Maths A level - on a computer?

[HairyMaclary]

I’m usually a lurker on these boards but I am a primary teacher, I need some advice about maths A level though. I have a Y11 DS potentially doing maths A level, he has a disability that hugely affects his writing. He has a scribe for most of his GCSEs but not maths. Apparently that’s not possible. This wasn’t a problem until recently but it now transpires that while he is able to do the maths he is not able to write everything down, it’s too hard for him to do physically, this means he tries to do lots in his head and then misses out steps etc. This is all resulting in him getting lower grades than he ‘should’. Currently looking at a 7 but was put in for further maths as they say his ability so much higher. Maths teacher rang us last week to say he needs to practise writing model answers over the holiday, literally copy the answers out, in order to get used to how to do it. He will practice this and it’s too late to change anything for GCSEs now. It’s also hard work for him.

However, this will be an even worse problem at A level. If he takes maths, is there a way to can be done on a computer? How easy is it to do? The physical issues that cause the writing issues mean using a computer skilfully is also tricky. Is it common to hand write maths at A level, at some point it must be done on a computer, undergrad? Postgrad? Who could I ask to teach him mathematical notation on a computer? Would it be in word? Excel? Something else? Is it worth doing this or should we insist on a scribe? He has an EHCP but the problem is the TAs don’t have enough maths to understand what he means when he says it.

Any ideas anyone?

Aargh, sorry for missed words and typos. Imagine perfect spelling and grammar!

If he's entitled to a scribe, he's entitled to a scribe.
We had a very able student some years ago who had a range of disabilities including physical ones. He simply could not write. His TA scribed for him and he got an A at A level maths. He's now at uni doing maths.

Yes MrsHamlet, I am realising that too late. Really I should know (I’m also a SENCo!).

However I’m still keen to know if it’s possible to do maths on a computer as he would like to be more independent.

I'm afraid I can't help with that. Good luck finding out!

I don't know about the computer or A level, sorry, but I have scribed for Maths GCSE as a TA. If there's no one at school who can do it, I would be asking the school to find someone suitable-supply agencies should be able to help.

Best of luck to your son and hopefully someone will have an idea about computer options.

I’m not a maths person, but my husband is. He uses a program called Matlab. I’ve got no idea if this would be appropriate for A Level, but it might be worth a look.

As a maths teacher I use Equation Editor in Word to type maths - just press ALT = to bring up the equation editor menu. It would have everything he needs for A-level maths. It is, however, fiddly and would slow him down a lot.

LaTeX is what professional mathematicians use to type maths but is pretty complicated.

I can't help but think that a scribe would be easier, but it would have to be someone familiar with A-level maths. I've never taught anyone who has needed one at that level.

@qwerty1972- Thank you. I have no idea about maths A level! Would you be able to ask your husband if he thinks it would work and if it would be easier to use than the options noblegiraffe suggested below?

@noblegiraffe - thanks, I thought that might be the case - apparently finding someone with the requisite maths skills is the problem with GCSE. Not sure how they’d cope with A level! Have you heard of the program qwerty suggested? I will have to push I think. We hadn’t realised how much it was affecting him, too late now for the next 6 weeks but if he does A level I need to make sure this is not a problem.

I only know MATLAB as a programming language, which wouldn't be allowed.

I think Word Equation Editor would be the easiest to pick up for writing maths as it's all just buttons and menus rather than mark-up language, and would be already available on school computers.

How does his disability affect his writing and would it also affect typing? I'd be worried that trying to type and format maths as well as do maths at the same time would actually hinder his thinking.

Can a maths teacher be a scribe for him?
I'm probably showing my ignorance.

That makes sense Noble. He has cerebral palsy so his writing is basically illegible.

The issue of the effort of writing and trying to do maths is what has caused the issue now, I fear this would be the same with typing too. However he also hates having a scribe as they often can’t keep up with him and we are looking to transition away from them in other subjects for A level, moving to more typing / speech to text etc. This obviously doesn’t work at all for maths though.

There is more to work out yet, not least if he can use speech to text in an exam that’s not maths! Also if he is actually going to do maths A level or if the writing issue is hiding that he is actually at a lower level than his teachers think he is and A level maths will just be too hard.

It hasn’t been the best year or so to try and work this all out. No scribing at all during school closures has really knocked his confidence in all areas.

@MovingtoEssex It can’t be a teacher who scribes for exams, also, he needs a scribe in all of his lessons, it would be v expensive to have a teacher do that! EHCP costs don’t even civer the hours of TA time he is supposed to have anyway!

There is more to work out yet, not least if he can use speech to text in an exam that’s not maths

He's allowed to use speech recognition software in an exam if that's his normal way of working (is that what you were not sure about?)

The student I'm talking about had a physical disability which meant he couldn't write at all. He did maths and physics A levels and his scribe was his 1:1. He also had a lot of extra time.
From my experience, it's not impossible - but I do know that they started working on his Access arrangements well before he started his GCSEs.

My DS uses a laptop for all lessons as handwriting is painful due to a medical condition. He uses the Microsoft equation editor for maths / science requiring equations or maths of any kind. So it is possible but most laptops for exams are heavily locked down so you may need to check if this is possible in exam conditions. It is certainly possible for classwork and revision. Is is straightforward once you get used to it!

Thanks all, this is really useful.

Access arrangements are in place for all other subjects, it’s just that until recently he seemed to be coping ok with the maths writing but I don’t actually think he is. As I say, too late for GCSEs, which is a shame, but it’s not worth trying to put something into place now, it will stress him out too much. It is worth it for A level though.

@handmademitlove how old is your son? Is he using equation editor for GCSE / A level?

He is 14 - so gcse level maths at the moment. My younger dd also uses it having started yr7 in September. She got to grips with it fairly swiftly.