Multiplication Tables Reading Support for Children with Learning Disabilities (DSA)

A teacher asked for help in creating a tool to assist a student with learning disabilities in memorizing multiplication
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updated February 28, 2024

Description

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A teacher providing support to disabled students asked me to create a tool to help one of her students memorize multiplication tables. She showed me a table printed on paper and then laminated, with two sliding "tracks," one vertical and one horizontal. Using these tracks, the student can follow the sequence of numbers and reach the intersection where they find the result of the multiplication.

One of the challenges is the size of characters. At least for her student, cells of at least 2 cm x 2 cm are needed. Although my printer allows for a print of the necessary dimensions to meet the requests, I attempted to draft a small project.

There are essentially two difficulties. The bigger one is that I don't know how to design in 3D. I manage with FreeCAD (explained in my biography, also acknowledging that I use it improperly). The second challenge is that since I cannot print the model, all I can do is think about potential issues and try to anticipate them, but I am not certain that the model will perform as intended.

For these reasons, I have attached the FreeCAD file. Perhaps a skilled modeler can use it as a starting point to create a thoughtfully designed version. I hope someone does this because understanding these students with difficulties is heart-wrenching, and if anyone has the opportunity to help them in any way, it would make the world a bit better than it is.

I have also attached the document with the multiplication table to print (horizontal A4) and place on the reading surface. Unfortunately, I cannot share the Word file here as it is not recognized. Therefore, I have shared it on Google Drive at this URL: [Google Drive Link](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kooTYDcyoCFhj-G9MkfCEe8TYnK58w48?usp=sharing).

Regarding the model: I have rounded the edges of the assembled piece to prevent any harm, but I am unsure whether it was necessary to do the same for the edges of the rulers that slide horizontally and vertically. I would appreciate it if you could try it out and let me know if it works or not, and even more so if you could improve it yourselves. Thank you.

 

 

Model origin

The author marked this model as their own original creation.

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