ASL 1

PST301 -OL2 | Summer 2023 | Three credits

(June 5 to June 16, 2023)

Instructor:

Name: Caro De La Cruz

Email: [email protected]

Office Location: Zoom

My office hours are:

By appointment only

My office hours are: By appointment only.

Course Description
This course introduces the basic skills in developing production and comprehension skills in
American Sign Language (ASL). Students will learn ASL vocabulary, structure, and grammar.
Course content also includes the manual alphabet and numbers. Students will develop basic
conversational abilities and culturally appropriate behaviors and learn about the culture and
history of Deaf communities. ASL 1 will cover TWA Units 1-3.
Prerequisite: None*

Course Outline:

Unit 1: Welcome to Deaf World

Unit 2: Academics
Unit 3: Family and Relationships

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The instructional content of this course is provided in an asynchronous environment that allows
you to move at your own pace. Additionally, there are synchronous (virtual) language sessions
that are also required to provide feedback and guidance to help you reach your potential. These
sessions are not optional and are graded.

ASL Connect | Student Learning Outcomes

ASL Connect Student Learning Outcomes (ACTFL) GU SLOs

1. Students will demonstrate the ability to comprehend and express

ideas in ASL in person and through digital technologies. (ACTFL 1.1, 1 and 3
1.2, 1.3 and 5.1)

2. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of ASL as it is used in 1, 2,

other academic disciplines. (ACTFL 3.1) and 5

3. Students will demonstrate an understanding of Deaf communities

1, 2, 3,
through comparisons of ASL and their own languages and cultures.
and 5
(ACTFL 2.1, 2.2, 4.1 and 4.2)

4. Students will demonstrate understanding of the benefits of learning 1, 2, 3,

ASL and becoming bilingual or multilingual. (ACTFL 3.2) and 5

Course Goals
1) Vocabulary Development
a) Recognize and produce vocabulary items in each unit.
b) Demonstrate comprehensive mastery of targeted vocabulary words drawn from
class items, lectures, and videos.
2) Grammatical Features
a) Demonstrate comprehensive mastery of target, content-specific commands,
questions, and statements in ASL.
b) Identify grammatical features within short dialogues in ASL directed by the
professor.
3) Conversational and Communication Skills
a) Demonstrate comprehension and conversation facilitating behaviors.
b) Demonstrate comprehension and production of regulating behaviors (i.e.
attention-getting techniques, turn-taking signals, and others)

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 c) Comprehend short narratives and stories in ASL signed by the professor, Deaf
ASL speakers, or ASL videos added by the professor.
d) Demonstrate the ability to create, conduct and terminate a short content-
specific conversation.
4) Cultural Awareness
a) Analyze and critique competing perspectives of diverse Deaf Communities in the
United States and Canada, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices, and
its history.
b) Compare, contrast, and interpret differences and commonalities among Deaf
and hearing cultures.

Course Material Requirements

1. Purple Moontower. (2022). TRUE+WAY ASL Student eWorkbook Units 1-3 (3rd ed.).

Course Expectations
1. Course Evaluation: You will be required to complete the course evaluation before you
will be able to receive your final course grade.

2. Course Format: This course consists of engaging in video assignments, and viewing
videos in ASL.

3. Deadlines: Assignments not submitted on time will receive a zero unless they are submitted
on the same day (before midnight). Video assignments will not be accepted past due dates.
Allowances will be made in the event of inclement weather or an unforeseen situation on the
instructor’s end.

4. Editing ASL work: You are encouraged to edit your ASL work. Feel free to meet with your
instructor to get feedback as often as needed to produce the very best work possible.

5. Expectation for Communication in online courses: Since ASL is a visual language, the
use of spoken English or speaking/signing simultaneously (“sim-com”) is not allowed
during online course sessions. Students using voice or signing/voicing simultaneously
while recording assignments will be asked to redo video assignments with no voice.

6. Grade Reports: Grade reports are available for students to view and print in BISON.

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 7. Office appointments: Please email me or TA if you’d like to meet with me or TA at a specific
time, and I will be sure to make myself available for you. Please keep your appointments with
me, and if you have to cancel, please email me.

8. Peer Network: Each student is responsible for getting access to and understanding what is
expected of each assignment. Please form a strong network with your peers. If you miss a
class, go to Blackboard for assignments and ask other classmates to learn about what you
missed.

9. Plagiarism & Cheating: Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated. Gallaudet University has
an official Academic Integrity Policy. Its entirety can be found on the Registrar’s home page in
the 2019-2020 Gallaudet University: Undergraduate catalog.

10. Research Clause: To maintain a high quality of course content and materials, ASL
Connect may engage in research efforts during your courses. If any research is being
conducted in your class, you will be notified and may be invited (but not required) to
participate. Nor will your participation or lack thereof have any bearing on your grade in
the course.

11. Student Responsibilities: Students are expected to actively participate in all online sessions,
complete assigned activities, participate in video discussions, complete assignments on time,
and respect diverse perspectives and opinions.

12. Transcript: To receive a transcript of the courses you have taken, follow the steps on
Gallaudet’s Request Transcript page.

13. Video Assignment using GoReact: All video assignments will be submitted through GoReact.
Each assignment will have specific instructions as well as rubrics given by the instructor. To
receive the best grade possible, carefully follow the instructions in the homework assignment
and rubric. Some of your work may be shared with classmates for feedback. To avoid
potential problems, you are not to delete any video work you have created for class.

Assignments
Your comprehension and production skills will be evaluated regularly throughout the course in
different ways as listed below.

1. Conversation Starter Discussions 5%

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 a. Watch the conversation starters. Pick a question to answer, and type your
response in the discussion board by the due date. Once you type your response,
you will be able to see your classmates’ responses. Feel free to post additional
questions and comments to better understand the conversation starters.
2. Worksheets 15%
a. Worksheets are designed to retain and reinforce what is learned in the
classroom. Complete the assigned workbook assignments by assigned
due dates.
3. Quizzes 15%
a. Quizzes are designed to cover content previously learned to ensure you are on
the right pace in learning the material. Complete the assigned quizzes by the
due dates.
4. Peer Observation Assignment (POA) 5%
a. At the end of each unit, you will be watching videos of proficient Deaf
ASL signers signing something incorrectly. Try to identify the error by
answering the questions by the due date.
5. Self Observation Assessment Review (SOAR) 5%
a. At the end of each unit, you are to sign sentences in ASL. You are to record
your work and submit your video by the due date. Complete the rubric by
comparing your video with the proficient Deaf ASL signer, identifying areas
you can improve and areas that you are doing well.
6. Story Comprehension 5%
a. At the end of each unit, you will watch a story and answer questions about
the story by the due date.
7. Unit Comprehension Test 15%
a. The test will cover material presented up to this point in the course. They will
include information from the lectures, vocabulary, conversation starter
discussions, worksheets, and quizzes.
8. Unit Production Test 15%
a. The test will cover material presented up to this point in the course. They will
include information from the lectures, vocabulary, conversation starter
discussions, worksheets, and quizzes.
9. Language Sessions 20%
a. The language sessions are intended to reinforce and assess a student’s ASL
expressive language. This will help students prepare for their "Production Test"
at the end of each unit. It has been our experience that students who attend
language sessions perform better than those who do not. For this reason,
language sessions are required and graded for this course.

Grade Determination

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 Assignments Weighted Grade

Conversation Starter Discussion

5%

Worksheets 15%

Quizzes 15%

Peer Observation Assignment (POA) 5%

Self Observation Assessment Review (SOAR) 5%

Story Comprehension 5%

Unit Comprehension Test 15%

Unit Production Test 15%

Language Session 20%

Total 100%

The final grade will be determined by averaging the grades earned for each evaluation given.
The final course grade is based on percentages (grades are not rounded up/down)

Numerical Score Assigned Letter Grade

100 to 93 A

92 to 90 A-

89 to 87 B+

86 to 83 B

82 to 80 B-

79 to 77 C+

76 to 73 C

72 to 70 C-

69 to 67 D+

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 66 to 60 D

59 to 0 F

Online Credit Hours

ASL Connect adheres to Gallaudet University credit unit hours for determining the required time for
instruction in each course. Each ASL course has a number of credit hours assigned. These credit hours
translate to the number of contact hours. Contact hours quantify the amount of regular and substantive
interaction between students and their instructors. Time allocations for asynchronous instructional and
student learning activities should utilize similar contact hours as in-person classes. Estimate examples of
time allocations for asynchronous instructional activities are listed below.

The three credit-hour online courses = 15 hours per week of student engagement. And EACH week,
student will be expected to:

3 Credit-hour Course Time Equivalencies

(Asynchronous Instruction)

COURSE BREAKDOWN TOTAL (HOURS PER WEEK)

Lecture & Lesson Videos 5 ½ hours

Worksheets & Other Assignments 8 hours

Language Sessions ½ hour

Discussions 1 hour

TOTAL CONTACT HOUR PER WEEK = 15 HOURS

Please include the consideration that this is a college credit course, please plan your time accordingly.

Course Schedule

Week Units

1 Syllabus / Unit 1: Welcome to the Deaf World!

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 Unit 1.1, 1.2, & 1.3 Snapshots, Discussion, Worksheet, and Quizzes

Language Session for Unit 1.1 - 1.3

Unit 1.4 & 1.5 Snapshots, Discussion, Worksheets, and Quizzes

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Language Session for Unit 1.4 - 1.5

Unit 1 / Review: POA, Story Comprehension & SOAR and Tests

Unit 2 / Unit 2.1, 2.2, & 2.3 Snapshots, Discussions, Worksheets & Quizzes
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Language Session for Unit 2.1 - 2.3

Unit 2.4 & 2.5 Snapshots, Discussions, Worksheets and Quizzes

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Language Session for Unit 2.4 - 2.5

5 Unit 2 Review: POA, Story Comprehension & SOAR and Tests

Unit 3 / Unit 3.1 & 3.2 Snapshots, Discussion, Worksheets and Quizzes
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Language Session for Unit 3.1 - 3.2

Unit 3.3 & 3.4 Snapshots, Discussion, Worksheets, and Quizzes

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Language Session for Unit 3.3 - 3.4

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 Unit 3 Review: POA, Story Comprehension & SOAR
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Cumulative Unit 3 Comprehension and Production Tests

* Detailed course schedule including assignment due dates will be available in the
course itself. Any changes will be announced to the full class

ASL Connect’s Policies and Procedures

Academic Accommodations

ASL Connect/Gallaudet University has a legal obligation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to
provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Students who seek course
accommodations, modifications, or substitutions can contact [email protected] for
further support services.

Adding Courses and Late Enrollment

To add a course that has been closed to registration in our application platform, students must contact
[email protected]. The deadline for adding courses and late enrollments are as
follows:

- 15-week courses - 5pm EDT on the first Friday of the course.

- 8-week courses - 5pm EDT on the third day of the course.
- 2-week courses (Summer Residency Program) - No late additions or enrollments.

Attendance

Students who are registered for an 15-week or 8-week online course and who fail to participate in the first
week of the session may be dropped.

Students who are registered for a 2-week residency course and who fail to participate in the first two days
of the session may be dropped.

The instructor has the final decision in the matter. There are no refunds issued for a course that is dropped
due to lack of student participation.

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Audits

ASL Connect’s courses are not available for audits.

Change of Grade

Change of grade may be made only in the case of a clerical or other administrative grading error.

An appeal for a change of grade must be initiated by the student and must be approved by the course
facilitator first. Once approved, contact the ASL Connect Education Coordinator at
[email protected] to process your change of grade request.

Communication Expectation

You may expect a response from your facilitator & TA within 24 hours of initial contact.

Course Cancellations

ASL Connect reserves the right to cancel courses. Course cancellation decisions are made by the
registration deadline for that course. If a student has been enrolled in a canceled course, ASL Connect may
offer a deferral to the next available course or refund the student's tuition and activity fees for that
canceled course. ASL Connect will not be liable for any other expenses that the student may have incurred,
including but not limited to transportation and housing costs and the purchase of materials and supplies.
Application fees are non-refundable.

Course Prerequisites

ASL II through VI and Intro to Deaf Studies requires the completion of the previous course within the last
12 months with a B grade or better; or an ASL Placement Screening.

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Drop Policy

Students may request to drop their course at any time before the course has started. Students wishing to
drop a course must contact [email protected].

Drop requests submitted after the drop deadlines will be treated as course withdrawals (SEE
WITHDRAWAL POLICY BELOW).

The deadlines for course drop requests are as follows:

- 15-week courses - 5pm EDT on the first Friday of the course.

- 8-week courses - 5pm EDT on the third day of the course.
- 2 week courses (SRP) - No drops after the course has begun.

Drop Refund Policy

● If the drop request is submitted before the start of the course, there will be 100% tuition cost and
VIBE activity fee refunded.

● If the drop request is submitted after the course has started, but before the drop deadline (see
above), there will be 25% tuition refunded and full refund for activity fee (VIBE).

● If the drop request is submitted after the course’s drop deadline, there will be no refunds.

Exceptions to the refund policy are at the discretion of the ASL Connect Director.

Equal Opportunity / Nondiscrimination

As an equal opportunity educational institution, ASL Connect/Gallaudet encourages applications from

racial and ethnic minorities. Gallaudet is committed to a barrier-free environment and provides
students who have physical disabilities (in addition to hearing loss) the assistance they need to
participate fully in campus programs and activities.

Incomplete (INC) Grade

ASL Connect’s courses do not offer an INC option. Students are expected to complete and submit all
coursework before the course ends.

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No Voice Zone Policy

Students accepted into the program must practice the no voice zone policy within the ASL Connect
program. Students are to utilize their acquired ASL language skills to maximize their learning potential in a
culturally immersive environment. Therefore, students are expected to mute their mics and encouraged to
refrain from using their voice at all during all classes, language sessions, and VIBE events.

In the Summer Residency Program (SRP), students are expected to refrain from using their voice during all
classes and activities.

Office of Ombuds

Launched in January 2008, the Office of the Ombuds provides conflict management resources to all
members of the campus community, including students and their families, faculty, staff, alumni, and
others. To get more information on how the Office of the Ombuds can support you.

Religious Observance Policy

The position of Gallaudet University on religious freedom is consistent with guarantees provided by
the Constitution of the United States and Bill of Rights. Although the University accepts and supports
certain human values represented by religious thought and practice, the University is neither an
advocate for nor an adversary to a particular belief, denomination, or sect and does not officially
support or initiate specific religious activities on campus.

The University does not officially observe any specific religious holidays; however, Gallaudet
recognizes the importance of allowing employees and students time off to follow their religious
convictions and will attempt to reasonably accommodate requests for leave.

For students needing more information on religious holidays.

Student Grievance Procedure

Complaints about course grade must first be resolved through your instructor, then the coordinator of
Education, then the director of ASL Connect in that order until a resolution is reached. You will be asked if
you complied with this procedure when filing a grievance.

More detailed information on grievance procedure, please see document here.

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Syllabus Policy

The information in this syllabus is subject to change in extenuating circumstances. Changes to the
course syllabus will be provided to the students via Blackboard within one week prior to the event.

Technical Support

In the event you are not able to access your Blackboard, email or anything related to your Gallaudet
domain, you will need to create a ticket with our Gallaudet Technical Services GTS team.

Withdrawal Policy

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must contact [email protected]. If

students submit a withdrawal request during the course's drop deadline (see drop policy above), it will be
treated as a drop request and not a formal withdrawal.

Students who submit a withdrawal request after the course’s drop deadline will have “WD” assigned as the
student's final grade for the course. Failure to request a withdrawal before the last day of the course will
result in an "F" being assigned as the final grade.

There are no refunds issued for a course withdrawal.

ASL Connect Staff Directory

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Coordinator of Education ASL Connect Director
Name: Keith W. Grant JR Name: Marika Kovacs-Houlihan
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

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