GREAT ALTERNATIVE FOR LONG DISTANCE ASL STUDENTS: USING WEB-CAM
It's been an exciting year as I've tested new technological tools such as a web-cam to tutor long distance ASL students.
Few students from out of state find that video-chat program called Skype works the best.
Gmail IM chat works okay. It's all free to join in.
If you're interested in private ASL lessons through your computer.
You'll need the following:
1. A web cam
2. A high speed direct ethernet internet connection (no wi-fi please!)
3. A private room with a bare wall and solid colored dark clothes if you're light skinned or light clothes if you're dark-skinned.
4. Well lit room.
5. A Skype, Facetime, G-chat or videophone account
How to proceed with web-cam ASL tutoring.
You'd need to make an appointment, most people meet once a week, some need two times a week for an hour or an hour and a half. Then you'll get on your Skype account and click on video-dial of my ASL Master Tutor account. In a few seconds our videos should appear and we can proceed with our ASL Lessons.
Some people worry about not being able to understand my signs through a one dimensional screen. Rest assure that I will turn sideways to give you the side view of my signs to help your mind understand how the signs should be moved and etc.
The pros of mastering reading ASL through videos is that you'll fine tune your fine motor receptive
skills and once you get past that point, you're well trained to view real life signers.
Manners to remember with private ASL tutoring lesson through web-cam:
It's important to make sure you're 100% undisturbed. A lot of families have children or other visitors intruding during our lessons - please explain to your children, babysitters, spouses, or visitors that you need to be left alone for an hour or however long we're assigned for.
Secondly, make sure you wear solid clothes in a well lit room without distracting messy background. Clothes to avoid are: polka dots, stripes, loud neon colors or contrasting varied colored clothes.
Of course studying, learning will make us thirsty - so feel free to bring your water, tea, coffee, but please no alcohol as I don't think you'll remember anything you've study the next day! ;)
Another cool tool to utilize is the Google document program. You'd need a Gmail account to be able to use this neat feature that enables us to simultaneously communicate through the web-cam and review your homework online. We can revise your homework in real-time - and you can read my feedback as we review your homework.
One more neat tool to use is scheduling ASL Sessions via Google calendar - here we can always conveniently check our schedule on our own to remind ourselves what's ahead.
I urge any long distance or car-free local ASL students to give web-cam ASL tutoring a try - I do everything to make it as comfortable as possible for you. With simple cooperation of following certain guidelines, we have a win-win educational opportunity.
Cheers and have a great safe autumn season.
RaVen
ASL Master Tutor
PS If you wish to set up a web-cam ASL tutoring appointment with me - you will need to email me directly - go to my home page and in the contact box at the left lower side - submit your full name, email address and dates and times you're available. Remember that I only work from Monday to Thursday, 10am to 6pm EST. Thank you!
It's been an exciting year as I've tested new technological tools such as a web-cam to tutor long distance ASL students.
Few students from out of state find that video-chat program called Skype works the best.
Gmail IM chat works okay. It's all free to join in.
If you're interested in private ASL lessons through your computer.
You'll need the following:
1. A web cam
2. A high speed direct ethernet internet connection (no wi-fi please!)
3. A private room with a bare wall and solid colored dark clothes if you're light skinned or light clothes if you're dark-skinned.
4. Well lit room.
5. A Skype, Facetime, G-chat or videophone account
How to proceed with web-cam ASL tutoring.
You'd need to make an appointment, most people meet once a week, some need two times a week for an hour or an hour and a half. Then you'll get on your Skype account and click on video-dial of my ASL Master Tutor account. In a few seconds our videos should appear and we can proceed with our ASL Lessons.
Some people worry about not being able to understand my signs through a one dimensional screen. Rest assure that I will turn sideways to give you the side view of my signs to help your mind understand how the signs should be moved and etc.
The pros of mastering reading ASL through videos is that you'll fine tune your fine motor receptive
skills and once you get past that point, you're well trained to view real life signers.
Manners to remember with private ASL tutoring lesson through web-cam:
It's important to make sure you're 100% undisturbed. A lot of families have children or other visitors intruding during our lessons - please explain to your children, babysitters, spouses, or visitors that you need to be left alone for an hour or however long we're assigned for.
Secondly, make sure you wear solid clothes in a well lit room without distracting messy background. Clothes to avoid are: polka dots, stripes, loud neon colors or contrasting varied colored clothes.
Of course studying, learning will make us thirsty - so feel free to bring your water, tea, coffee, but please no alcohol as I don't think you'll remember anything you've study the next day! ;)
Another cool tool to utilize is the Google document program. You'd need a Gmail account to be able to use this neat feature that enables us to simultaneously communicate through the web-cam and review your homework online. We can revise your homework in real-time - and you can read my feedback as we review your homework.
One more neat tool to use is scheduling ASL Sessions via Google calendar - here we can always conveniently check our schedule on our own to remind ourselves what's ahead.
I urge any long distance or car-free local ASL students to give web-cam ASL tutoring a try - I do everything to make it as comfortable as possible for you. With simple cooperation of following certain guidelines, we have a win-win educational opportunity.
Cheers and have a great safe autumn season.
RaVen
ASL Master Tutor
PS If you wish to set up a web-cam ASL tutoring appointment with me - you will need to email me directly - go to my home page and in the contact box at the left lower side - submit your full name, email address and dates and times you're available. Remember that I only work from Monday to Thursday, 10am to 6pm EST. Thank you!
RSS Feed
