Turn Coding into Tactile Art with the Dotted Turtle

As the Monarch continues to fly into the hands of new students, teachers, and classrooms, the opportunities are truly only beginning. Despite the Monarch’s already-impressive capabilities, users can expect continuous growth in device updates. So many new apps, and with them, new opportunities for accessible learning, are on the horizon for Monarch users.  

One of the apps in development is the Dotted Turtle. The Dotted Turtle is an application that uses coding as the medium to draw and create art. It is common for coding education programs to use drawing as a way to make the lessons more enjoyable and usable for students, however, the visual nature of the programs makes them inaccessible. With the technological capabilities of the Monarch, the ability to use coding to create accessible images is something that is now possible. “Dotted Turtle teaches blind students fundamental coding concepts and skills while putting their math knowledge and understanding to use,” said product manager Li Zhou.  

To use the application, students input codes that move the cursor directionally along the surface of the Monarch, creating a dotted line image. For example, to draw a square, students would input the code to connect the four corner points, while the Monarch’s display would create a tactile line between them. The immediate creation of the refreshable braille is essential to creating an independent learning environment. Students will be able to instantly check their progress as the tactile shape develops while the code is entered. The application can be used from elementary school to higher education based on the complexity of the codes a student may input.  

The Dotted Turtle provides students with multiple essential functions. Students can have a deeper understanding of coordinate and graphing systems after pinpointing coordinates on the display to create code. An understanding of the coordinate system is huge for students as they develop from basic math skills and move towards graphing more complex equations. The Dotted Turtle also helps students to develop better 2-dimensional spacial awareness. Instructions that include directions are always useful for orientation and mobility, but considering directions as they relate to flat images can be a new challenge for students. Having this understanding can be huge in navigating larger tactile graphics on a display as big as the Monarch. All of this allows the app to teach students basic coding terms and concepts in a new and fun way that was not previously an option for blind and low vision students.  

As more applications develop, and programs like the Dotted Turtle find their way into the hands of students, opportunities for new kinds of learning can be endless.