20th Annual Student Research Conference
Human Potential and Performance
Developing and Assessing Video Technology Materials to Support Sign Language Instruction
Lauren N. Mueller♦*, Megan D. Sherrill♦, and Erin L. Thomas
Dr. Janet Gooch, Dr. Paula Cochran, and Ms. Sheila Garlock, Faculty Mentors
Some signs are more difficult to learn than others. Students benefit from seeing signs in context, not just in isolation. To address this need, a collection of videos was developed for use in an introductory sign language course. The videos focus on low iconic ASL signs (signs typically more difficult to learn) and present signs in words, phrases, and sentences. The videos can be used in conjunction with other, traditional modes of teaching ASL . This study also examined the effectiveness of the inclusion of instructional videos of 50 low-iconicity ASL signs taught in the context of an introductory sign language course. The effect of the videos on student comprehension and use of the targeted signs was measured over two semesters in two different sign language courses. Significant differences were found between students’ comprehension of targeted signs and control signs, however, results varied between semesters.
Keywords: sign language, iconicity, technology, comm disorders
Topic(s):Communication Disorders
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 37-1
Location: OP 2121
Time: 1:15 pm
♦ Indicates Truman Graduate Student