SignSupport: A Mobile Aid for Deaf People Learning Computer Literacy Skills

This paper discusses a prototype of a learning aid on a mobile phone to support Deaf people learning computer literacy skills. The aim is to allow Deaf people to learn at their own pace which in turn reduces the dependence on a teacher to allow weaker learners be assisted. We studied the classroom dynamics and teaching methods to extract how lesson content is delivered. This helped us develop an authoring tool to structure lesson content for the prototype. A prototype has been developed using South African Sign Language videos arranged according to the structure of pre-existing lessons. The technical goal was to implement the prototype on a mobile device and tie the resulting exported lesson content from the authoring tool to a series of signed language videos and images so that a Deaf person can teach him/herself computer literacy skills. Results from the user testing found the prototype successful in allowing Deaf users to learn at their own pace thereby reducing the dependence on the teacher

Mobile Aid for Deaf People Learning Computer Literacy Skills

This paper discusses a prototype of a learning aid on a mobile phone to support Deaf people learning computer literacy skills. The aim is to allow Deaf people to learn at their own pace which in turn reduces the dependence on a teacher to allow the teacher to assist weaker learners. We studied the classroom dynamics and teaching methods to extract how lesson content is delivered. This helped us develop an authoring tool to structure lesson content for the prototype. A prototype has been developed using South African Sign Language videos arranged according to the structure of pre-existing lessons. The technical goal was to implement the prototype on a mobile device and tie the resulting exported lesson content from the authoring tool to a series of signed language videos and images so that a Deaf person can teach him/herself computer literacy skills. Qualitative preliminary results from user testing found the prototype successful in allowing Deaf users to learn at their own pace thereby reducing the dependence on the teacher

Supporting Deaf Adult Learners Training in Computer Literacy Classes

While Deaf learners are fluent in a signed language they need to know a written language when acquiring computer literacy skills. We aim to allow Deaf people learn at their own pace and in turn reduce the need to interpret written text. Classroom dynamics and teaching method were studied to extract how lessons were conducted. We then implemented our solution: an authoring tool to structure lesson content and a mobile prototype. The prototype uses South African Sign Language videos arranged according to pre-existing lessons exported by the authoring tool. Results from the user testing showed a reduction in number of representational states which instructions appear in as well as allowing Deaf learners to learn at their own pace