Synchronous/Asynchronous

ASL Project Based Learning

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Julia Silvestri

Frances Conlin

Andrew Fisher

American Sign Language Program

Department of Linguistics

Center for Language Study

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Northeast Association for Language Learning Technology

2022 Conference: Emerging Realities

PROJECT-BASED LEARNING

• IDENTIFY A PROBLEM/ISSUE/QUESTION

• DESIGN SOLUTIONS

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• IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS

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• OBSERVE, REFLECT, AND REFINE SOLUTIONS

Group Project Communication

How do you communicate with your students outside of class?

How do students communicate with each other for group projects?

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…Share your answers in the chat!

Asynchronous/Synchronous Programming Rationale

• ASL has grown rapidly in use among the general population but is used restrictively in Deaf education

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• While teaching/learning the language of d/Deaf people, a learning community has a responsibility to develop and promote awareness of the Deaf community and the status of ASL in society

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• An asynchronous instructional day will allow students to participate in the community events and activities necessary to develop both linguistic and cultural proficiency.

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Asynchronous Learning Design

• ASL students were required to attend ASL/Deaf community events and participate in a community based service project, complete a weekly field journal, and give a final project presentation

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• Monday-Thursday : Language Proficiency. Classes met for lectures and practice activities using Signing Naturally Curriculum, supplemented with Deaf Studies lessons and guidelines for group work and independent study.

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• Friday: Cultural Proficiency. Students were given time, resources, and guidelines for project-based learning group work and social experience assignments.

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Program Implementation

Weekly activities included both teacher led, student led, and collaborative projects and events:

• International Week of the Deaf (IWD) celebrations and videos
• Signing Tables organized by the ASL at Yale club
• ‘ASL in the Movies’ Nights
• Student Service Projects

Service projects included:

• ASL Gathering & Interpreted show @ the Yale vs. Harvard football game
• ASL/Deaf Culture Open House Showcase
• Holiday Variety Show
• Yale Shared Reading Saturday program launch
• Student produced documentaries about Deaf & Hard of Hearing experiences at Yale

Program Communication

Syllabus

Canvas and Google Drive

Program-wide Master Document

Group Documents

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Social Media and Events

@yale.asl Yale ASL Program

Production Media and Documentary Filmmaking

Project Communication and Community Production

Multi-media and Hybrid Production

External Partnerships

& Community Relations

• American School for the Deaf (ASD)
• Gallaudet University Regional Center
• Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center
• Waterbury Public Schools Special Education Program
• Connecticut EHDI Program

(Early Hearing Detection & Intervention)

• Local Police & Fire Departments
• Deaf/HOH Medical Professionals

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Workshops, trainings and socials for Deaf/Hard of Hearing children & students, parents and caregivers, first responders…

External Partnerships and Communication

Faculty initiated. Student implemented.

Service Projects

Communication

Yale Email

Assessments

• Weekly Field Journal
• Final Project Presentation
• Student Perception Surveys
• Receptive Language Quizzes and and Expressive Compositions

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Outcomes

• Students developed Deaf/ASL cultural proficiencies
• Students applied their American Sign Language skills in social situations
• Students collaborated to develop a robust ASL community on campus
• Students employed a variety of media communication tools to complete project goals
• >85% of of student midterm and final exams and compositions demonstrated >85% mastery of target language skills
• Students expressed interest in continuing projects with increased guidelines

Student survey responses: asynchronous learning benefit

The service project was a great way to get hands-on experience with the things we were learning about in class. Being able to participate in the holiday show made me a lot more confident in my signing and made me feel more connected to the community.

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I enjoyed working with those outside of my section and creating a large project with others. I also think the events gave me a more well-rounded view of deaf culture/community which was integral to my learning of the language

Student survey responses: asynchronous learning needs

…it was immensely helpful when the projects were categorized into the open house, variety show, sports events, etc. Also, because the program was new this year I think everyone was figuring out what to expect. Moving forward there is a good layout for possible projects and students should be able to find something related to their interests.

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The guiding process and having projects available to sign up to help with were the most helpful in the asynchronous portion of the class.

Student survey responses: asynchronous learning challenges

Early on in the semester, I was very confused about where the projects would be going or what exactly was expected from them. It would've been helpful to have the service projects we could sign up to help with earlier on in the semester.

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…more guidance at the beginning of the semester would've helped a lot…Having some sort of weekly / 2 week newsletter with all the upcoming events would help me keep track of what I want to attend and when

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Re-calibration + Future Directions

Spring 2022 Semester

• Explicit Guidelines + 1:1 Meetings
• Continue Projects: variety show, open house, doc films, ASL school events, shared reading
• Create a Yale ASL Newsletter
• Add Internship Experiences and Expanded External Partnerships
• Incorporating digital textbook for self-study

Fall 2022 Considerations

• Journal prompting with ACTFL can-do statements
• Relating language proficiency to other variables (concrete: attending signing tables, abstract: cultural proficiency, self-efficacy)
• Additional digital materials for self-study
• Expanded communication tools for external partnerships

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Navigating COVID & Expanding Partnerships

Q + A

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Contact/Follow us for more info!

Julia Silvestri julia.silvestri@yale.edu

Frances Conlin frances.conlin@yale.edu

Andrew Fisher andrew.fisher@yale.edu

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@yale.asl

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Yale ASL Program

https://ling.yale.edu/academics/american-sign-language-asl