Deaf Education Research Articles

Applied deaf aesthetics toward transforming deaf higher education.

Deaf aesthetics is a theoretical framework we actualized to enhance interactions in deaf education, particularly via multimodal pedagogy and curricular experiences. Prior research illustrates that deaf aesthetics are desired by deaf teachers and students who are deaf; however, most instructional-delivery formats lack these supports. The present mixed-methodology, multi-method case study is an empirical evaluation of how deaf aesthetics contributed to the process of redesigning a course, including major revisions to instructional slide decks (e.g., PowerPoint, Google Slides, Prezi). The research question we examined is: How can instructional designers and university educators effectively design and use deaf aesthetics and multimodal curricula and pedagogies to prompt and sustain educational interactions with deaf or deafblind learners and teachers?

Sign language in d/deaf students' spoken/written language development: A research synthesis and meta‐analysis of cross‐linguistic correlation coefficients

AbstractThis paper presents the first systematic review and meta‐analysis on cross‐linguistic correlations between sign language and spoken/written language competences in bilingual d/Deaf learners. A total of 202 effect sizes were identified based on 70 independent samples that appeared in 52 studies from 1981 to 2023 (N = 3570). The effect sizes involved seven sign language correlates (e.g., fingerspelling, phonological awareness [PA], lexico‐semantic knowledge) and eight spoken/written language correlates (e.g., PA, lexico‐semantic knowledge, word reading, reading comprehension). Estimated mean correlations of 26 cross‐linguistic relationships ranged from r = 0.322 (p < 0.001) for sign language PA and reading comprehension to r = 0.645 (p < 0.001) for fingerspelling and word reading. Among other moderators, age/grade (elementary, secondary, vs. university/adult), signer status (native vs. non‐native), program type (bilingual vs. Total Communication/SimCom), and task type (passage vs. sentence comprehension) either showed significant moderation effects or resulted in differing size (small, medium vs. large) in the correlation coefficients among subgroups of primary studies. The meta‐analytic findings lend support to the legitimate application of linguistic interdependence, common underlying proficiency, cross‐linguistic transfer facilitation, and their associated constructs to the educational development of signing/bimodal bilingual learners. The moderator analysis results, in particular, have shed light on the conditioning of linguistic interdependence and transfer and expanded current understandings about the complexity of the issue and its practical implications in bilingual deaf education.

Challenging the "norm": a critical look at deaf-hearing comparison studies in research.

This study critically examines the biases and methodological shortcomings in studies comparing deaf and hearing populations, demonstrating their implications for both the reliability and ethics of research in deaf education. Upon reviewing the 20 most-cited deaf-hearing comparison studies, we identified recurring fallacies such as the presumption of hearing ideological biases, the use of heterogeneously small samples, and the misinterpretation of critical variables. Our research reveals a propensity to based conclusions based on the norms of white, hearing, monolingual English speakers. This dependence upholds eugenics ideas and scientific ableism, which reinforces current power dynamics that marginalize the epistemologies and lived experiences of deaf populations. Going forward, it will be imperative for deaf people to be included in meaningful roles in deaf-related research as active contributors who help define the whole research process. Without this shift, the research risks remaining detached from the very populations it seeks to understand.

TECHNOLOGY LITERACY AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS FOR ENHANCING NUMERACY AND LITERACY SKILLS OF EARLY-GRADE PUPILS WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENTS IN TANZANIA

Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) have significantly transformed the educational landscape, and offer substantial benefits for learners with special needs including those with hearing impairments. The primary purpose of this research was to determine the technological literacy level among primary school teachers in using ICTs to support literacy and numeracy skills among learners with hearing impairments and compare them based on demographic information. A quantitative analysis approach was used, involving 121 teachers from the deaf unit primary school who completed a self-rating questionnaire based on the Technology Literacy Assessment Scale developed by UNESCO. Both mean scores, the Mann-Whitney U test, and the Kruskal-Walli’s test were used to compare teachers’ technological literacy using ICTs. The results indicated that teachers' demographic information is significantly related to technological literacy at the p=0.05 level. The results found that female teachers had higher technological literacy than male teachers. Also, teachers with lower education levels were found to have higher technological literacy than those with higher levels of education. Among the teacher characteristics, working experience and age were found to have no significant difference with technology literacy as they had p-values of 0.313 and 0.212 respectively. Interestingly, teachers who specialized in special needs education were found to have higher technological literacy than those who didn’t specialize in special needs education. The findings revealed that technology literacy among primary teachers who teach pupils with hearing impairments was high, which signifies confidence in basic ICT skills for enhancing literacy and numeracy skills among learners with hearing impairments. However, incompetence levels were found in integrating ICT in organization and administration, especially in managing individual variation among pupils with hearing impairments, and curriculum and assessment had lower mean scores than other elements of the UNESCO ICT-CFT areas. These findings suggest that adaptive and personalized learning systems are essential, and comprehensive training regarding ICT integration specifically tailored for teaching pupils with hearing impairments is needed for effective classroom usage.

It all made sense: ASL-first approach in classroom practice.

This qualitative study delves into the innovative Bilingual Grammar Curriculum. The curriculum aims to enhance bilingualism and linguistic skills among deaf students by integrating American Sign Language instruction and written language grammatical structures. The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with 12 experienced educators of the deaf who have implemented the curriculum in their teaching practices. Employing a thematic analysis approach, the researcher sought to uncover the educators' perceptions, experiences, and insights regarding the curriculum's effectiveness and its impact on bilingual language acquisition for deaf learners. Findings revealed a diverse range or perspectives, highlighting both the advantages and challenges of the curriculum's implementation. Themes emerged encompassing the curriculum's alignment with linguistic theories, its adaptability to diverse learning needs, the role of educator training, and the incorporation of cultural nuances within bilingual instruction. The study contributes valuable insights to the field of deaf education, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of bilingual grammar pedagogy and providing recommendations for curriculum refinement and educator professional development. Ultimately, this research underscores the significance of innovative approaches in enhancing the linguistic abilities and educational experiences of deaf and hard-of-hearing students within a bilingual framework.

A comparative study of how teachers communicate in deaf education classrooms.

This study investigates the communication practices of four teachers in 3rd to 6th grade classrooms with 9 deaf students with limited language proficiency and in stages of emergent writing development. Analyzing language modalities, utterance types, and class interactivity, we found that teachers using American sign language used student-centered approaches, generating a greater number of directives and responsive utterances. They persevered in increasing students' engagement and were successful in clarifying misunderstandings. Teachers using spoken English used teacher-centered approaches, making general comments directed at the whole class, which consequently reduced student participation and responsiveness. They also largely avoided repairing communication breakdowns with emergent writers, focusing instead on those with greater auditory and speaking abilities. These patterns reveal disparities in classroom communication that can affect student learning. Our findings highlight the need for teacher preparation programs to equip teachers with skill sets to employ accessible and effective communication during instruction, especially with deaf students who are still developing foundational language and writing skills.

Pedagogical Approaches in Music and Audio Education for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students

Learning about music, sound or audio can present significant challenges for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH). Given the advancements in technology and the increasing emphasis on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in education, this article proposes pedagogical approaches aimed at facilitating the learning process for DHH students in the areas of music and audio production. These approaches encompass sound visualisation, haptic feedback, automated transcription, tactics in non-linear editing and digital signal processing. Importantly, these approaches do not necessitate advanced technical skills or substantial additional resources, thus lowering barriers for DHH students to overcome challenges in music and audio production. Furthermore, these strategies would enable content creation and editing for individuals with DHH, who may have previously been excluded from participating in music and audio production. Recommendations are provided for the implementation of these approaches in diverse educational settings to promote the integration of EDI in music and audio education.

Flourishing Intervention: Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction in Hard-Of-Hearing Adolescents

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to explore the effect of the PERMA (Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationship, Meaning, and Accomplishment) flourishing intervention on basic psychological needs satisfaction in hard-of-hearing adolescents. This research was a quasi-randomised controlled trial design. Twenty-eight hard-of-hearing adolescents aged 14–17 years were randomly selected from the Deaf Center and Baghcheban Deaf School in Kashan, Iran. They were randomly replaced to experimental (n = 13) or control (n = 15) groups. The experimental group participated in the 10-session intervention, while the control group did not participate in this programme. Both groups completed the Basic Needs Satisfaction in General Scale (BNSG-S before and after intervention. The results showed that after intervention, scores on the subscales of basic psychological needs (competence, autonomy, and relatedness) in hard-of-hearing adolescents significantly and positively increased (p < 0.001). Therefore, the PERMA flourishing intervention was feasible and acceptable to these adolescents.

Translation of a story into Chilean Sign Language: productions by deaf co-teachers

IntroductionThe incorporation of narratives in Chilean Sign Language enriches classroom practices, preserving and transmitting Deaf culture. However, that within the Chilean educational context, the narratives used for instructing Deaf students are translations from written Spanish. This study aims to describe and analyze the narrative structure and the use of Highly Iconic Structures in these translations conducted by Deaf co-teachers into Chilean Sign Language.MethodThe research adopts a qualitative approach and a descriptive case study design, involving two deaf teachers from an Inclusive Education Program in a school. The data analyzed focus on the video-recorded LSCh translations of the short story “The Greedy Squirrel”. Manual annotations were made on the corpus gloss transcription to first segment by narrative structure for description and then to identify the transfer operations.ResultsThe co-teachers make variations to the narrative structure of the translated text and incorporate specific visual-gestural elements such as the change of narrator to first person; the 45% of the translation is composed of transfer operations.DiscussionThese findings suggest that the variations in structure and the new visual-gestural information provided by the co-teachers reflect their understanding and use of sign language narrative norms for translation. The use of transfer operations enhances the storytelling experience, although it cannot be conclusively stated how and why teachers decide to use them in translation. The results are limited, as they require comparison with other corpora on translations from written Spanish to LSCh and software-assisted analysis to standardize data, which implies further research on the topic. For now, it is essential that the time allocated to the preparation of educational materials in LSCh be more extensive and better planned.

Unseen and unheard: how the Future Generations Act is not addressing the needs of the Welsh deaf community

The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 places a duty on public bodies to consider the impact of their decisions on future generations and to work towards achieving the seven well-being goals. Using doctrinal, socio-legal and autoethnographic methods, this article seeks to ascertain whether the needs of the Welsh deaf community have been considered. The Act does not explicitly mention them, and there is no evidence that public bodies have taken their needs into account when implementing the Act. The Welsh deaf community is marginalised in Welsh society, and this has been exacerbated by the closure of deaf schools and the decline of deaf clubs. The Welsh Government and the Future Generations Commissioner have a responsibility to ensure that the well-being of the Welsh deaf community is considered in the implementation of the Act and recommendations and thoughts are put forward on how they can achieve this.

DESAFIOS E EXPERIÊNCIAS DOCENTES NO ENSINO REGULAR COM DISCENTES SURDOS

This article is the result of a research carried out with regular school teachers in schools in the Municipality of Belém in the State of Pará, with the objective of analyzing the challenges and experiences of teachers in basic education with regard to the process of inclusion of deaf students. The methodology used consists of data collection carried out through a google forms questionnaire. In which, the teachers answered questions related to the teaching practices used for this student in the classroom, as well as questions about training courses and also about the difficulties that teachers find to teach inclusive classes aimed at the deaf. As a theoretical contribution, the research of the authors was used: QUADROS; KARNOPP (2004), the authors deal with Bilingual Education for the Deaf, Mantoan (2003), as a basis for Inclusive Education, Schneider (2006) and Cunha (1989), which address issues about teacher training as a differential for the.

The perceptions of Iranian deaf and hard-of-hearing university students towards Persian as a spoken majority language: A narrative inquiry

ABSTRACT This narrative inquiry study provides insight into one component of Deaf bilingualism, that is, a spoken majority language, through shedding light on the perceptions of Iranian Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) university students regarding Persian, the predominant spoken language in Iran. Through thematic analysis of the collected narrative interviews with ten DHH university students, key related themes such as home literacy practices, speech therapy, economic factors, extensive reading, and the challenging nature of learning Persian emerged, revealing a nuanced understanding of a wide range of language-related issues among DHH individuals. The findings highlight the complex interplay of familial support, professional interventions, socioeconomic factors, literacy promotion, and linguistic proficiency within the DHH community. Implications of the study extend to parents, educators, experts in Deaf studies, and policymakers in Deaf education. Specifically, apart from tackling the financial barriers, the importance of prioritising literacy development at home for Deaf children is emphasised, along with the role of speech therapy in long-term linguistic development. Additionally, the study emphasises the significance of formal and systematic teaching of the spoken majority language, along with special instructional materials, in facilitating effective communication and social integration.

Teachers implementing Zimbabwean sign language regulatory frameworks for deaf learners in special schools

Effective implementation of sign language-based instruction is crucial for providing quality education to Deaf learners at special schools. Teachers experienced challenges to effectively implement sign language policies for the Deaf learners in Zimbabwean special schools. However, this study explores how teachers implement sign language regulatory frameworks for Deaf Learners in special schools. Drawing on qualitative data from teachers, headmasters, school inspectors, and psychologists. The findings revealed critical gaps in the in-service training and professional development opportunities available to teachers serving Deaf students. Despite teachers reporting difficulties with sign language fluency and inadequate understanding of Deaf culture and pedagogy, the study found a disconnect between teachers' expressed needs and the perspectives of district-level officials, who often did not perceive additional training as necessary. This study further highlights the heavy reliance on support from external donor organizations and NGOs to provide teachers with limited sign language workshops and resources. This overreliance on precarious external funding sources compromises the sustainability and scalability of professional development initiatives. The study's implications call for a comprehensive, government-led strategy to ensure all teachers in Deaf schools receive robust, long-term training in sign language, Deaf education methodologies, and Deaf cultural competence. Strengthening the capacity of the teaching workforce is essential for upholding the rights of Deaf learners to receive instruction in their primary language and achieving meaningful implementation of sign language policies. This study contributes vital empirical evidence to inform policy reforms and teacher training programmes to support using Zimbabwean Sign Language as a medium of instruction for the Deaf.

SCHOOL INCLUSION OF DEAR

This article addresses the school inclusion of deaf people from a biosocial perspective, a topic of great relevance in the context of inclusive education. Recognizing the importance of addressing this issue in depth, the study proposes a detailed analysis of deaf education, encompassing historical, cultural and pedagogical aspects. The justification for developing this research lies in the growing need to guarantee an educational environment that promotes the learning and integral development of deaf students, respecting their specificities and rights. The objectives of the study include understanding the biological and social factors that influence the school inclusion of deaf people, analyzing effective pedagogical strategies for this audience and promoting critical reflection on the inclusive process in schools. The methodology adopted involves a comprehensive literature review, complemented by case studies that illustrate successful educational practices. The main results indicate that the school inclusion of deaf people still faces significant challenges, such as the lack of preparation of education professionals and the lack of adequate resources. However, there is also progress in public policies and awareness about the importance of teaching adapted to the needs of the deaf. The discussion reveals that inclusion goes beyond the simple physical insertion of the student in the classroom, requiring structural and attitudinal changes in the school and in society.

Effectiveness of STEM based workshop for deaf education: Exploratory study

STEM education for deaf students aims to engage and include intellectual and experiential learning other than normal classrooms. These programs improve students' critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and complex decision-making, which are essential for academic and life success. This study aims to explore several aspects of a STEM based workshop including problem solving skills, STEM skills, subject knowledge, and effectiveness of the workshop for a group of 27 deaf students. The workshop spanned five consecutive days and focused on problem-solving principles within the context of global warming. Moreover, in this study, the Creative Problem-solving approach developed by Osborn and Parnes was implemented to measure improvement of the constructs above, through a post questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's Omega coefficient exceeded .7 for each construct. The data obtained from the questionnaire demonstrated a random distribution of data according to the Shapiro-Wilk test performed (p < 0.05), leading to the use of non-parametric analysis tools. The results based on the non-parametric test analysis (Kruskal Wallis test) show that high school students' problem-solving abilities improved despite the data's randomness (Mean rank = 16.72). The workshop was enhanced for the Preparatory students, who tended to gain more STEM skills and problem-solving abilities from it (Mean rank = 14.75). It also improved the knowledge and STEM skills of Primary-stage students (Mean rank = 18.13 and 18.06, respectively). This study contributes to the existing body of literature by examining how addressing challenges of global warming can enhance various abilities among deaf students.

Implementation of Sibi Sign Language Realtime Detection Program (Case Studi At Sekolah Luar Biasa Negeri 1 Tabanan)

Indonesian deaf people utilize SIBI to communicate using spoken words, gestures, facial expressions, and body language. SIBI, certified for Special Schools (SLB), helps deaf pupils communicate. This project implements SIBI (Indonesian Sign Language System) a real-time detection algorithm at Sekolah Luar Biasa Negeri 1 Tabanan using image processing and YoloV8 ultralytics deep learning. The program trains a sign language gesture detection model on Google Colab's GPU. The SIBI sign language images were used to train a YoloV8 object detection model. The camera captures movements, which the YoloV8 algorithm trained on SIBI gesture data processes. It can recognize gestures in real time and generate text to non-sign language users. The dataset has 107 class vocabulary and 7 class affix prefixes for complete gesture recognition. Shirt color, room brightness, and webcam quality affect detection rates. Optimal detection accuracy is 87.74% and subpar 58.02%. Despite these limitations, the strategy helps deaf students communicate more effectively with non-sign language speakers. This program improves inclusivity and communication in schools, making learning easier for hearing-impaired pupils. This work provides a reliable and quick sign language identification system to help deaf educators and caregivers with daily interactions and education.

Inclusive Deaf Education Enabled by Artificial Intelligence: The Path to a Solution

Inclusive Deaf Education Enabled by Artificial Intelligence: The Path to a Solution

A bilingual-bicultural literacy programme for deaf learners in Namibia

The poor academic performance and literacy level of deaf learners in Namibia are a major concern, and it is necessary to understand the center of the situation. Even though deaf learners can become proficient readers and writers, the challenge remains in finding an appropriate instructional approach to attain these results. This presents an even greater challenge, as deaf learners not only differ from their hearing peers, but also significantly differ from one another in terms of their various familial and social contexts, language use, and overall holistic development. The Bilingual-Bicultural approach is considered a good approach for teaching deaf learners, and it offers them the chance to become biliterate; therefore this study explored the impact of a Bilingual-Bicultural literacy program on 41 d/hh learners (age = 7-13 yrs). Through a one-group pre-test post-test design, a group of participants were pre-evaluated, followed by an intervention and post-evaluation. The intervention's main goal was to implement practical teaching strategies using a Bilingual-Bicultural teaching approach that can reduce the delay and gap in language learning and literacy for deaf learners. Results from t-tests calculated to determine the statistical significance of the pre and post-test with regard to the total scores and all the sub-tests for NSL as well as Written English skills indicated significant results (p&lt; 0.05). The study offers insight into the psychology of teaching deaf learners while also advancing the theory and application of the Bilingual-Bicultural approach. Additionally, it promotes debate of the best practices for ensuring that deaf learners receive a quality education and full participation in society.

Listening and learning challenges for deaf or hard of hearing students during different classroom scenarios: an itinerant teachers of the deaf perspective

ABSTRACT The aim of this exploratory study was to gather survey data from itinerant teachers of the deaf (IToDs) to better understand the impact of different classroom scenarios on 6- to 9-year-old Deaf or hard of hearing students’ listening and learning. Across two surveys, 109 IToDs (Study 1) and 18 IToDs (Study 2) were either asked to list the positive or negative implications for students’ listening and learning during lecture-style lessons, guided-learning groups, and self-directed/independent work (Study 1), or were asked to rank the importance of each of the implications (Study 2). The different types of classroom scenarios differentially impacted students’ listening and learning outcomes. In lecture-style, the IToDs reported that assistive devices worked well, but there was less support for the student in this scenario. For guided-learning, IToDs identified background noise as problematic, but as the students were engaged in classroom discussions, the IToDs felt that it was also a beneficial scenario for developing social skills. When students were engaged in self-directed/independent work, IToDs noted that while the quieter environment could be beneficial for the student’s concentration, it can also be quite isolating for the student. Overall, this study provided helpful insights from IToDs into the factors affecting listening and learning during different classroom scenarios for students who are Deaf or hard of hearing. The challenges and benefits these students encounter in the different learning settings revealed valuable insights that can be utilized by educators and policymakers aiming to optimize educational outcomes for this demographic.

Designing deaf spaces: education, hygiene, and citizenship in nineteenth-century France

ABSTRACT This article examines the changing architectural environments of deaf education in the nineteenth century, taking the national institutes in Paris and Bordeaux as its main focus. Founded in the late eighteenth century and initially housed in government-expropriated properties, both schools underwent comprehensive renovation and reconstruction projects in the nineteenth century to emerge as modern educational spaces. Although these projects remain overlooked in the history of modern architecture, they were closely tied to contemporary discourses on education, hygiene, and citizenship. The renovation of the Paris Institute for Deaf-Mutes during the 1820s–30s engaged pressing questions about hygiene and social progress in the postrevolutionary era of national reconstruction. The architectural transformation of the Bordeaux Institute for Deaf-Mute Girls from the 1860s not only reflected the changing pedagogical focus from sign language to oralism; it was also imbricated in broader debates about laïcité and educational standardisation as France transitioned from empire to republic. Far from being marginal, these institutions functioned as key sites for working through notions of citizenship and national identity. Their histories reveal how architectural and material frameworks could serve to impose ideology on the one hand, and provide important grounds for the formation of a minority community on the other.