London, Jan 19: It's new and absolutely simple
but this vocabulary of sign language could soon revolutionise
the way science is taught to deaf children in schools across
the globe.
Researchers in the United Kingdom have developed the
glossary of more than 250 signs for scientific terms that can
be accessed over the Internet by teachers, interpreters and
hearing impaired students.
"The scientific vocabulary for deaf children has
developed simply because we needed it. People realised that
there weren't enough deaf teachers in schools and that finger
spelling doesn't work for complex subjects.
"You have to be able to understand the English first
and then the concept and that can all be very difficult," lead
researcher Rachel O'Neill of university of Edinburgh was
quoted by 'the times' as saying.
The glossary is applicable for teaching in biology,
physics, chemistry and mathematics. Terms of daunting
complexity such as 'photosynthesis', 'density' or 'bacteria'
are explained by on-screen tutors who employ simple but
descriptive gestures that suddenly create understanding.
"Problems can be compounded because with little access
to the spoken word, deaf children often have poor reading
skills," O'Neill said.
By contrast, the simple gestures employed by the new
system are supported by written explanations. In some cases --
such as 'reaction' or 'distillation' -- additional information
is supplied in demonstration videos.
The researchers hope that further grant aid from the
Scottish government will enable them to expand the glossary to
encompass standard grade level in the sciences.
Bureau Report
