I have a 6th grade student working on reflections over the x and y axis. We were able to do this beautifully with the Monarch. She was able to type in her ordered pairs and graph the points to check and see if they made a reflection over the x or y axis. We’ve done this using low tech options, such as the graphing board with push pins, but the Monarch took it to the next level! The student loved being able to quickly type in her coordinates instead of plotting them by hand and having access to a tactile graph instantaneously!
As a grow - this could just be user error, but we tried to use the point and click feature on a point on the graph to hear the coordinates. The Monarch was slightly off. For example, if the point was (2, 5), the Monarch read it as (1.7, 5.9). Does anyone have any tips for identifying the coordinates of a point on a graph?
I currently have two 6th grade students and one 7th grade student using the Monarch.
The GLOW we’ve had this year is the students being able to complete their work more independently using the Monarch. In doing so, they use Keyword and Keymath for the calculator. The students have expressed to me that they really enjoy not having to use numerous tools now, they can just use their Monarch.
The GROW we’ve had is the lack of independence when it comes to turning in their work. The students have been relying on me to take their zip drives and print their homework. This has caused confusion for the students and their classroom teachers, as work is usually handed in “late” due to the time I am at their school. Our IT tech who specializes in printing services installed printers at the two schools yesterday and it has made a world of difference already!
My student was so excited to complete their math homework, print it, staple it to thier hard copy braille, and turn it in to their math teachers, all without physical assistance from me. Just some verbal assistance to find the correct printer, as that was all new to them 
Hi Julie, I am curious how you were able to create the tactile map to work on the Monarch. I am not skilled in creating tactile graphics and would love some tips as our library would love to produce maps of our different floors for our patrons. Did you use Firebird or Tactile View, or simply create a PDF file? How did you decide which landmarks or features to show and which to take out to improve comprehension? I’d love to learn more about this! Thanks.
Hi Elizabeth,
I used the draw feature in Microsoft word, then saved as a PDF. I tried with a mouse first, but my colleague has a touch screen which made it much easier to draw with. I also used shapes for buildings. Have you seen the document Draw with word from APH? I have attached it. This was sent out after my initial post but I have found some of the information helpful in later attempts. Also, the file Monarch Shapes has some shapes and lines that were easy to copy and paste. I used the landmarks they have worked on during mobility lessons when creating the route. I did find we needed to reduce the amount of information it contained. I had not created any tactile graphics prior to the Monarch so definitely a big learning experience for me! Hopefully, the more people attempt it the more everyone will share what they have learned.
Monarch Shapes.docx (418.5 KB)
Draw-with-Word-Monarch.docx (3.8 MB)
How did you install a printer for the Monarch? USB or network? I’d love to have my student print in ink.
Hi Everyone, I am not sure if this is a good place to ask this question, but hopefully it gets seen. Some people mentioned PowerPoint in earlier posts. It would be amazing to have interactive PowerPoint capabilities on the Monarch. Is it, or will it soon be possible to upload a PowerPoint onto the Monarch and access the graphics in tactile form while going through the slides? Conversely, will it soon be possible to build a PowerPoint presentation with the Monarch? I feel that the multi-line nature of the Monarch would be a game changer for making these presentations accessible. I would love to see this happen!
Hi Julie! Here are the steps for printing:
- Connect your printer to the Monarch (USB) or make sure it is connected to the same network as your Monarch
- Open KeyWord
- Press Enter on Print
- Press Enter on the file you want to print
- Press Enter on the PRINT button (looks like “PRINT [ed sign] b t”)
- Press Enter on “drop down list” to choose a printer
- Press Enter on your printer
- Press Enter on “Print button” (if you need to, you can first go through the list of page numbers below “Print button” and press Enter on any checkboxes of pages you don’t want to print)
- Your file should print!
I have two printers - one wi-fi connected and one USB connected. I didn’t have to do anything special to add either one - the wi-fi connected printer automatically showed up in the “drop down list” and the USB connected printer also showed up after I plugged it into the Monarch.
Jenny