Educational Innovations

Learning can only be achieve when our students feel that what we are offering to them is worth while, useful and exciting. The ability of the teacher to make students think that what they are learning is substantial is her ability to creatively present her lessons well, this is where power points, smart boards, and other ICTs comes in. But state of the art technology such as these requires more budget, and not all can comply. Hence the innovations in the education and lesson presentations solely relies on the teachers ability to create visual aids that is geared in enticing students curiosity, as well as making the lesson LESS BORING.

Basic Sign Language

What is Sign Language?

—  A sign language is a language which uses manual communication and body language to convey meaning, as opposed to acoustically conveyed sound patterns. (Webster, 2006)

—  This involves simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's thoughts. (www.asl.pro)

What is Deafness?

—  According to Link Center for the Deaf, deafness is defined as the inability to hear and understand speech and other sounds.

—  Deafness, hearing impairment, or hearing loss is a partial or total inability to hear.

—  Webster 1994, totally or partially unable to hear.

Some Common Causes of Hearing Loss

—  Diseases (German measles, mumps, chicken pox, ear infections)

—  Birth defects, old age

—  Heredity

—  Injury or noise

Degree of Impairment

—  Slight  - 27-40 dB (Whisper)

—  Mild – 41-55 dB (normal conversation within 3-5 feet)

—  Moderate- 56- 70 dB (Normal conversation within 7 feet)

—  Severe – 71- 90 dB (food blender)

—  Profound – 91 dB or more (aircraft take off)

Myths and Facts about Deafness

Myths	Facts
v  All hearing losses are the same	v  Deafness refers to a wide range of hearing losses
v  All Deaf people are mute; “deaf and dumb”	v  Deafness does not affect organs of speech or intelligence.
v  All Deaf people use hearing aids	v  Some Deaf people prefer not to use hearing aid or other hearing appliance since this cause controversy in the Deaf Community.
v  All Deaf people use sign language	v  Most of the Deaf use sign language but others also prefer to use other forms.
v  Hearing Aids restore hearing	v  Hearing aids simply amplifies sounds but not affects the ability to process sound. Some Hearing appliance like coclear implants may in some instance may restore hearing with the aid of therapy.
v  All Deaf can lip read.	v  Lip reading is a skill but not all Deaf has the ability to lip read.

Major Components of Signs

I.                  Position

II.                Hand shape

III.               Movement

IV.              Orientation

Guidelines

POSITION

  1.     General area for signing space is between the top of the head until just above the waist.

  2.     The visual center of the signing space is the nose-mouth area.

  3.     Size of hand movements differ depending on the position in the Signing space and the number of people being signed to.

  4.     For symmetry, signs made near the center of the signing space often use a single hand, while signs made further away tend to use both hands.

Why do we need to study sign language?

  1.     To connect and communicate with our Deaf love ones.

  2.     For easy communication in long distance communication without shouting just big signing that is fun to do!

  3.     Create a bridge that would connect the hearing world to the Deaf world.