DIRECT INSTRUCTION VIA VIRTUAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS

Transcription

1 DIRECT INSTRUCTION VIA VIRTUAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS

2 SOUTHWEST COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF HOWARD COLLEGE/SWCID IS TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT ASSISTING DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS IN ACHIEVING THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER OBJECTIVES. SWCID IS DESIGNED TO BE A SELF-CONTAINED COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR THE DEAF WITH ALL INSTRUCTION IN THE DEAF STUDENT S NATIVE/NATURAL LANGUAGE; AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE. THIS CONTRASTS WITH THE MAJORITY OF POST-SECONDARY DEAF EDUCATION ENVIRONMENTS WHICH ARE TYPICALLY MAINSTREAMED (INTERPRETED). INTERPRETERS IN MAINSTREAM CLASSES ARE OFTEN UNFAMILIAR WITH DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC VOCABULARY AND THE TIME LAG REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE SIGNED INTERPRETATION OFTEN PREVENTS DEAF STUDENTS FROM FULL PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSIONS AND QUESTION/ANSWER INTERACTIONS. TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE DEAF COMMUNITY AND DEAF EDUCATION ALLOW SWCID TO BEGIN PROVIDING DIRECT INSTRUCTION TO REMOTE STUDENTS ELECTRONICALLY VIA INTERACTIVE VIDEOCONFERENCING.

3 DIRECT COMMUNICATION STUDIES CONSISTENTLY SHOW THAT DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS LEARN MORE QUICKLY AND RETAIN KNOWLEDGE BETTER WHEN RECEIVING THE INFORMATION DIRECTLY IN THEIR FIRST (VISUAL) LANGUAGE. STUDIES SHOWED THAT HEARING COLLEGE STUDENTS UNDERSTOOD 85-90% OF A COLLEGE LECTURE WHILE DEAF COLLEGE STUDENTS UNDERSTOOD ONLY ABOUT 60-75% OF THE SAME LECTURE WHEN IT WAS INTERPRETED. STUDENTS CAN LEARN THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, BUT PROVIDING AN INTERPRETER DOES NOT PROVIDE FULL ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION. EVEN WITH THE BEST INTERPRETERS, MUCH INFORMATION IS LOST IN THE INTERPRETATION AND RECEIVING/COMPREHENDING PROCESS.

4 VISUAL COMMUNICATION IS VITAL TO COMPREHENSION IN YOUR HANDS BUT, SUDDENLY THIS GIRL BEGAN TO SIGN; THE WORDS, LIKE MAGIC, FLOWING FROM HER HAND; THE JOY I FELT WAS HEADIER THAN WINE; FOR SHE COULD SIGN AND I COULD UNDERSTAND! HOW QUICKLY ALL THE BARRIERS CAME DOWN; SOON WE HAD BOTH FORGOTTEN HOW TO FROWN. GEORGE O. TAYLOR (ORIGINAL DEAF CHEMISTRY INSTRUCTOR)

5 MAINSTREAM VS. DIRECT INSTRUCTION SWCID WAS FOUNDED TO PROVIDE A UNIQUE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS: AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY AND VISUALLY USING AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE WITH THEIR INSTRUCTORS AND PEERS. SWCID IS A SIGN ALWAYS/EVERYWHERE CAMPUS. DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS FEEL AT HOME. THEY DON T NEED FIXED. THEIR SELF-ESTEEM CAN GROW. SWCID CAN NOW PROVIDE DIRECT INSTRUCTION, IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE, REMOTELY DUE TO ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY. THE VIRTUAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS IS AN AVENUE FOR SWCID TO WORK WITH TEXAS COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS STATEWIDE AND TO DECREASE COSTS FOR OTHER COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

6 COST COMPARISON BETWEEN VCT AND MAINSTREAMING SWCID as Provider College/VCT Due to SWCID s statewide mission and state funding, there is no charge for VCT. Remote tutoring provided by SWCID with signing Tutors at no cost. Mainstream Estimated Cost (if delivered by host college itself) 48 contact hours with 2 $50/hour = $4,800 Travel time for interpreters 1 hour round trip (approx.) 2 r/t a week x 16 weeks = 32 x 2 interpreters at $50 an hour = $3,200 Tutoring with interpreters 1 hour tutoring per hour of $50/hour = $2,400 Note-taking 48 hours x Minimum wage $7.25 = $345 Distance Learning videoconferencing equipment and support personnel provided by host college. Estimated total per course - $10,745 This does not include travel time for interpreters coming to campus for tutoring sessions.

7 VCT COURSES AVAILABLE FROM SWCID Fall BIOL 1406 Biology for Science Majors ENGL 0316 Integrated Reading and Writing ENGL 1301 Composition I ENGL 1302 Composition II HIST 1301 US History I HIST 1302 US History II MATH 1314 College Algebra PSYC 2301 General Psychology Spring BIOL 1407 Biology for Science Majors II ENGL 0316 Integrated Reading and Writing ENGL 1301 Composition I ENGL 1302 Composition II HIST 1301 US History I HIST 1302 US History II MATH 1314 College Algebra PSYC 2301 General Psychology These courses will be taught in American Sign Language and must be viewed by way of 2-way video. Before registering for these courses, interested students must Mr. Jeff Anderson (janderson@howardcollege.edu) to schedule an ASL language assessment. Technical information and test connections can be arranged by contacting Howard College elearning Department at

8 EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES AT SWCID TUTORIAL CENTER SWCID s Tutorial Center provides tutoring to VCT students through videophone, Skype or . We currently have one full-time tutor, three part-time tutors and three to four peer tutors. All are fluent in ASL. Hours are Monday through Thursdays, 9 am-12 noon, 1-5 pm and 6-8 pm. Friday times may be made by appointment.

9 REQUIREMENTS FOR RECEIVING INSTITUTIONS AND STUDENTS RECEIVING INSTITUTIONS MUST BE ABLE TO CONNECT TO: US VIA H323 PROTOCOL. WE CAN DO TEST SESSIONS BEFORE THE SEMESTER BEGINS TO ENSURE THAT EVERYTHING IS WORKING. CONTACT KYM CLARK, DIRECTOR OF E-LEARNING TEL: STUDENTS INTERESTED STUDENTS WILL NEED TO JEFF ANDERSON, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE, TO SCHEDULE A VIDEO INTERVIEW TO ASSESS THEIR ASL SKILLS. JANDERSON@HOWARDCOLLEGE.EDU STUDENTS WILL NEED TO BE TSIA COMPLIANT IN MATH FOR MATH 1314 AND IN READING FOR ALL OTHER COURSES.

10 COMPARISON COST $10,745 per Student (one course) Or $0 per Student

11 I M INTERESTED: WHAT NOW? MAKE DEAF/HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS ON YOUR CAMPUS AWARE OF SWCID VCT COURSE OFFERINGS. 1. NANCY BONURA AT NBONURA@HOWARDCOLLEGE.EDU TO BEGIN THE PROCESS. 2. RESEARCH TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO ENSURE SMOOTH, UNINTERRUPTED DELIVERY OF COURSE CONTENT ON YOUR END. 3. HELP DEAF/HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS SIGN UP FOR VCT CLASSES. (YOU MAY NEED TO WALK THEM THROUGH THIS THE FIRST TIME.) 4. FOLLOW UP WITH DEAF/HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS TO MAKE SURE THE CLASSES ARE WORKING FOR THEM.