Eliminating Communication and Technological Barriers to STEM Education
Sponsored by National Science Foundation
Research on Learning and Education (ROLE) Program
Grant# REC-0307602
Assimilating classroom material is a challenge for many college students. But for deaf students enrolled in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) classes the learning environment is particularly complex as the instructor, interpreter, and visual displays that are integral to understanding verbal information compete for a deaf student’s attention. While hearing students can take advantage of simultaneously attending to verbal and visual information, deaf students who depend on sign language interpreting (or speechreading) must continually choose which visual information to watch. This project examines how deaf students compensate for having to divide their attention in the classroom. Visual attention strategies of skilled and unskilled signers are examined using eyetracker technology, comparing the direction and length of eye gazes aimed at the instructor, interpreter, and visual displays during a classroom lecture. For more information, visit the Visual Perception Laboratory at www.cis.rit.edu/vpl or the National Sign Language Interpreting Project at www.ntid.rit.edu/InterpretingResearch (photo: A. Sue Weisler, RIT).
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