Top tips on using EquatIO to suit your individual needs

EquatIO maths software is helping students across the world to make maths digital and accessible. It lets you create mathematical and scientific equations, formulas, Desmos graphs, geometric shapes, and more on any digital device. It even allows you to input maths digitally in whichever way suits you best, whether that’s handwriting, dictating or typing.

With its smart feature set , it’s often recommended by DSA assessors to support students with a wide range of learning needs.

Check out our article: ‘Digital and accessible maths with EquatIO’ here.

Who can EquatIO help?

Students with reading and writing difficulties including dyslexia, dyspraxia or dyscalculia
Students with mental health problems, such as anxiety, OCD, stress, ADHD/ADD and working memory difficulty
Students with a visual impairment or visual stress (commonly referred to as Meares-Irlen syndrome)
Students with hearing impairments
Students who have difficulty with motion and dexterity

But how does EquatIO help? We’ve put together a list of the ways EquatIO can be helpful for students with the learning needs mentioned above.

Reading and writing difficulties

Maths-to-speech

One of the great things about EquatIO is that it works with Read&Write software. This means you can use text-to-speech to hear maths read aloud. With dual coloured highlighting, you can track what’s being read aloud on screen to help you process the information.

Prediction

EquatIO’s handy prediction feature has pre-populated equations, symbols and formulas, to save you having to type them out in full yourself.

EquatIO Mobile

With EquatIO mobile, you can convert handwritten or textbook maths into images with your smartphone. These can then be added to documents, helping to make inaccessible maths, accessible.

Screenshot Reader

Often maths across the web is inaccessible. With the screenshot reader built into EquatIO, you can turn any maths from web pages or journals into accessible, editable maths. You can also then hear the maths read aloud if needed.

Mental health problems

Prediction

Completing maths online can be stressful whenever it comes to remembering keyboard shortcuts or switching between programmes to build complex maths or science formulas. With EquatIO’s prediction feature, you can select pre-populated equations, symbols and formulas to use. This could help you to spend less time writing maths out, and more time to focus on the task at hand.

Handwriting recognition

Many students prefer to handwrite their notes, rather than type. If this is your preferred way of working, yet you are still required to submit work digitally, EquatIO’s handwriting recognition feature could help. It enables you to handwrite maths expressions using your touchscreen device or mouse pointer. Helping you to work in the way that best suits you, to reduce any stress or anxiety.

Screenshot reader

Often maths which appears on web pages or in journals is inaccessible, which can cause additional stress or anxiety when trying to complete work. With EquatIO’s screenshot reader, you can turn any maths across the web into accessible, editable maths at the click of a button.

Visual impairments and visual stress

Maths-to-speech

If your visual impairment makes reading on screens difficult, you can hear maths read aloud instead with EquatIO. The software works seamlessly with Texthelp’s Read&Write software to facilitate maths-to-speech.

The same applies if you suffer from visual stress. You may experience headaches, eyestrain and tiredness after reading from a screen, so listening to maths being read aloud could help. With dual coloured highlighting, you can also track what’s being read aloud on screen more easily.

Speech input

EquatIO’s clever speech input feature understands what you’re saying, turning your spoken input into written expressions. It works with EquatIO, Mathspace or EquatIO mobile, offering you an alternative to typing or handwriting maths. This reduces the need to read or type on a screen.

EquatIO mobile

If you come across maths in a textbook, handout or white board which you are struggling to read, you can use EquatIO mobile to help. It allows you to convert handwritten or textbook maths images into accessible digital maths.

Screen masking

If you find it useful to set your screen colour to a specific prescription, you can do this when completing work with EquatIO. EquatIO works seamlessly with Read&Write, which has the ability to allow you to change background colours on screen.

Hearing impairments

Maths-to-speech

When paired with Read&Write software, EquatIO offers maths-to-speech which enables you to hear text on screen read aloud. If you have a hearing impairment, you can change the voice style and speed to suit your needs.

This feature also uses dual colour highlighting, letting you track the content on screen whilst listening to what’s being read aloud. This is an extra level of support to make sure you don’t miss anything when listening to course content.

Motion and dexterity

EquatIO Mobile

EquatIO mobile reduces the need to move handwritten notes or textbooks around campus. The feature allows you to use your smartphone to convert printed maths into accessible digital maths, which you can then use alongside other features of EquatIO.

Prediction

If you use a keyboard guide or guard, EquatIO’s prediction feature enables you to digitally insert complex maths and science formulas and equations into your document, with 60% fewer keystrokes.

Speech input

If you prefer to dictate rather than type or write maths, EquatIO’s speech input tool facilitates speech-to-text. This allows you to add maths or science expressions verbally into a document.

Get involved

If you are a student, industry professional or DSA business we would like you to get involved. We’re always looking for feedback and ‘Student Champions’ for Remtek Students to improve the student journey.

If you have advice or information that could be useful to students get in touch today. Contact Danielle at danielle@clickstartmarketing.org.