Teacher Certification...

[Stuart Thiessen]

This is just a thought.  As the deaf world becomes more accepting of SW, I
think that certification in teaching sign language like the American ASLTA
(ASL Teachers Association) will include certification in SW as well.  Or
perhaps that could be a separate certification ... over time.  Perhaps it
would be better for there to be a separate certifying body who are either
trained by Valerie or who have been trained by Valerie in the past who
become the new certifiers.  Maybe they could become that.  We can use the
web ... to a point, but in my thinking, certification by individuals is
still pretty important depending on what kind of certification we are trying
to set up.  If it is simply knowledge, the web might work.  But if it is
application of the knowledge to specific situations and the ability to adapt
the SW or the teaching of SW to various situations, then it requires a
person to evaluate that.

That's what it seems to me at this time.  Maybe my thoughts would change if
we truly can come up with a new alternative via web.  I suppose video
conferencing and such could help.  But that is only for people with DSL or
cable modem service.

Thanks,

Stuart

Stuart Thiessen
Des Moines, IA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles Butler" <chazzer3 at EROLS.COM>
To: <SW-L at ADMIN.HUMBERC.ON.CA>
Sent: Wednesday, 29 May 2002 19:20
Subject: Re: Teacher Certification...


> I think the communication that has started over the internet about
> certifying on line is a real challenge for all of us working in the field.
> Part of what will be needed will be a photographic archive, perhaps, to
show
> symbols and hands, and then a "double-blind" test to match symbols with
> photography.  Perhaps pieces of video can be sent out, like Valerie has
done
> with Goldilocks, to test specific kinds of signs.  It is a real challenge
to
> do, and precisely because Valerie's health does not allow travel we all
need
> to work together to create something new, something that has never been
done
> before, a certification in Movement Writing over the Web.
>
> Charles Butler
>
..