Final Hypothetical classroom

This last blog post serves as an in depth description of my hypothetical deaf education classroom. I will attach the powerpoint that goes along with this post below. After my extensive research on deaf education models, I am now able to design my own classroom. As you will see in my visual aid presentation, the key elements of my classroom are: bilingual-bicultural atmosphere, circular/semi-circular seating, assistive technology as well as integration of the deaf and hearing communities while honoring both cultures. 

I concluded that the Bilingual-Bicultural method most closely aligned with my philosophies regarding deaf education. Again, this method involves using ASL as a first language and learning English as a second. American sign language is visual rather than auditory catering to deaf students’ strengths rather than their weaknesses. 

To make my classroom accessible and deaf friendly, I would use a circular seating layout. This enables students to see each other as well as their teachers creating optimal viewing of signing and or lipreading. Along with this seating layout, my classroom will be tech friendly. As seen in my powerpoint items such as FM systems and Roger accessories that are able to stream directly to cochlear implants and hearing aids will be utilized. The layout and technology I want to include in my classroom mitigate the problems faced in a general education classroom. When students are mainstreamed, they have a much harder time hearing what the other students are saying. I know I always had this problem and missed my classmates’ questions or comments in class. This is because the students are sat in rows and oftentimes the only person wearing an FM system is the teacher. I believe my classroom allows for ultimate collaboration and successful communication amongst students and educators. 

All in all, I really think that Deaf students would succeed the most given the opportunity to receive the best of both the hearing and deaf worlds. I believe they should be educated using ASL so they do not have to strain their ears to learn. Doing this acknowledges ASL as a foundational and first language. This also gives students an identity in that no matter what, as of right now we cannot reverse deafness. With or without hearing aids or cochlear implants, one who is deaf is always deaf. Therefore, I think it would be a disservice to deaf learners to not be given access to deaf culture and history. It is perfectly okay to not perfectly fit into the hearing world or Deaf world perfectly. However, we should not shun our future students from either community. Simply, we need to teach them and we should do that with an approach that does not force assimilation into a hearing world but instead enhances their communication abilities. Afterall, communication is arguably the most important element of human life. 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1BiWr20jbJFS2nnEkwn5u1WLzGMnZW62ExwBVkBQ8GNM/edit?usp=sharing