Note: Previous edition from 1975 available here.
This manual describes the Flemish Mathematics Code as laid down in successive meetings of the VLOR working group (and via intensive communication in the intervening periods). More about this: http://bit.ly/wiskundebraille_pdf
The code has been extensively checked and has also been implemented and tested in the software program Sensomath (http://www.sensotec.be). Special attention was paid to the automatic convertibility between graphic formulas, braille (Notaert code) and the VWC.
From the school year 2012-2013, the VWC is used by the Flemish GON services and also created by the production centers Transkript and Braille production center Leuven.
In addition, the working group members have also committed themselves to discuss the state of affairs on a regular basis and to take account of comments and additions.
The current version 6.1 of the manual has been updated up to and including December 2013
Jan Engelen December 2
To make mathematical expressions accessible correctly in 1975, the so-called Notaert or Woluwecode introduced in Flemish mathematics education for students with a visual impairment.
This code is based on the Marburg code and became common The Netherlands and Flanders developed in collaboration with the Dutch mathematician (and blind) Gerrit van der Mey. She describes how spatially depicted formulas (as is customary for mathematics) can be linearized and which braille characters are used for this. Since the introduction of this system, a lot has changed in it education and almost all pupils with a visual impairment follow them education in mainstream education. For the didactic guidance (and thus also for the learning of Braille) became the GON supervisors deployed.
Specifically for mathematics education, however, it has repeatedly been shown that the on printed braille based Woluwecode is too complex for teachers who only occasionally have a blind pupil in the classroom. Also for visually impaired pupils, more salvation is expected from a readable, text-based coding. In imitation of the surrounding countries, where these step, the VLOR Working Group on Mathematics Braille has one such linear code agreed with all GON centers. This one code is also referred to in this document as the Flemish Mathematics Code (VWC).
Special attention has been paid to the exchangeability with the Woluwecode. Only in this way is the proposed software solution for education makes sense, namely a real-time conversion between the three forms of the same mathematical expression (the graphical, the linear and the de Woluwecode).
Therefore, in chapter 4 both the Woluwecode and the VWC version of the same mathematical expressions are shown, mostly also accompanied by the graphic code. For this reason this manual was based on the manual "Manual Braille symbols Mathematics "from 1975 and became the VWC-view everywhere added. In chapter 5 the newly introduced dollar codes are listed. In chapter 6 the conversion table has been proposed for Braille display of symbols from the VWC. In the annex you will find the complete list of codes and dollar codes.
Jan Engelen, chairman of the VLOR working group, since 2012 autonomous working group, "Maths codes in Education for pupils with a visual impairment"
Notes:
In the Education Working Group of the BCBS (Belgian Confederation of the Blind and Visually impaired) a few years ago, the need was recognized easier to read code for teaching mathematics in lower and secondary education.
The Flemish Education Council has taken the initiative to do this to bring together a special working group (see below). For this we the VLOR and in particular Mrs. Douterlugne, director, very grateful.
| Name | Background |
|---|---|
| Rita Patteeuw (*) | Secondary School Spermalie |
| Gilbert Notaert | Royal Institute Woluwe |
| Jan Rottier | Die-'s-lekti-kiss vzw |
| Bart Simons | Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired |
| Jean-Paul Verhasselt | TRANSKRIPT vzw (formerly Progebraille - Helen Keller) |
| Ivo Van Genechten | INTEGRA Heverlee |
| Luc Missotten (*) | Katholieke Universiteit Leuven |
| Marianne Leonet (*) | Royal Institute Woluwe |
| An De Houwer | Center Ganspoel vzw |
| Frank Allemeersch (*) | SENSOTEC Jabbeke |
| Jan Engelen (*) | Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, chairman |
| Natascha Herman | MPI Community education |
| Johan Van Ransbeek | VLOR |
| + [Sarah Van Liefferinge, observer] | Secondary School Spermalie &smp; Comenius project "Touching Maths" |
(*) also member of sub-working group Linear Code Development
1. Use of keyboard characters In VWC most characters appear on a European keyboard prevent as used.
2. Mathematical symbols and dollar codes In mathematics a number of calibrated abbreviations are used (eg sin, cos, log ..). These are also taken over in VWC.
$ is the entry key for math symbols that does not have a single character on it keyboard of the pc. A dollar code contains one number of letters or characters. Eg. $ wt for square root
3. Writing without writing In VWC, with few exceptions, space is written (see Below).
In constructions such as root shapes, fractions, determinants etc. the spaces that are necessary for meaning or unambiguity with one spfuller written ("¨").
4. Use filler
5. Using the shutter "#" To be concluded in VWC with "#":
6. Fractions
7. Form diagrams
8. Greek letters
The letter μ is the entry key for the Greek (main) letters and only applies for the next sign.
9. Negations
Negations start with $ nt followed by the original abbreviation, where it dollar symbol is not repeated (see dollar code list). "$ Nt" (with space) is the negative sign itself ("¬").
10. Special cases
If in a mathematical text specific, undefined symbols are prevented by resp. $ ?, $ ?? and $ ??? displayed. Their meaning must be explained at the beginning of the book or chapter.