professionals. We will highlight 'math as a language,' including the visual, auditory, and symbolic content, and what course designers should consider when making math content accessible. We will provide a table of accessible math languages and tools that can serve as a decision tree for developing mathematical content for your courses.

Speaker Bios:

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Katherine Springer is a Course Support Specialist in the Center for Learning Design and Technology in the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. She holds a master’s in organizational leadership and currently is pursuing a master’s in instructional design and development. With six years’ experience in online higher education, her focuses include promoting accessibility best practices and faculty development. Within her role at the Whiting School of Engineering, accessible math has become a main focus in her accessibility research and training.

 

Sara Shunkwiler is an instructional designer in the Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering and Adjunct Faculty in the JHU School of Education where she is a passionate advocate for STEM equity and effective engineering education. A former engineer, K-12 and Higher Ed STEM educator, and voice for inclusive teaching, Sara seeks to raise awareness of disability as a form of diversity. She collaborates with Student Disability Services and departments across Hopkins to promote accessibility in engineering and STEM courses, developing faculty trainings on accessibility, accommodations, and Universal Design for Learning.

 

Dr. Melissa (Mel) Rizzuto is an Instructional Designer at the Center for Learning Design and Technology in the Whiting School of Engineering and works remotely from Southwest Florida. Mel earned her doctorate in Educational Technology and is an adjunct faculty member at Florida Gulf Coast University where she teaches several courses in the Instructional Design and Ed Tech graduate program. Mel has been working in instructional design and teaching online courses for nearly twenty years.

 

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