LBS Capacity Assessment Report A Collaborative Partnership

1Partners: Deaf Literacy Initiative, The Canadian Hearing Society & George Brown CollegeNovember 24, 2010

LBS Capacity Assessment ReportA Collaborative Partnership

Deaf Literacy Initiative also gratefully acknowledges the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities whose support has made this research possible.2LBS Capacity Assessment - BackgroundCapacity Assessment:definition of capacitywhy a capacity assessment is essential

Advisory committee members:DLICHS, and GBC (additional support: AlphaPlus and MTCU)

Hired Researcher:Dr. Sherida Ryan

3LBS Capacity Assessment - ProcessResearch AssistantSurvey (technology capacity)Interviews:Managers at LBS programs DLI Conference: 14 Deaf and DeafBlind Literacy ProgramsMayfest in Toronto and OttawaData Analysis Research Technology for eLearning & eChannel (Gallaudet trip)

34LBS Capacity Assessment - FindingsEnvironmental scan: Questions Asked

What is eChannel for the Deaf:Vision and WantWhat current skills are available for a successful Deaf eChannel:Technical Capacity and SkillsWhat are the Challenges:Budget, Demographics, Needs/Accommodations etc

5LBS Capacity Assessment - FindingseChannel for the Deaf Stream

Vision:High Speed for Video Application use ASL on all screensAccommodate all needs (practitioners and learners)Include DeafBlind

Want - Practitioner PD/Training:Teaching ASL/English, Principles of Andragogy, Essential Skills, Online teaching environmentStandards for practitioner proficiency in ASL/EnglishCommon assessment consistent ASL/English assessment procedures and lesson planning etc

56LBS Capacity Assessment - FindingseChannel for the Deaf Stream

Want Network Development:Sharing resources, training modules, teaching etc

7LBS Capacity Assessment - FindingsCurrent Skills

Technical capacity skills:All programs have access to unlimited high speed broadband75% of learners have access to computers at homeMost practitioners and learners rate computer skills at beginner to intermediate

78LBS Capacity Assessment - FindingsWhat are the Challenges

All programs report limited resources TimeBudget Technical skillsTechnology (high speed, video streaming, IT support etc)ASL/English competenciesAccommodating complex needs and accessibility

89LBS Capacity Assessment - RecommendationsDevelopment of an eChannel for the Deaf Stream (practitioners/learners)

Establish a Deaf Advisory CommitteeGoals of eChannel: multipurpose, sensitive to deaf culture, employed for socialization, community building, e-learning, and PDVideo application on all online environments Establish partnerships (literacy community and larger community)Develop PD for practitioners and ASL/English assessment toolkitFirst users of eChannel are practitionersDevelop long-range plan for creation of educational content for learners

910LBS Capacity Assessment Next StepsSend final report to MTCU

Follow up with MTCU for the next phase(s)

11LBS Capacity AssessmentQuestions & Wrap up

12Thank you!!!