Hello
Thought some here might find this of interest.
Jennison
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From: Sadaf Zuberi <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [POD] ICT Tool for the Deaf in Pakistan (Project progress)
Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) Assisted Learning Tool for Deaf in Pakistan
Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP - www.sdnpk.org ), Pakistan, is presently working - under the Pan Asia ICT R&D grant - to research the effectiveness of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in electronically modeling Pakistani Sign Language (PSL) for teaching to and learning of the deaf community. SDNP is a part of IUCN Pakistan Programme's Education, Communication & Knowledge Management Group (www.iucnp.org).
This innovative ICT research project has important dimensions of environmental communication and education built into it. Spanned over a one-year period, the challenging theoretical and practical pilot study will feed into designing workable and replicable learning solutions for the deaf of Pakistan. The initial information-gathering phase implicated research, collection and documentation of existing standardized PSL symbols from all over the country. For developing new sign language, a national seminar "Environment & Deaf Education" was arranged in March - 2003 in collaboration with Pakistan Association of the Deaf (PAD - a leading deaf association in Pakistan). The seminar, held at IUCN Pakistan's Sindh Office, was well-represented gathering together PSL experts from nine cities namely Larkana, Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sukkur, Sargodha, Hasilpur, Pind Dadenkhan, & Bahawalpur. As a pioneering activity in the arena of environmental education for deaf, a compendium of 55 environmental signs was produced for the first time in Pakistan. PSL for grammar and several other themes was also standardized. A professional artist was engaged for illustrating the final set of signs developed during the course of the two days.
Currently SDNP-IUCN is engaged in publishing the standardized environmental and other sign language symbols (alphabets, grammar, traffic, general dictionary words), using on-line (web) and off-line (CD-ROM) technologies. The CD-ROM will comprise lesson plans / assessment tests graphically illustrated through PSL. Selected data sets from the exercises will be made available online on Internet as freeware for easy downloads. The effectiveness of ICT tools on the learning of the target community will be researched in two parts on a small and later a large focus group using both qualitative and quantitative feedback.
If successful in its objectives and impact, the product can be widely adapted across the country for improving the quality of deaf education as also enhancing environmental awareness amongst the special sector, thereby ensuring greater and more worthwhile integration of the deaf of Pakistan into the society. Fundamentally, promoting Pakistani Sign Language aspires to bridge the gap between the deaf and hearing worlds and more broadly intends to bring closer the users of Urdu language in more than 20 countries.
For complete Project Proposal, mid - term Progress Report and accompanying documents click to:
http://www.apdip.net/ictrnd/ictdeaf-rep1.asp
You are welcome to write in for any further information.
Best regards,
Sadaf Zuberi
Project Writer & Research Coordinator for the Project
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September online courses on accessible information technology:
Barrier-free Information Technology http://easi.cc/workshops/adaptit.htm
Advanced Barrier-free Web Design http://easi.cc/workshops/advwbsyl.htm
LD and Information Technology http://easi.cc/workshops/ld.htm
EASI Home Page http://www.rit.edu/~easi
CCourses and Clinics http://easi.cc/workshop.htm
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