SLC Catalyst: Visual Symbol Systems for Deaf and Hearing Learners of English

视觉符号系统和英语识字的学习科学中心是围绕视觉学习和视觉语言及其在提高英语识字中的作用这一主题而建立的。在催化剂阶段，将确定三个研究方向(1.神经学和认知研究；2.语言和行为研究；3.教育实践研究)，并将在由每一方向的主要研究人员和教育工作者组成的跨学科催化剂会议的背景下描述和审查项目。这些活动的目的有两个：第一，综合研究结果和方法，并为拟建的中心制定议程；第二，在研究人员和教育工作者之间建立和培养跨学科的联系，这些研究人员和教育工作者与学生群体合作，对他们的学习具有高度的重要性。拟议的SLC将把学者和教育工作者聚集在一起，他们每天都与那些证明需要视觉呈现知识的学生，特别是聋人或重听的学生合作。在代表的每个学科中，研究质量将通过与带来不同观点的学者和教育工作者的互动而提高。SLC将设在加拉德特大学，几十年来，该大学的研究人员一直在努力描述和理解视觉语言，以及它们在教育聋哑人和重听儿童方面的适当作用。在拟议的SLC中，将特别强调审查美国手语和提示语音的方面，这些方面对语言学习和识字具有更广泛的影响。由于加拉德特大学在校园内运营示范小学和中学，并通过其国家使命计划和研究所建立了由学校和教育机构组成的复杂网络，因此将通过研究获得的知识转化为教育实践的机制将很容易建立在中心结构中。教育工作者，包括聋人和来自全国各地代表人数不足的群体的人，将广泛参加为催化剂阶段设计的活动。

The Science of Learning Center in Visual Symbol Systems and English Literacy is built around the themes of visual learning and visual languages and their role in enhancing English literacy. In the catalyst phase, three study strands (1. Neurological and cognitive studies; 2. Linguistic and behavioral studies; and 3. Educational practice studies) will be defined, and projects will be described and reviewed in the context of an interdisciplinary catalyst meeting comprised of leading researchers and educators from each strand. The purpose of the activities will be twofold: first, synthesize findings and methodologies and create an agenda for the proposed Center, and second, to establish and nourish interdisciplinary connections among researchers and educators who work with populations of students for whom the visual modality has a heightened importance in their learning.The proposed SLC will bring together scholars as well as educators who work daily with students who demonstrate the need for visually presented knowledge, especially those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Within each discipline represented, the quality of research will improve through the interaction with scholars and educators who bring different perspectives. The SLC will be housed at Gallaudet University, where for decades, researchers have sought to describe and understand visual languages and their appropriate role in educating deaf and hard of hearing children. In the proposed SLC there will be a particular emphasis on examining aspects of both American Sign Language and Cued Speech that have broader implications for language learning and literacy. Because Gallaudet operates model elementary and secondary schools on campus and has an elaborate network of schools and educational agencies through its National Missions Programs and Research Institute, mechanisms for transferring knowledge gained through research into educational practice will be easily built into the Center structure. Educators, including those who are deaf and those from underrepresented groups throughout the country will participate extensively in the activities designed for the catalyst phase.