4.9
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114 ratings

Odette Swift +1 more instructor

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Educating Deaf Children: Becoming an Empowered Teacher

University of Cape Town

About this Course

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Many Deaf children around the world still leave school functionally illiterate. In some cases there is no allowance made for education of Deaf children at all. This 4 week course provides you with invaluable knowledge and skills about teaching Deaf children. You will learn about the importance of Deaf culture and community, the need for a language rich environment for the Deaf child from as young as possible, and that having access to sign language can help Deaf children academically, emotionally, and socially. We also cover various accommodations and modifications that you can apply in your classroom and learning environment to create an accessible learning experience for Deaf children. You will also find that a shift in attitude will enable you to connect with Deaf children with more understanding. This course does not teach sign language since each country has its own sign language. We hope that through this course you become an empowered teacher - for yourself, for your fellow teachers, and most importantly, for the Deaf children in your classroom.
You will be able to purchase a Verified Certificate if you wish to show evidence of your achievements, but this is optional, and you may apply for Financial Aid if you are unable to pay the certificate fee.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 15 hours to complete

English

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 15 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.83/5 (59 Ratings)

Odette Swift

9,541 Learners

1 Course

Tara Kuhn

Clinical Educator

Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

9,541 Learners

1 Course

Offered by

University of Cape Town

The University of Cape Town is the oldest university in South Africa and is one of the leading research universities on the African continent. UCT has over 25 000 students, of whom 30% are postgraduate students. We offer degrees in six faculties: Commerce, Engineering & the Built Environment, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law, and Science. We pride ourself on our diverse student body, which reflects the many cultures and backgrounds of the region. We welcome international students and are currently home to thousands of international students from over 100 countries. UCT has a tradition of academic excellence that is respected world-wide and is privileged to have more than 30 A-rated researchers on our staff, all of whom are recognised as world leaders in their field. Our aim is to ensure that our research contributes to the public good through sharing knowledge for the benefit of society. Past students include five Nobel Laureates – Max Theiler, Alan Cormack, Sir Aaron Klug, Ralph Bunche and, most recently, J M Coetzee.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating99%(1,517 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

4 hours to complete

The experience of being Deaf and how it impacts learning

Welcome to the first week of the course! In this week, you will be finding out about the experience of being Deaf from school children who participated in the TEDI research project as well as from three Deaf guest presenters. Being Deaf impacts learning and it is important to start the course with this awareness. The assessment in this week is a graded quiz at the end of the week. You will also have an opportunity to share some of your thoughts and reflections in the discussion forum. As a reminder, this course does not teach sign language since each country has its own sign language. We hope you enjoy the first week of the course!

4 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 71 min), 6 readings, 2 quizzes

9 videos

Welcome to the course4mWelcome to Week 11mA Holistic Approach to Teaching Deaf Children8mTEDI Project: Challenges of Teachers in Deaf Education7mTEDI Project: Deaf Children's Experiences5mPersonal Stories: Our School Experiences as Deaf Children16mPromoting Resilience in Deaf Children5mUnderstanding Deaf Culture and Community11mBeing Part of the Deaf Community10m

6 readings

Course information10mMeet the course team5mCourse collaborators2mMeet this week's presenters5mMore information about the TEDI project10mInteresting and inspiring readings30m

2 practice exercises

Nurturing Resilience in Deaf Children20mApplying a Holistic Approach to Deaf Education45m

Week2

Week 2

5 hours to complete

The role of teachers in developing resilience in Deaf children

The second week in this course focuses on knowledge about the Deaf child's communication, emotional, and social development. This type of knowledge is crucial for teachers working with Deaf children, as it can inform teaching practices and greatly contribute to becoming an empowered teacher. In this week, you will hear from various experts, such as a counselor, an occupational therapist, and an audiologist, who will share their knowledge and experiences regarding Deaf children's development. At the end of this week there is a graded quiz and an opportunity for reflection through discussion. This week also includes an optional Honors lesson with a written assignment that will be reviewed by your peers.

5 hours to complete

11 videos (Total 120 min), 2 readings, 3 quizzes

11 videos

Welcome to Week 22mUnderstanding Hearing Loss10mEarly Communication Development8mEarly Emotional and Social Development9mInterview: Facilitating Development in the Deaf Pre-schooler12mSocial and Emotional Development of the School-age Learner11mInterview: Facilitating development in the Deaf learner13mUnderstanding Additional Barriers to Learning17mInterview: Personal Experiences of Barriers to Learning12mThe Deaf Child's Language and Communication15mInterview: Facilitating Effective Language and Communication7m

2 readings

Meet this week's presenters5mInteresting and inspiring readings30m

2 practice exercises

Understanding the Deaf Child's Early Development20mNurturing the development of Deaf children45m

Week3

Week 3

4 hours to complete

Creating an accessible learning experience

Welcome to the third week of the course! In this week, we will look at creating classroom and learning experiences that are accessible to Deaf children. We know that every child has a right to quality education and in the previous two weeks you have learnt about the barriers to learning that Deaf children face and how excluded they often are from education. The content we bring to you in this week will show you how you can ensure that Deaf children are able to access learning by making your classroom, teaching methods, and assessments accessible. This week includes a graded quiz at the end of the week. You will also have an opportunity to share your reflections and experiences with your peers in the discussion forum at the end of the week.

4 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 89 min), 2 readings, 3 quizzes

9 videos

Welcome to Week 32mModifying the learning environment7mInterview: Practical classroom modifications18mLanguage adaptations for the Deaf child7mInterview: Implementing language adaptations6mTeaching method adaptations for the Deaf child9mAssessment adaptations for the Deaf child8mInterview: Adapting teaching methods and assessments13mAssistive devices used by Deaf children14m

2 readings

Meet this week's presenters5mInteresting and inspiring readings30m

3 practice exercises

Applying classroom modifications20mApplying curriculum adaptations20mApplying modifications and adaptations45m

Week4

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Becoming an empowered teacher

Welcome to the last week of the course! Your journey to becoming an empowered teacher is ending. We hope that you have learnt valuable new practices in the previous three weeks. In this last week, the guest presenters discuss some internal and external aspects that you as teachers of Deaf children can focus on that can help you become a stronger and more effective teacher. These aspects include taking care of yourself, building support around you, working with teaching assistants, and collaborating with parents. By the end of the week, you will have completed your journey to becoming an empowered teacher and you will have an opportunity to reflect on the knowledge that you have gained through a written assignment that will be reviewed by your peers. You will also be able to share some reflections and final thoughts with your peers in the discussion forum at the end of the week.

3 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 84 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

Reviews

4.9

41 reviews

5 stars
89.56%
4 stars
10.43%

TOP REVIEWS FROM EDUCATING DEAF CHILDREN: BECOMING AN EMPOWERED TEACHER

by GSMay 24, 2020

This course was holistic, thorough and concise. It was just what I needed to keep me focused and motivated during this period. I am driven and inspired to get back to work. Thank you so much.

by YJApr 26, 2020

Thank you for this course on Deaf Ed. Very simple, basic, and fundamental. I hope you can make more courses on Deaf Ed. Thank you!

by ZVJan 25, 2021

Great course, I liked the pace and delivery. Would recommend to new and current teachers as well as anyone who works in institutions where they interact with Deaf children,

by AMOct 11, 2021

Loved the course. Helped understanding a lot of things I didn't know about. However, I'd suggest you to put more content about sign language. :)

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Educating Deaf Children: Becoming an Empowered Teacher

Educating Deaf Children: Becoming an Empowered Teacher

About this Course