MathML & the student experience

MathML Is now supported in Canvas as of 2021. To use, simply insert equations using the Canvas equation editor.

Using MathML provides not only equal access to math content for students with disabilities but provides all students access to rich math content with support for enhanced learning delivery modes.

Equations authored in MathML can be displayed onscreen with highlighting that moves in sync with synthetic speech, providing students with multi-modal visual and aural learning support. MathML also provides the capacity to allow students to visually and aurally "walk through" various parts of an extended equation at their own pace. These capabilities will aid all students as they learn math concepts.

MathML, a standardized digital design feature, provides unrestricted comparable access to math for people with - and without - disabilities. Finally, the universal design features of math content authored with MathML will provide enhanced learning benefits to all students.

MathML is intended to facilitate the use and re-use of mathematical and scientific content on the Web and for other applications such as computer algebra systems, print typesetting, and voice synthesis. MathML can be used to encode both the presentation of mathematical notation for high-quality visual display and mathematical content, and for applications where the semantics play more of a key role, such as scientific software or voice synthesis.

The image below represents a sample of MathML coding that most users will never interact with. This is the basis for how the MathML is interpreted with a screen reader.

MathML sample in its raw code form.

LaTex

For many people, the most useful part of LaTeX is the ability to typeset complex mathematical formulas.

LaTeX separates the tasks of typesetting mathematics and typesetting normal text. This is achieved by the use of two operating modes: paragraph and math mode. The image below represents several common equations in LaTex format.

LaTex example in raw code form with multiple expressions as examples.