3/11/2004
22
Join Together:
A Virtual Professional Development School & Community of Learners for Deaf Education (T3D)
nHarold Johnson
Kent State University

Email: hjohnson@kent.edu
nKaren Dilka
Donna Mertens

Thursday, 6/26/03 -- 3:00 PM
Location: LBJ [060] 3237

Strand: Using Technology to Support Learning
Type: Formal    Audience: All

Summary:   Join Together represents a nation-wide collaborative effort to reduce isolation and enhance education through the innovative and collaborative use of Internet linked technologies and resources. The presentation will focus upon the use of H323 web based video conferencing technologies to identify, share, and support innovative and effective teaching and learning.
Join Together represents a nation-wide collaborative effort to reduce isolation and enhance education through the innovative and collaborative use of Internet linked technologies and resources. The presentation will focus upon the use of H323 web based video conferencing technologies to identify, share, and support innovative and effective teaching and learning.
The primary problem of deafness is not too little hearing, but too much interpersonal and informational isolation. The primary problem of deaf education is not too little effort, but too much difficulty in achieving "critical mass" of needed expertise, resources, and meaningful learning opportunities. The primary problem of deaf education teacher preparation is not too little knowledge, but too much of a "gap" in the preparation of teachers and the realities of teaching. "Join Together: A Virtual Professional Development School & Community of Learners for Deaf Education" represents a four year collaborative effort by the nation's major deafness related organizations (i.e., ACE-D/HH, ASDC, AGBell, CAID, CEASD, CED & NAD) to enhance both the preparation of teachers and the education of deaf/hard-of-hearing (d/hh) students via the effective and innovative use of computer based, Internet linked technologies and resources. This effort has resulted in a wide array of Web based resources, technologies, and collaborative activities. This presentation will focus upon the use of H323 video conferencing technologies to link the nation's most innovative and effective teachers of d/hh students with: a) one another; b) novice deaf education teachers; and c) deaf education teacher preparation programs. The technology will also be used to link d/hh students and their families with: a) one another; b) d/hh individuals at post secondary settings; and c) d/hh adults. The presentation will provide information concerning how individuals can become involved in the "Join Together:…" effort and how they can directly benefit from the rapidly expanding array of collaborative partnerships/agreements that are being established for deaf education.