Blackboard for Deaf Students Disability or Different Ability? John Webber eLearning Development...

Blackboard for Deaf StudentsDisability or Different Ability?

John WebbereLearning Development ManagerSussex Downs College, UK

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Disability or different ability?

Disability presents a challengeMany disabled people respond powerfullyNew abilities are created in response Try walking with a blind person in the dark!

Deaf people are striking examples Sign language and lip reading Working with them opens up our own thinking Especially about language and communication

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Creative responses to disability

The project is a first attempt within the college to innovate in this wayIt may be we can generalise from itInterested to hear of other approachesRelating to any disabilityEspecially within Blackboard

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Background to this project

Recent research by LSC reveals Deaf people (90%+) especially eager to learnMany want to learn at mainstream collegesNew Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) “Towards Inclusion” DfEE 2001

Requires Universities & Colleges in the UK to:“make reasonable adjustments to ensure that

people who are disabled are not put at a substantial disadvantage to people who are not disabled in accessing education”

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The College

Large mainstream college with small minority of deaf students who depend on BSLExisting support Limited to class times

Emerging technologies in the college Blackboard Online video

We aspire to use these to benefit disabled users and thus contribute to inclusiveness

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The many kinds of deafness

DegreeAge of onsetOralism vs. signing (and combinations)Potential impact on literacy (quote research)

Impact on background knowledgeA challenge, with communication at it’s heart

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What is the time?

The syntax of BSL vs. English

With thanks to RNIDhttp://www.rnid.org.uk/

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Challenges for deaf students in a “mainstream” college

IsolationDifficulties accessing standard services and informationDependency on Communication Support Worker (CSW)Potentially diminishes both self-esteem and self-confidence

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How Blackboard can make things worse

Lecturers naive assumption (mine too) that it helps to put notes onlineSign language users and text resourcesNew UK Law (DDA part 4) says we must address thisThe defensive and the proactive response

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Turning this around: Blackboard can help

To provide alternatives to text To provide general info for deaf students To support individual study

But beyond that we hoped to use it to: Nurture the sense of community Communicate a sense of recognition

and belonging Raise the profile of deaf students in

collegeand the awareness of deaf needs

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With thanks to RNIDhttp://www.rnid.org.uk/

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We planned a pilot development

And began workThen we dropped everything

To focus on an urgent individual need

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Nicky - A case study

Intelligent, motivatedBut… Profoundly deaf Limited conventional literacy Low level of confidence and organisation Dependent on presence of signer for almost

all study

Hence limited achievements Under-achieving?

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Nicky’s final exam preparation

Had passed previous modules but not with much marginAnxious with approach of final, deciding, examParents sent him away for 3 weeksReturn at start of Easter holidaysExam early next termAsked for help with independent study

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Our response

Revision resource with BSL and subtitlesOn Blackboard for access at collegeOn CD (video-rich) for home studyDemonstration:

Health and Social Care Revision To see a demonstration of the video-rich resource, contact:

john.webber@sussexdowns.ac.uk

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Observations from this pilot

Immediately obvious: Nicky’s delight

But we also soon recognised…His increased self-esteemIncreased engagement and status with hearing peersIncreased confidence and independence in approach to studyDramatic improvement in his results

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Why this impact?

A sense of being valued? Increased morale and commitment

Structure to study materials? Contrast with relay from interpreter

Enabled to study independently? Increased confidence

The power of repetition in learning? At last able to review work without CSW

An encouraging start

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Back to plan A

An online environment for all deaf students

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Access to Core Information

Normally provided by Printed and online text Or word of mouth

Deaf students often excludedUsing Blackboard to address thisDemonstration: Blackboard for DeafTo see a demonstration of this resource, contact:

john.webber@sussexdowns.ac.uk

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Giving a Voice to Deaf Students?

Handing over some dev to deaf student with media skillsInviting input on design from other deaf studentsOnline forums for deaf studentsPersonal areas? web pages with video

Webcams for 2 way comms?

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Steps to Raising Awareness

Opening up area to all studentsPresenting information about the nature of deafnessExperimenting with ways of communicating thisDemos:The challenge for lip readersTo see a demonstration of this resource, contact:john.webber@sussexdowns.ac.ukWe aim to broaden programme to other disabilities

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How we have gained

Stimulated to think and to innovate in our communicationCreated an efficient process for online video development and deliveryLearnt we can draw disabled users into the heart of the processLearnt to see the “different ability” in “disability”

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The end for now

Questions, suggestions, comments?My email address:john.webber@sussexdowns.ac.uk