Teaching Sample
Tim Riker demonstrates samples of his American Sign Language (ASL) teaching in this video.
Sample 1 - At the beginning of each class, Tim uses Deaf cultural behavior and norms in a visually-oriented classroom by waving his hands and asking students to get each other's attention.
Sample 2 - While introducing new ASL vocabulary, Tim will sometimes also discuss regional sign variations-- such as the one in this example regarding the sign for "birthday". Students at Brown University come from around the country and the world, so it's important to encourage flexibility and sensitivity when meeting Deaf people from their communities.
Sample 3 - Roll call is done in creative ways using ASL vocabulary and language skills learned in class to keep students motivated to arrive on time and ready to learn. In this example, Tim had collected all of the student's birthdays during a previous class and is using their birthdays as a way to conduct roll call.
Sample 4 - When introducing new ASL vocabulary, authentic sentences are used rather than only vocabulary. The Keynote presentations use pictures that demonstrate diversity and appropriate humor.
Sample 5 - Diversity, such as showing different types of traditional and non-traditional families in this example, is critical in ASL classes because the Deaf community is not homogenous. Nearly half of students at Brown University are people of color and represent diverse backgrounds.
Sample 6 - Class activities often involve pairs and small groups which require students to interact with each other. Tim counts students off into groups to ensure they interact with different people during every activity so they can develop interpersonal skills.
Sample 7, 8, and 9 - ASL literature, such as the story about a giant falling in love with a small woman and ending her life because of a wrong sign, is important to engage students in humorous ways to develop receptive skills and encourage signancy (also known as ASL literacy).
Sample 10 - Using pictures from authentic environments, which contrast between Deaf and hearing cultures, is an excellent way to introduce students to Deaf culture. In this example, Tim uses animation in Keynote to "explode" the picture which does not fit Deaf culture for students with visual learning styles. In other situations, role playing such as students pretending to sit at a table with a large vase of flowers in the middle of the table that blocks their sightline provides kinesthetic learning opportunities.
Sample 1 - At the beginning of each class, Tim uses Deaf cultural behavior and norms in a visually-oriented classroom by waving his hands and asking students to get each other's attention.
Sample 2 - While introducing new ASL vocabulary, Tim will sometimes also discuss regional sign variations-- such as the one in this example regarding the sign for "birthday". Students at Brown University come from around the country and the world, so it's important to encourage flexibility and sensitivity when meeting Deaf people from their communities.
Sample 3 - Roll call is done in creative ways using ASL vocabulary and language skills learned in class to keep students motivated to arrive on time and ready to learn. In this example, Tim had collected all of the student's birthdays during a previous class and is using their birthdays as a way to conduct roll call.
Sample 4 - When introducing new ASL vocabulary, authentic sentences are used rather than only vocabulary. The Keynote presentations use pictures that demonstrate diversity and appropriate humor.
Sample 5 - Diversity, such as showing different types of traditional and non-traditional families in this example, is critical in ASL classes because the Deaf community is not homogenous. Nearly half of students at Brown University are people of color and represent diverse backgrounds.
Sample 6 - Class activities often involve pairs and small groups which require students to interact with each other. Tim counts students off into groups to ensure they interact with different people during every activity so they can develop interpersonal skills.
Sample 7, 8, and 9 - ASL literature, such as the story about a giant falling in love with a small woman and ending her life because of a wrong sign, is important to engage students in humorous ways to develop receptive skills and encourage signancy (also known as ASL literacy).
Sample 10 - Using pictures from authentic environments, which contrast between Deaf and hearing cultures, is an excellent way to introduce students to Deaf culture. In this example, Tim uses animation in Keynote to "explode" the picture which does not fit Deaf culture for students with visual learning styles. In other situations, role playing such as students pretending to sit at a table with a large vase of flowers in the middle of the table that blocks their sightline provides kinesthetic learning opportunities.