Question: How
can I take the online "ASL 1 and/or ASL 2" course offered by CSUS?
Answer: You may or may not be able to take those classes. Some courses
are only open to non-matriculated students. (If you are a
regular student you may not be able to take certain classes).
Lately the regular "Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation,
School Psychology, and Deaf Studies" has started offering some online
classes as well. The classes offered by the regular Department are
registered for using the normal online registration procedures.
But the
College of Continuing Education
at California State University Sacramento has for many years offered an
online "ASL 1" course Fall Semester and an online "ASL 2" course Spring
semester.
The level one course is: "EDS 051 American Sign Language 1" and is
typically listed as section 50.
The level two course is: "EDS 052 American Sign Language 2" and is
typically listed as section 50.
The online versions of these two courses are not
usually listed in the main CSUS catalog. Instead they are usually listed
at the CSUS College of Continuing Education's website. The general
website is at:
http://www.cce.csus.edu/ But
sometimes those classes show up in the CSUS regular semester listing and
it causes confusion to the students when they can't register as normal.
At the time of this writing, the way to register for those courses is to
contact the College of Continuing Education:
Visit Napa Hall or call the College of Continuing Education (916-278-4433 or (916) 278-6984) and let them know that you want to take "EDS 51" (ASL 1) or "EDS 52" (ASL 2) online through the College of Continuing Education. Ask them for registration information, tuition information, and payment information.
Question: Who teaches these two online courses?
Answer: While individual teachers may vary you can be assured that
whomever teaches it will be a qualified ASL instructor.
For quite a few
years now these two courses have been taught by Belinda Vicars. She is
Deaf, holds a masters degree, and has over 20 years experience teaching ASL.
Question: How much does each course cost?
Answer: It is best to call
916-278-4433 or (916) 278-6984 to find out the most recent pricing
information. Call them regarding ANY tuition or registration related
questions. Also, the most recent contact information for the CCE
program coordinator over this program was: cceeducationprograms@csus.edu
or call (916) 278-4813.
Question: How does the course work? What about the curriculum? Do I
have to attend any classes?
Answer: The instructor for several years now has used the
Lifeprint.com curriculum as well as her own materials (at
www.BelindaVicars.com)
and the Blackboard (WebCT) system. Classroom attendance is not required and the
whole course can be completed online. Students must have access to video
recording equipment such as a webcam or video recorder. You study the lessons online and
you take quizzes online. Near completion of the course you must take a
receptive final exam with an approved proctor watching (to make sure you do
not cheat). Your instructor will provide guidelines to help you locate a suitable proctor.
Question:
Before registering, can I contact
the instructor and ask questions or get a copy of the syllabus ahead of
time?
Answer: Yes you can contact the instructor. Please keep in mind that it is
very important to identify who you are and what program or course you are
interested in or
referring to. For example, use a subject line such as: Mary
Smith, question about CSUS CCE ASL 1 (online).
By stating "CSUS CCE" you will help Belinda to know that you are talking
about the CSUS college course and not the ASLU private course.
Her email is: BelindaGVicars@aol.com
Question: Can I start the course at any
time?
Answer: No. The ASL 1 course (EDS 51, section 50 through CSUS's
College of Continuing Education) is offered in the Fall (it typically starts
around the second week of September). The level 2
course is offered in the Spring.
Question: The CSUS CCE web page says that the course is not
currently offered. Has it been canceled?
Answer: What that usually means is that the time of year is not close
enough to Fall or Spring semester for the college to post the
course. Call the CSUS College of Continuing Education directly
(916) 278-6984 and ask to speak to the person who coordinates the
American Sign Language classes.
Question: Is the program live or something
that I can do on my own schedule?
Answer: The CSUS EDS 51 ASL 1 Online course as offered via the College of
Continuing Education is for the most part, self-paced and can be done whenever is convenient
for the student to access the internet. However there are certain deadlines
that must be met and the whole course must be completed in approximately
3 months. See the official CSUS schedule and/or the course syllabus for
specifics.
Question: Is your course fully captioned?
Answer: No. The course uses no audio and thus needs no captioning.
Question: My daughter is in high school and has never taken a signing course.
She does have some basic skills from signing books that we have purchased as
well as many songs she has learned signing through her music program, but it
is very remedial. Would this be a good starting place for a beginner?
Answer: The EDS 51 "ASL 1" course is intended for beginners.
Question: How do you do the grading?
Answer: Grading is based on completion of online quizzes, a video project,
and a proctored receptive final evaluation.
Question: Do we need to have access to Skype?
Answer: As of this
writing Skype isn't needed, but that may change so be prepared to invest in
a relatively good web cam and make sure you have access to broadband
internet. The student will need certainly need access to video recording equipment and
be able to upload a video or transfer it to disk and send.