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Remedial Windows Software for Deaf Students. Norm Crozer Los Angeles Pierce College. 30 years ago. I was frustrated because my students were not learning. My students and I were equally to blame….
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Remedial Windows Software for Deaf Students Norm Crozer Los Angeles Pierce College
My students were: not used to thinkingcouch-potato learnersnot able to apply things they learn
My teaching:was not effective did not allow for differences in learning abilities did not give students the one- on-one attention they needed
My students had learned things.They could pass my tests.But their writing did not improve.
Great idea, but there was no software written specifically for postsecondary deaf students.
I had some experience programming, so I decided to write my own software for my deaf students.
I had writtenone vocabulary program and six writing programs.
Initially the programs served to supplement my instruction. But, over time, the programs became the basis for 80% of my instruction.
Students:became active learners started to think, reason and analyze things started to apply the things they learned in their writing
My Instruction:became more effectiveallowed for differences in learning abilities.gave students the one-on-one attention they needed
Of the deaf students who have completed all the programs, 75% have gone on to mainstream English.
While we use the programs at Pierce College in special classes, other schools use them to supplement mainstream instruction.
Vocabulary Enrichment (VE) is a self-contained program that provides 100% of the instruction, practice, review, and testing needed by students.
VE does this without the need for an instructor or classroom.
VE is able to conduct a hybrid distance education classor serve as a supplement to mainstream instruction.
At Pierce, the VE program conducts a one-unit vocabulary class every semester with 200+ deaf and hearing students including ESL students.
My only involvement is to give an orientation at the beginning of the semester and monitor student progress.
The VE program is divided into two levels so students from all ages and vocabulary levels can use it.
Level ‘A’ contains 1,125 words fromthe 4th grade to the 8th grade.Level ‘B’ contains 1,125 words fromthe 9th grade to college.
All students start with a pretest. The pretest shows the student one word at a time with four choices for the definition and one ‘Don’t Know’ choice.
Students choose the correct meaning for each word. The program ignores the words a student gets right and saves the words he/she gets wrong.
This means that students will not have to waste time studying words they already know.
The pretest starts each student in level ‘B’. If the student makes too many mistakes in the first 25 questions, the program moves the student to the level ‘A’ pretest.
When the number of saved words reaches 180, the pretest stops and the 180 words become a personalized word set for the student.
The program breaks each student’s set of 180 words into 12 groups of 15 words each and prints a hard copy for study at home.
To help students learn, practice and review their words, the program presents four lessons for each group.
Group 1 Lessons 1. 2. 3. Group 2 Lessons 1. 2. 3. 4. Group 3 Lessons 1. 2. 3. 4. Group 4 Lessons 1. 2. 3. 4. Group 6 Lessons 1. 2. 3. 4. Group 7 Lessons 1. 2. 3. 4. Group 8 Lessons 1. 2. 3. 4. Group 5 Lessons 1. 2. 3. 4. Group 9 Lessons 1. 2. 3. 4. Group 10 Lessons 1. 2. 3. 4. Group 11 Lessons 1. 2. 3. 4. Group 12 Lessons 1. 2. 3. 4.
The lessons for each group are: • Learning the Definitions • Reverse (definition to word) • Practice Quiz • Random Review
Students must complete each set of lessons before the program gives them the option to take each test.
Students must pass each group test before the program allows them to begin their next group.Each group test is cumulative which forces students to review all their previously learned words.
Students study and take a test on at least one word group per week.
Students can complete up to three sets (540 words) during a semester.
The program can also administer a final exam. It covers all sets attempted by each student.
To help in class management, the VE program has 22 Staff Options.
Some Of These Options Include: • View student test scores • View dates and times (work and tests) • Place students on hold • Reprint vocabulary lists • Delete students • Print Student Progress Reports