A Beginning Sign Language VideoCourse for Hearing Adult Learners

This Phase I project will consist of a fesibility study in preparation for Phase II project in which a complete 20-hour sign language videocourse will be produced reflecting the entry level skills, learning styles, learning preferences, and sign-processing strategies of hearing adult beginning learners. The primary hearing populations for this instruction are (a) current and prospective teachers and service providers of deaf and hard-of-hearing students who do not have sign skills commensurate with the communication requirements of the students they will teach, and (b) family members who are unable to communicate well enough to facilitate the appropriate linguistic and social development of these deaf and hard-of-hearing children and youth. The four technical objectives of Phase I are: (1) design all the components of a comprehensive sign language product to provide effective instruction to hearing adult beginning learners of sign language, (2) conduct a formative evaluation througout the design and development phases, which will include a subject-matter and an instructional internal review, (3) produce two 20-minute prototype lessons, and (4) conduct a formative evaluation of the prototype lessons. Tasks for each of these objectives will be accomplished during the six-month duration of the project.