Creating an Inclusive Online Community: Enhancing Deaf Education Networks

1. "Join Together: An Existing K-20 H323 Video Conferencing Network & An Emerging Internet2 Opportunity for Deaf Education" Presented by Harold Johnson & Tom McNeal Johnson & NcNeal

2. Presentation Outline • Essential Problems of Deafness & Deaf Education • Proposed Solution • An Existing K-20 H323 Deaf Education Network… • With Virtual Presentations from: • Ms. Vivan Smith/Teacher – Mississippi School for the Deaf, Jackson, MS • Ms. Cheryl Smith/Teacher – Todd Elementary School & Ms. Katharine Stephens-Slemenda/Professor – Converse College, Spartanburg, SC • Dr. Sharon Baker/Professor – University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK • A Proposed Internet2 H323 Deaf Education Network • A Request & An Invitation • Q&A Johnson & NcNeal

3. Essential Problems of Deafness & Deaf Education • The primary problem of deafness… • …is not too little hearing, but too much interpersonal and informational isolation. • The primary problem of Deaf Education… • …is not a lack of information, innovation or effort, but rather a persistent and growing difficulty in achieving critical mass of individuals, knowledge and resources. • This problem is due to the fact that during the course of the last decade, a dramatic shift has occurred in the settings in which deaf/hard-of-hearing (d/hh) children and adults are educated. Johnson & NcNeal

4. Proposed Solution • Establish a seamless on-line community of learners that collaboratively… • …share information • …resources and • …opportunities • for the common purpose of recognizing excellence and enhancing performance within Deaf Education. Johnson & NcNeal

5. An Existing K-20 H323 Deaf Ed. Network • In June of 2000, a three year, $2.1 million PT3 (www.pt3.org) Catalyst grant (“Crossing the Realities Divide: Preservice Teachers as 'Change Agents' for the Field of Deaf Education") (www.deafed.net) was awarded to the Association of College Educators – Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing (ACE-D/HH) (www.acedhh.org/). • Note: Gallaudet Professor Dr. Donna Mertens serves as the Evaluator for this grant. • …your conference packet includes a poster and brochure from the ACE-D/HH grant. Johnson & NcNeal

6. …Existing Network (cont.) • The essential purpose of the Deaf Education Catalyst grant (www.deafed.net) was to enhance the use of computer based, Internet linked technologies within the nation’s 70 Deaf Education teacher preparation programs. • This enhancement was designed to accomplish three essential goals: • To establish local, regional and national on-line collaborative networks of Deaf Education college professors, their preservice teaches, existing teaches and parents of d/hh students. • To use the resulting networks to support and recognize the preparation of technologically proficient teaches of d/hh students. • To sustain the impact of the grant through the incorporation of ISTE technology standards for new teachers into the national standards for the preparation of teachers of the deaf via their acceptance by the Council on the Education of the Deaf (CED Johnson & NcNeal

7. …Existing Network (cont.) • To date, following 28 months of work, the Deaf Education Catalyst grant has accomplished the following: • ISTE technology standards for new teachers have been informally accepted by the CED member organizations. • 158 full time, part-time and clinical Deaf Education teacher preparation program faculty/colleagues… • …from 60 different colleges/universities • …in 34 of 35 possible states • …have made 596 documented choices to enhance teaching and learning within their programs through the use of a specific range of technology based activities. • 2,390 Deaf Education preservice teachers have participated in grant related activities and 1,570 of those individuals have been judged by the faculty to have become technologically proficient. • 7,900+ registrations have been made on the Deaf Education Web site (www.deafed.net) since it’s onset on 2/1/01. Johnson & NcNeal

8. …Existing Network (cont.) • Particularly noteworthy elements of the Deaf Education Web site (www.deafed.net) are: • 4,300+ of the registrants are parents of d/hh children; • 680+ deafness related jobs and 140+ resumes have been posted to the Web site; • The “Best of the Web” national competition for preservice teachers of d/hh students has been established • A system of “Cyber Mentors” has been established • A series of “Topical Teams of Experts” have been established… • Note: Gallaudet Professors Dr. Tom Jones & Dr. Marilyn Sass-Leher lead two of these topical teams • A “DeafWebNet” search engine has been established • A “Virtual Professional Development Network” is now being developed in FL, SC, OK and KY with more than 75 existing teachers of d/hh students who were specifically selected for their instructional and technological effectiveness… • Note: this network is investigating the use of NetTrecker (www.nettrecker.com) for curricular enhancement and Lectora (www.trivantis.com) for on-line course development. Johnson & NcNeal

9. …Existing Network (cont.) • …particularly noteworthy elements (cont.) • In collaboration with Dr. David Martin, a pilot investigation has been carried out concerning the use of H323 based video conferencing technologies to enhance collaborative activities within Deaf Education. • Within that pilot investigation, the Deaf Education PT3 Catalyst grant (www.deafed.net) has purchased, distributed and provided technical assistance for the use of: • 54 Polycom ViaVideo systems, • 4 Polycom ViewStations 128 systems & • 1 Polycom FX ViewStation. Note: ReviewVideo, Polycom’s largest distributor, has established a special price list for Deaf Education. • The systems are now being used by both deaf and hearing individuals in 21 states and the District of Columbia. Note: the Deaf Ed. PT3 Catalyst grant has sufficient funds to provide a Polycom ViaVideo system to each full/part-time faculty member within the nation’s Deaf Education teacher preparation programs. Tom….. Johnson & NcNeal

10. …Existing Network (cont.) Johnson & NcNeal

11. …Existing Network (cont.) • We will now use the existing H323 network to allow Deaf Education colleagues from around the nation to share with you how they are using this technology: • Ms. Vivan Smith/Teacher – Mississippi School for the Deaf, Jackson, MS • Ms. Cheryl Smith/Teacher – Todd Elementary School & Ms. Katharine Stephens-Slemenda/Professor – Converse College, Spartanburg, SC • Dr. Sharon Baker/Professor – University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK Johnson & NcNeal

12. …Existing Network (cont.) • Lessons Learned from existing H323 Network: • Support of the Administration • Support of the Network Director • Firewalls, NAT & Ridgeway Systems • Switch vs. Hubs • T1,DSL,Cable • Internet Congestion • Internet 2 Johnson & NcNeal

13. …Existing Network (cont.) • Videoconferencing Cookbook • www.videnet.gatech.edu/cookbook • Internet 2 • www.internet2.edu/ • Polycom • www.polycom.com • Ridgeway System • www.ridgewaysystems.com/ • KSU DVC Project • www.dvcproject.org/ • Deaf Education Web Site • www.deafed.net Johnson & NcNeal

14. A Proposed Internet2, H323 Deaf Education Network • To date, the PT3 Deaf Education Catalyst grant (www.deafed.net) has established an extensive on-line community of learners for the nation’s 70 Deaf Education teacher preparation programs, faculty and preservice teachers. • The grant has also piloted the use of H323 technologies to enhance collaborative activities and the preparation of preservice teachers of d/hh students. • The intent is now to expand the grant’s current on-line community of learners and H323 network to include the use of Internet2 with the entire Deaf Education community. Johnson & NcNeal

15. …Proposed Network • The projected, initial list of partners for the planned Internet2 Deaf Education community are as follows: • the nation’s 70 Deaf Education teacher preparation programs; • the nation’s residential schools for the deaf; • the five to ten largest K-12 public and private school programs serving d/hh students in each state; • the major deafness related national organizations (i.e., AGBell, ASC-D/HH, ASDC, CAID, CEASD, CED, NAD, RID) • the major state, regional and national deafness related funded projects; and • selected non-profit and for profit corporations. Johnson & NcNeal

16. …Proposed Network • The basis purpose of the proposed Internet2 network would be to recognize excellence and enhance performance throughout Deaf Education. • More specifically, the proposed Internet2 Deaf Education network would be used to establish the following nation wide collaborative activities: • Recruitment of ethnically diverse, male and female, deaf and hearing individuals to become teachers and support personnel for d/hh students. • Regionally based initial and emergency certification, plus, ongoing professional development opportunities for teachers and support personnel for d/hh students. • A “Virtual Professional Development Network” for the field of Deaf Education. • A “Virtual Learning Environment” for d/hh students and adults. • A topically driven, “Virtual Learning Community” for Deaf Education. Johnson & NcNeal

17. …Proposed Network • Summary… • The primary problem of deafness is not too little hearing, but too much interpersonal and informational isolation. • The Deaf Education PT3 Catalyst grant (www.deafed.net) has developed an Internet based model, a Web based infrastructure and an initial on-line community of learners to address this isolation. • The proposed Deaf Education Internet2 initiative can demonstrate to the nation… • …how the innovative and efficient use of computer based, Internet linked technologies can be used to not only enhance teaching and learning, but to also… • …enable the historically underserved population of d/hh individuals to achieve their academic and vocational potential. Johnson & NcNeal

18. A Request & An Invitation • A Request: • Please share with us how you are now using the H323 technology. • Please share with us the problems that you have encountered and the solutions that have developed. • We will develop a bulletin board on the Deaf Education Web Site (www.deafed.net) so that the shared information can read by all. • We will also work with you to find common solutions to common problems. • An Invitation: • Let us "Join Together” to achieve the common goal of enhancing teaching and learning within Deaf Education. • Let us “Join Together” to lead the nation in a demonstration of how the effective and innovative use of computer based, Internet linked technologies can be used to establish a “virtual” community of learners. • Let us “Join Together” to reduce isolation and increase resources for us all. Johnson & NcNeal

19. Q&A • What questions or comments would you like to share? • Contact Information: • Harold Johnson – 330 672-0735 [voice]: 330 672-2396 [tty] • Tom McNeal – 330 672-9801 Johnson & NcNeal

20. Thank you for this opportunity to learn and share with you.We hope that this is only the first of many such opportunities we will have in the future. Johnson & NcNeal