Full course description
This course introduces the responsibilities we have as interpreters to mitigate the visual demands a Deaf student can experience in a hearing classroom. In hearing classrooms, teachers often rely on their hearing students' ability to look at a stimulus AND listen to the teacher at the same time. However, this situation creates multiple demands for a Deaf student's visual attention. They are expected to look at the stimulus, but at the same time, still need to watch the interpreter. Teachers may expect students to listen to them as well as locate materials, look at a visual aid, read printed information, write something down, or participate in an activity. The competing demands for the Deaf student's visual attention can be overwhelming. Teachers are often willing to make adjustments to help the Deaf students but can fall back into their old habits and ways of speaking.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
As a result of completion of this course, participants will:
- Demonstrate four ways to optimize visual access during an interpreted lesson
This course, participants will:
- Read about the competing visual demands that Deaf students face
- Read about four strategies for optimizing visual access
- Check your understanding of the concepts
- Watch some examples
- Practice optimizing visual access while interpreting
- Analyze your interpreting work
- Read and think about educational interpreters as agents of change
This self-paced course is designed for independent learners who wish to explore the material at their own pace. There is no facilitator or instructor, and no feedback will be given on assignments. All course materials are provided, allowing participants to manage their own learning experience. Completion is flexible, enabling learners to progress according to their individual schedules and goals.
This course is structured into lessons that are designed to take 2-3 hours each to complete. The anticipated length of the course ranges from 12 - 18 hours. Participants will have up to 120 days to complete the course, otherwise they will automatically be removed and required to re-enroll.