Jeff…your logo here?

Scientific Advisory Group MeetingScientific Advisory Group Meeting

May 7, 2004May 7, 2004

Access to Technical Education Through Sign Language Interpreting:

Issues and Answers

• What are the interactions of of student characteristics, interpreter characteristics, and settings?– Do student preferences and skills matter?– Does interpreting level the playing field?

Do Student Preferences and Skills Matter?

No.

Predictors of Comprehension(Signed and Written Tests)

• Generally not:– ASL skill– English skill– Interpreting match– Reading ability– Academic qualifications (including RIT vs. NTID)– Hearing aids and implants– Degree of hearing loss– Deaf vs. hearing parents– Age began signing– No “question by hearing status interaction”

• Not for comprehension (of college students, in

single lectures, without other support services) with STEM or non-STEM content

• Longer-term (course, semester, program)?– Student and interpreter comfort?

– Motivation?

– Variability (within and across students)?

Do Student Preferences and Skills Matter?

Does Interpreting Level the Playing Field?

No.

Predictors of Comprehension(Signed and Written Tests)

• Generally not:– ASL skill– English skill– Interpreting match– Reading ability– Academic qualifications (including RIT vs. NTID)– Hearing aids and implants– Degree of hearing loss– Deaf vs. hearing parents– Age began signing– No “question by hearing status interaction”

Does Interpreting Level the Playing Field?

• It’s not about interpreting or student sign skills• Likely indicates poor K-12 preparation (including

interpreting)– May be a function of “mediated instruction”

• Emphasizes the importance of other support services (tutoring, notes, etc.)

• Reflects the challenges of mainstream education– And we don’t know about direct instruction

Eliminating Communication and Technological Barriers to STEM

Education

• What are the benefits and challenges to deaf students of visual materials in the classroom?

• How do characteristics of students, interpreters, instructors, and settings interact?

Eliminating Communication and Technological Barriers to STEM

Education

• Where did all this come from?

Eliminating Communication and Technological Barriers to STEM

Education

• Year 1– Methodology– Benefits accruing to deaf students and skilled signers

00.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.9

1P

ropo

rtio

n C

orre

ct

Newbie Skilled Hearing

Skill Group

Experiment 1 - Live vs. Memorex

LiveMemorex

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Newbie Skilled Hearing

Pro

po

rtio

n C

orr

ect

Live

Memorex

Experiment 1 – Live vs. Memorex