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Department of American Sign Language and Deaf Studies
PST 306. – American Sign Language VI (3 credits)
Formal Course Description
This course builds on the cultural competence and language skills developed in ASL VI with increased
focus on developing comprehension and production in storytelling skills.
Prerequisite: ASL V with a grade of “B” or better, or equivalent and permission of program coordinator.
ASL2 Program’s Mission Statement
Gallaudet University’s ASL2 Program is dedicated to providing an exemplary array of comprehensive and
interactive curricula for individuals interested in learning American Sign Language (ASL) as a second
language or foreign language. Using direct instruction and immersion in ASL, augmented by written
English and visual learning supports, the program’s instructors engage learners in acquiring and
developing increasing levels of proficiency in expressive and receptive use of the language. They also
guide student’s exploration of the development of the language, its complexities and relevance in
American Deaf communities.
Gallaudet University’s Student Learning Outcomes
http://www.gallaudet.edu/Documents/Academic/EMGSGallaudet_Student_Learning_Outcomes.pdf
http://www.gallaudet.edu/general_studies_program/mission_and_outcomes.html
ASL and Deaf Studies Department’s ASL as Second Language (ASL2) Program Outcomes
and their relation to Gallaudet University SLOs are:
ASL2 Program
GU SLOs
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Students will demonstrate the ability to
comprehend and express ideas in ASL in person
and through digital technologies.
1, 3, and 4
(ACTFL 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 5.1)
2. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of
ASL as it is used in other academic disciplines.
PST 306: American Sign Language VI
1, 2, 4, and 5
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ASL2 Program
GU SLOs
Student Learning Outcomes
(ACTFL 3.1)
3. Students will demonstrate an understanding of
Deaf communities through comparisons of ASL
and their own languages and cultures.
1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
(ACTFL 2.1, 2.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
4. Students will demonstrate understanding of the
benefits of learning ASL and becoming bilingual or
multilingual.
1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
(ACTFL 3.2)
Note: The program outcomes and SLOs are modified from "Learning Outcomes for American Sign Language Skills Levels 1-4"
authored by Kim Brown Kurz, Ph.D. and Marty Taylor, Ph.D. which is based on ACTFL's standards for foreign language. ACTFL
stands for American Council for Teachers of Foreign Language.
PST 306 – American Sign Language VI’s course outcomes
Critical
Assessments
Assessment
Tool(s) and
Expected Level
ASL
Program
SLOs
GU SLOs
Give clear instructions or
explanations using depiction
and use appropriate ASL signs
that are equivalent to English
3-5 minutes long
video in ASL
Assignment-Tied
Checklist, using
ASL rubric
1, 2, 3 and 4
1, 2 and 4
Demonstrate the mastery in
incorporating conditional
sentences, rhetorical questions,
and relative clauses along with
“rule” vocabulary and develop
strategies for explaining rules
when playing game
5 to ten minutes
long video and
presentation in
ASL
Assignment-Tied
Checklist, using
ASL rubric
1, 2, 3 and 4
1, 2 and 4
PST 306 Course SLOs
PST 306: American Sign Language VI
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Critical
Assessments
Assessment
Tool(s) and
Expected Level
ASL
Program
SLOs
GU SLOs
Identify the important points
relating to health conditions
and organize the information
into three areas: symptoms,
causes, and treatments. Use
descriptive, locative, semantic,
and body-part classifiers and
spatial agreement
appropriately to tell how body
parts look and function.
5 to 10 minutes
long video and
presentation in
ASL
Assignment-Tied
Checklist, using
ASL rubric
1, 2, 3, 4 and
5
1, 2 and 4
Demonstrate the mastery by
developing conversational
fluency including moneyrelated signs/phrases, nonmanual signals and sentence
type appropriately.
5 to 10 minutes
long face to face
interview.
Assignment-Tied
Checklist, using
ASL rubric
1, 2, 3 and 4
1, 2 and 4
PST 306 Course SLOs
Required Course Purchases
Smith, C., Lentz, E., & Mikos, K. (2001). Signing naturally Level 3.Student workbook
and DVD. San Diego, CA: DawnSignPress.
ISBN: 978-1-58121-135-1
For this course, we will use GoReact. GoReact is a web-based tool for recording your
video assignments and for instructor to provide video feedback and instructions. You will
find it easy to use and very helpful for this semester. Please wait for the invitation link
from your instructor. When you click on the link, you’ll be prompted to register and pay
with your credit/debit card or use your bookstore code purchased from Bison store.
Use BlackBoard where you will receive all course handouts, lecture notes,
assignments, announcements, etc.
Learner Assessment
Outcomes, assignments, and assessments are located in the charts at the start of this syllabus. Here is an
overview of the points assigned to each assessment so that you can gauge the relative weight of each
assignment relative to the final grade.
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Grading Allocation
Weight
GoReact Assignments (3)
25%
VLOG (2)
10%
Quizzes (3)
40%
Class Presentation
25%
Grading System
A
93.00% - 100%
A-
90.00% - 92.99%
B+
87.00% - 89.99%
B
83.00% - 86.99%
B-
80.00% - 82.99%
C+
77.00% - 79.99%
C
73.00% - 76.99%
C-
70.00%-72.99%
D+
67.00% - 69.99%
D
60.00% - 66.99%
F
Below 60%
On-Campus Credit Hours
This course is a 3-credit course, which means that students are expected to do at least 16 hours of courserelated work or activity each week during the semester. This includes scheduled class-lecture/discussion
meeting times as well as time spent completing assigned activities, studying for rests and examinations,
preparing video assignments and other course-related tasks.
Student workload
expectations for 3-credit
courses
In-Class hours
(weekly)
Outside-of-class hours
(weekly)
Total hours per week
45
10
55
Summer 2016 course
meeting 22.5 hours per
week for lecture/discussion
(2 weeks)
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GoReact Assignments
Students will be assigned to complete their student workbooks from readings, watch student workbook’s
DVD and use GoReact for video assignments as instructed. Students' workbooks will be compared,
reviewed and discussed in the class among with students and instructor.
Quizzes
Both comprehension and production skills will be evaluated along with linguistic and historical
knowledge of language. All quizzes are posted on the course outline. The video content and
presentations must be presented within the standard conventions of ASL grammatical structure. The video
content will be organized according to the rubrics provided in the Blackboard.
Class Presentation
Students will be given the opportunity to narrate a story. This individual presentation should be at least
three minutes in length and will be done during class time. Students are expected to use the proper
grammar structure, vocabulary, and cultural information acquired throughout the course this
semester. Class presentation rubric and guideline are provided in the Blackboard.
Course Expectations, Policies and Procedures
Course Format
This course consists of engaging in class discussions and activities, and viewing online lectures as well as
academically related videos in ASL.
Student Responsibilities
Students are expected to actively participate by attending class and completing assigned activities,
participate in class discussions, serve in groups, complete answers with reasons, explanations and
documentation from a variety of sources. If you are physically present but not engaged in class (listening
to devices through earphones, using your phone during class, etc.), you will be asked to leave the
classroom and your attendance will be count as one tardy.
Classroom Etiquette
Basic classroom etiquette includes turning off external electronic devices that may interfere with class
participation, arriving on time for class, staying the entire period and avoiding behavior that interferes
with the concentration and learning of other students. Attention should be given to the instructor, guest
speakers, and fellow students.
Expectation for communication in class
Since ASL is visual language, use of spoken English or of speaking and signing simultaneously (“simcom”) is not allowed during class time, including breaks. Monitoring of this will be the responsibility of
every student in the room during class and during break. Students using voice or signing/voicing
simultaneously will be asked to leave the classroom until the next session with no expectations. This will
be counted as unexcused absence.
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Attendance
You are expected to attend every class. You are expected to arrive on time and stay the entire class
period. You will be allowed one absence. After your one absence has been used, you will lose 2 points
from your overall course grade for each class that you miss, regardless of the reason. (If you had 3
absence and you got 93% for your final grade, you would end up with 89% after losing 4 points due to
two over-the-limit absences.) Two tardy constitute an absence.
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.
Assignments
All assignments are to be submitted as instructed. Late submissions will not be accepted except
communicating within 24 hours in advance. The instructions are to be followed meticulously.
Deadlines
Assignments are due at the time of submitting before 11:59 p.m. on specific dates provided on Course
Schedule. Quizzes, projects, and GoReact assignments not being submitted on time will receive a zero.
No late submissions will be accepted after the deadlines. Allowance will be made in the event of
inclement weather, an unforeseen situation on the instructor’s end or communication made in advance by
student as according to Assignments section above.
Editing ASL works
You are required to edit your ASL videos. You are more than welcome to meet with your instructor
and/or your teacher aid to get the feedback as often as needed to produce the very best work possible.
Example of the academic ASL video is posted on BB.
Office hours & appointments
Please email your instructor if you like to meet with her at a specific time, and your instructor will be sure
to make herself available for you. Please keep your appointments with her, and if you have to cancel,
please communicate by emailing the instructor in advance.
Inclement weather or any cancelled classes
If the university closes for any reason or if the class is cancelled unexpectedly, please check your
Gallaudet email or the announcement of section of Blackboard for further instructions.
Student Grievance Procedure
Complaints about course grade must first be resolved through your instructor, the program coordinator,
the dept. chair, and then the dean in the order until a resolution is reached.
Academic Integrity Policy Statement
It is the student's responsibility to familiarize themselves and comply with the Gallaudet University
Undergraduate/Graduate Academic Integrity Policy, which can be found in the Gallaudet University
Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog or on the Gallaudet University website at:
http://www.gallaudet.edu/academic_catalog/registration_and_policies/graduate_policies/academic_integrity.html
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OSWD Academic Accommodation Policy
Students have the responsibility of formally requesting accommodation through the Office for Students
With Disabilities (OSWD) at the beginning of the semester. For information on your right under the
ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act please see:
http://www.gallaudet.edu/office_for_students_with_disabilities.html
Tentative Course Schedule
Any changes to the course schedule will be announced in class, through email and/or posted in the
Blackboard.
PST 306: American Sign Language VI