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From:
cmf Date: Wed Feb 2, 2000 11:26 pm Subject: Re: Shorthand | ||||||||
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Joe, Yes, I've thought about this computer/handwriting access myself as I've been introducing SW to students here in Albuquerque. We do have the computers available...they are old and out dated but we make do... the SignWriter program is accessible as a teaching/learning tool. None of the students have the SW program at home though I did get one request for a copy of the program from a parent. I've guided the lessons so that there would be opportunities to do SW 'writing' by hand and SW typing on the computer. Most of the kids have a pretty strong preference to use the computers but they do 'handwriting' too. One classroom teacher has mentioned several times that handwritten SW appears now and then during English spelling activities. The other day, one student was writing a 'memo' to himself to complete a handwriting exercise in one of the SW literacy books for homework. He requested the English word 'homework' be dictated to him. After he slowly wrote out the dictated spelling for 'homework', he decided to reinforce his 'reminder' by writing the SW sign 'home'. He didn't ask for dictation....he went about writing the sign as he knew it, the face symbol, two sets of raised eyebrows, two asterisks for touch. He hesitated with writing the handshape. That's when he looked at me...I modeled the handshape...he wrote the handshape as he saw it. Now the question might be....did he do the homework? Not yet! It's too soon to predict whether these students will deem SW practical for their life's literacy needs...but when they take even the smallest initiatives to 'write' the signs they have seen in both the SW books and on the computer monitors it warrants some attention. Cecilia Joe Martin wrote: > > I think James mentioned that in Bluefields he only knew one family that > had a flush toilet (?) It has always seemed to me that a writing system > that requires an investment in expensive high tech equipment is hardly > worth the name. I know, I know, if it wasn't for the Web, .....Hey, I'm > biased, yes.--- but the point is that the reliance on technology > (computers) makes the system less accessible for the very people who stand > to benefit from it most. > (Not to mention I don't write my grocery lists on a computer.) I for one > have always wanted to see more interest shown in the handwritten stuff; > writing it the way it looks an the monitor is not practical. > _______________________________________ > Joe Martin, Plain Old Ordinary Student > Top Left Corner USA | ||||||||
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