New eCourse: Basic American Sign Language for Library Staff
For Immediate Release
Wed, 11/23/2016
Chicago—ALA Editions announces a new iteration of our popular eCourse, Basic American Sign Language for Library Staff. Kathy MacMillan will serve as the instructor for a 6-week facilitated eCourse starting on January 23, 2017.
Estimated Hours of Learning: 30
Certificate of Completion available upon request
Learning outcomes
After completing this eCourse, participants will:
- Have the opportunity to learn over 100 signs and have a grasp on how to use these signs in library settings
- Have a basic understanding of Deaf culture and how to interact effectively with deaf patrons
- Understand multiple applications of ASL in different library contexts
- Understand how the library can use ASL as a service that ties into the broader community
American Sign Language (ASL) is an invaluable skill for library professionals. A basic grasp of ASL enhances your ability to serve deaf library users and opens up a new world of possibilities for baby storytime programs. It’s also a marketable professional skill that can translate to public service jobs beyond the library world.
Ideal for those without previous experience, in this eCourse, librarian and ASL interpreter Kathy MacMillan will use readings, multimedia resources, and online discussion boards to introduce basic ASL vocabulary and grammar appropriate for use in a library setting. MacMillan will place ASL within a linguistic and cultural context, aiding participants in improving library services.
eCourse Outline
- Introduction: Overview of Course, “The 5 Parts of a Sign”
- Vocabulary (Introducing Yourself): MY, YOUR, ME, YOU, NAME, WHAT, NICE, MEET, PLEASE, THANK YOU, EXCUSE ME, SORRY, DEAF, HEARING, YES, NO, the manual alphabet and its purpose
- ASL Grammar: Information-seeking Questions
- Sentence Activity: Putting it all Together
- Deaf Culture: Terminology and Battling Audism
- Library Services: How to Communicate with Deaf People
- Quiz
- Review activity
- Vocabulary: LIBRARY, DESK, INFORMATION, LIBRARIAN, MAN, WOMAN, BATHROOM, WATER, FOUNTAIN, DOOR, CHILDREN, COMPUTER, CLOCK, SODA, COFFEE, EAT/FOOD, DRINK, MACHINE, BOOK, SALE, OPEN, CLOSE, MAGAZINE, BULLETIN BOARD, DVD, CD, AUDIOBOOK, the numbers 0 through 10
- ASL Grammar: Yes/no questions
- Sentence activity: Putting it all Together
- Deaf Culture: Earth vs. Eyeth
- Library Services: Collection Development of Sign Language Materials
- Quiz
- Review Activity
- Vocabulary: CHECKOUT DESK, PAY, FINE, LIBRARY CARD, OVERDUE, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, RETURN-BOOK, CHECKOUT BOOK, DOLLAR, CENTS, FIRST, LAST, CHANGE, LINEUP, RESERVES, SHELF, MEETING ROOM, CALENDAR, DUE, FREE, money signs, the numbers 11 through 19
- ASL Grammar: Topic-Comment structure
- Sentence activity: Putting it all Together
- Deaf Culture: Early History of ASL
- Library Services: Services Typically Used by Deaf Patrons
- Quiz
- Review Activity
- Vocabulary: Library will close in 5/10/15 minutes, PRINT, COST, sentences, first 5 pages free, FINISH, HELP, GIVE, TIME, FAX, DON’T KNOW, HAVE, WHERE, REQUEST, FORBIDDEN, FICTION, NONFICTION, LAB, WANT, time signs, numbers 20-29
- ASL Grammar: Directional verbs
- Sentence activity: Putting it all Together
- Deaf Culture: ASL in the 20th and 21st centuries
- Library Services: Technologies for Accessibility
- Quiz
- Review Activity
- Vocabulary: PROGRAM, INTERPRETER, REQUEST, REGISTER, CALENDAR, BROCHURE, NAMETAG, TEACH, STORY, MUSIC, CRAFT, COOK, BOOK DISCUSSION, MOM, DAD, SISTER, BROTHER, BABY, GRANDMA, GRANDPA, days of the week, months, numbers 30-66 with doubles
- ASL Grammar: Numerical incorporation and use of space
- Sentence activity: Putting it all Together
- Deaf Culture: Signing Etiquette
- Library Services: Providing Interpreters
- Quiz
- Review Activity
- Vocabulary: Vocabulary: STORE, BANK, POLICE, FIREFIGHTER, SCHOOL, RESTAURANT, GO-TO, PLAYGROUND, OFFICE, WORK, SPORTS, COLLEGE, GAS STATION, DOCTOR, HOSPITAL, numbers 67-100
- ASL Grammar: Pronouns and space
- Sentence activity: Putting it all Together
- Deaf Culture: Deaf Gain and the Library as a Source of Empowerment
- Library Services: Working with Interpreters
- Quiz
About the Instructor
Kathy MacMillan is a freelance writer and nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter. She has authored or co-authored many books, including Little Hands & Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together and the Storytime Magic series. She was the library/media specialist at the Maryland School for the Deaf from 2001 to 2005 and has worked in public libraries since 1996. She presents storytelling programs introducing sign language through Stories By Hand and offers training and resources for enhancing storytimes through Storytime Stuff. Her debut young adult novel, Sword and Verse, was published by HarperCollins in 2016.
Registration for this ALA Editions facilitated eCourse, which begins on January 23, 2017, can be purchased at the ALA Store. Participants in this course will need regular access to a computer with an internet connection for online message board participation, viewing online video, listening to streaming audio (MP3 files), and downloading and viewing PDF and PowerPoint files.
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