Re: Hearing problem

[dmathies@tulsa.cc.ok.us]

I should have known better than to use the word absolutely.  There are some
changes of course.  However these are minimal and most changes tend to
benefit all students.  Perhaps I was unclearn about the moving question.
There is nothing wrong with changing position.  However talking while
moving can be disruptive to ALL students.  I do all of the things you
mention, computer simulations, demonstrations, blackboard work, walking
into the class to wake up specific students. I still do all of those things
even with a hearing impared students present. I can not see that stopping
and facing the class after moving has any effect on style except to make
yourself more understandable.  As to size of room again from personal
experience there is no effect.  I have had one class of 24 students in a
room designed for 18 ( construction that semester everyone was jammed up)
The signer did not distract or get in the way.  In a classroom situation
the signer sits beside the podium at the same level as the students, facing
the class and signs to the student who is in the front row.  Since the
signer is sitting and the instructor standing the line of sight of any
student is not interfered with any more than in a standard class setting.
People who sign for a living have a set of professional guidelines one of
which is to be as unobtrusive as possible.  As I  indicates  earlier by the
end of the second week of classe the signer was considered another class
member not a distraction.




"Rick Tarara" <rbtarara@sprynet.com> on 10/21/98 09:11:48 PM

Please respond to phys-l@mailer.uwf.edu

To:   phys-l@atlantis.UWF.edu
cc:    (bcc: Don Mathieson/SciEngTech/tcc)
Subject:  Re: Hearing problem





-----Original Message-----
From: dmathies@tulsa.cc.ok.us <dmathies@tulsa.cc.ok.us>


> Abosolutely Not!!!  The first time I faced the situation I felt strongly
> that this would be the case.  Experience taught me that it is absolutely
> NOT TRUE!!  (I can not emphasize this strongly enough!)


Let me then argue with the _absolutely_  part.  So far, I haven't had to
deal with this kind of situation, but if I did have a similar student (and
followed the advice given in this thread), I would have to drastically
change the way I teach.  While I don't pace, I do relocate myself several
times during class.  When demonstrating, I need to be at the equipment,
when
using the board, there.  When using computer animations and simulations I
both need to be at the computer AND I have to have the lights out.  When
just talking to the students, I come down off our little stage and stand
amongst them.  To remain facing and remain always visible to a deaf student
would be extremely difficult for me.   In other class situations, with
small
classes and smaller rooms, a signer would both be in the way and a
distraction.  None of this is not to say that accommodations couldn't be
done, but I have much less confidence that these accommodations would not
decrease the effectiveness (if there is any) of my presentations and
interactions and I really wouldn't want to.  I would, on the other hand try
and find alternatives--such as videotaping and having someone work to sign
the content to the student outside of class (although some PC types would
find this puts too much strain on the student since they would have to
experience the class twice!)

I'm probably coming across as mean spirited about the handicapped here and
really don't mean to (and I have plenty of experience working with and just
living with handicapped people), but there are many degrees to the
accommodations that MUST and CAN be made and sometimes I do think we have
gone overboard and really beyond what the law (or common sense) demands.

Rick