Syllabus Course

SCHEDULE:
Choose your own due dates to match your needs. You can take up to a full year if needed, however, some students complete the course much faster depending on the amount of time each day or week that they work on it. You should schedule at least 75 hours to complete the course. Make sure to turn in everything at least 2 weeks prior to when you need your course documentation. The earlier the better.

Lessons	Assignment	Points	Submit your quiz answers via https://canvas.instructure.com/login/canvas AFTER you have added yourself to the course by clicking on the special link in your Welcome "email."
Lesson 1	Quiz 1	20	Lesson 01 quiz (50q) (v.1) https://youtu.be/sd7n28C0DOI
Lesson 2	Quiz 2	20	Lesson 02 quiz (50q) (v.1) https://youtu.be/GYe7Ju25i84
Lesson 3	Quiz 3	20	Lesson 03 quiz (50q) (v.1) https://youtu.be/WMzK13xJuG0
Lesson 4	Quiz 4	20	Lesson 04 quiz (50q) (v.1) https://youtu.be/1yLhyjg6Npo
Lesson 5	Quiz 5	20	Lesson 05 quiz (50q) (v.1) https://youtu.be/cBFjDSzhHkQ
	Unit 1 Test	50	Unit 01 Test: https://youtu.be/nKZvyLkYlA8
Lesson 6	Quiz 6	20	Lesson 06 quiz (50q) (v.1) https://youtu.be/YCwjON5TmYE
Lesson 7	Quiz 7	20	Lesson 07 quiz (50q) (v.1) https://youtu.be/xJqiPi1D28E
Lesson 8	Quiz 8	20	Lesson 08 quiz (50q) (v.1) https://youtu.be/warlWFEeQrY
Lesson 9	Quiz 9	20	Lesson 09 quiz (50q) (v.1) https://youtu.be/vrAO627KY_M
Lesson 10	Quiz 10	20	Lesson 10 quiz (50q) (v.1) https://youtu.be/Qc0fYz-dg14
	Unit 2 Test	50	Unit 02 Test: https://youtu.be/IlttxF5lwYo
Lesson 11	Quiz 11	20	Lesson 11 quiz (50q) (v.1) https://youtu.be/difg12-p7II
Lesson 12	Quiz 12	20	Lesson 12 quiz (50q) (v.1) https://youtu.be/FTyYXh2ncr4
Lesson 13	Quiz 13	20	Lesson 13 quiz (50q) (v.1) https://youtu.be/XVMhoo73orE
Lesson 14	Quiz 14	20	Lesson 14 quiz (50q) (v.1) https://youtu.be/vyIp9M2eeyY
Lesson 15	Quiz 15	20	Lesson 15 quiz (50q) (v.1) https://youtu.be/GYNqk9xpkGU
	Unit 3 Test	50	Unit 03 Test https://youtu.be/99cJ-Qrx0Uc
	Culture Test	50	At the bottom of the quizzes in https://canvas.instructure.com/login/canvas
	Research Paper	100	Submit via email.
	Video Project	200	Send the link to your instructor.
	Final Exam	200	See instructions below. (Actually read EVERYTHING below)
	Total	1000

How to get an "A":
1. Go through lessons 1 through 15 at Lifeprint.com. Click on each vocabulary link and sentence link in each lesson.

2. Watch the instructional video for each lesson (the videos where I'm sitting at a table with a student and teaching the student one-on-one) (Or see www.youtube.com/billvicars and watch the videos for your level there.)

3. Watch the "official" quiz video for each lesson and type out your answers:
Official ASLU Registered Student Quiz Videos ► [Bookmark THAT link!!!]

4. Submit your quiz answers at https://canvas.instructure.com/login/canvas [You should have received a WELCOME email after you paid tuition and registered. In that Welcome email was a link you needed to click on to automatically be added to the Canvas gradebook for this course].

5. Do your video project, upload it to youtube.com and email me the link AFTER having a friend verify that the link works: INSTRUCTIONS

6 Get approval for your research paper topic, then write the paper and email it to your instructor: INSTRUCTIONS

7. Request to take the final exam by sending your proctor's name, title, and email information to me: INSTRUCTIONS

8. Upon completion of 15 lesson quizzes, 3 Unit Tests, a culture test, a research paper, a video project, and a proctored receptive final exam (at 70% or better) email me and request your course documentation.

Grading:
Scale: 100-95%=A, 90 = A-, 87=B+, 84=B, 80=B-, 77=C+, 74=C, 70=C-, 67=D+, 64=D, 60=D-, 59=F.

Quizzes:
Lifeprint is full of various practice quizzes and materials. Do not confuse the "practice quizzes" with your "Official" registered student quizzes. Go through the practice quizzes if you'd like, but you will need to watch the "Official" quiz videos for your level at:
www.Lifeprint.com/quizzes50q/index-video-list.htm
To get credit write down (or type) what you think is being signed, then go to https://canvas.instructure.com and log into this course (which you'll be able to do after you enroll at Canvas using the link in your "Welcome" email. Then find the quiz submission link and input your answers there so your answers will be automatically graded and your score added to the gradesheet. If for some reason you can't get something to work, keep a copy of your written or typed answers. Then contact me and let me know you need assistance.

Culture Test:
This is not meant to be a "hard" test. Rather it is simply meant to encourage you to become familiar with a various Deaf Culture-related terms and concepts. It will take some effort though and maybe an hour or so of reading. After reading through this material once, go to the https://canvas.instructure.com/login/canvas site, login to your class and find the Culture Test link in the quizzes folder at the Canvas site.
Then complete and submit the 50 question Culture Test. If you need to look up an answer on the culture test -- go ahead. I don't have a problem with you getting "100%" on this test. Just remember though that to pass the course you will still need to complete both the video project and the proctored final exam and get 70% or better on both so don't just look up answers to the signing quizzes. You need to memorize the signs!

Video Project:
For instructions on how to do your video project, go here: "INSTRUCTIONS."
You must earn a score of 70% or better on your video project in order to pass this course. I recommend you review my list of mistakes that previous students have made on their projects so you can weed those mistakes out of your signing. See "Signing Notes." Those notes are actual feedback I've provided your peers on their tests. Let their loss be your gain by studying the notes prior to doing your video.

Final Exam:
The "Final Exam" is a proctored examination (that means someone trustworthy needs to be there to watch you take the exam according to the rules). You watch a video of me signing various sentences and you type out what you see me signing. Take the receptive final exam after you have turned in your quizzes. You must earn a score of 70% or better on this test to pass this course. If you can't pass the final exam you will get an "F" for this course since it is obvious you were sliding by on "open book" quizzes. STUDY and REVIEW if you want to pass the Final Exam.

When you are ready, send me an email with a subject line like: "ASLU: ASL 1: YOUR NAME, Request to take the Receptive Final Exam."
Include in the email the full name, title or position, and email address of a responsible adult who will function as your proctor. Choose a proctor that you could prove is responsible and impartial in case a future school ever questions your completion certificate. Upon getting your email I will contact your proctor and will provide him / her / them with instructions and a link to the Final Exam video.

Take the test with the proctor in the room making sure you do not use any books, websites, or other external material. The test is a video. On the video you will see me signing various sentences to you. Type out the sentences in English or just string the ASL signs together (as long as it is clear that you understand the concept of what I'm signing you will get the points). You may pause and rewind the video as many times as you would like. If you miss even a single concept or change the meaning of the sentence you may miss the whole sentence so practice hard and don't try to bluff your way through this test.

The sentences are similar to those in the practice sheets in the lessons. It is important for you to do the practice sheets throughout the course so you will be able to do well on your receptive final. These sentences may not be exactly the same as the ones on the website (but the vocabulary is the same) so pay attention to each sign in the sentence. When you get done, have your proctor email your answers to me along with your first and last name.

Legal matters:
This syllabus and the schedule are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances. All students are always expected to work independently on graded quizzes and/or assignments unless specifically directed otherwise by the instructor. Assignments turned in late for any reason may receive 0 credit. Penalties for cheating and plagiarism may include receiving an F for a particular assignment, an F for the course, or expulsion from the program or university. Upon identifying themselves to the instructor and the university, students with disabilities will receive reasonable accommodation for learning and evaluation. This syllabus and any later email communication from the instructor supersede whatever information you may find at the general ASLU website. Prepare ahead of time to have backup internet access in case your regular computer crashes. If your computer is prone to crashing, save your work often and submit it early. Dead computers are not an excuse for late work. If you are in doubt as to whether your email has gone through, send a separate email with the subject line "*** ASLU- Reply requested. First Name, Last Name". Keep a backup copy of all submissions until the end of the course and your grade has been received.

Pep talk:
You can do this. I have near infinite patience. I love teaching and explaining. If you have questions, ask in class or just email them to me and I'll get back to you within 48 hours. If you think I've overlooked your email, feel free to send your question again I won't feel bothered--rather I'll be grateful for the communication. If there is something I can do to make the class better for you please do suggest it. This class may be one of your more challenging accomplishments but I know if you work hard and put in the time you will succeed.

Answer:
Ask yourself: "What is my hobby? What things am I passionate about?" And then pick one of those answers and add "...and the Deaf." It doesn't matter how off-beat your topic is. If it is something you are passionate about it will generally turn out to be a pretty good research paper. For example, suppose you are passionate about "skateboarding" -- then add "and the Deaf" to end up with a topic of: "Skateboarding and the Deaf." If you decide you'd like to do a more traditional topic, then pick something that might be useful to other users of the web such as: "How to become a teacher of the Deaf." Imagine you honestly wanted to become a teacher of the Deaf and you needed actual step by step instructions. Also, consider interviewing actual working teachers of the Deaf! Call them up on the phone -- they won't bite. If they are Deaf, just use the video relay to call them, etc. What's that? You've never heard of a "video relay for the Deaf?" Well that's another good topic to research: "video relay services." Please don't use this website (Lifeprint.com) or wikipedia as your "source." I'm proud of the quality of the articles on Lifeprint but I don't want recycled material. Go find original sources such as peer reviewed articles or books from a major publisher if possible.

Question:
How hard do you grade the video project and final exam?

Answer:
Typically students, (even high achievers), do not do as well on the video project (which is expressive -- you do the signing) in a "distance education" course as they do on the Final exam (which is receptive -- you watch someone else sign). Many students who get an "A" on the receptive end up getting a "C" on the expressive because signing without having had someone to practice with is like swimming without water. (Which often results in "A" caliber students receiving a combined grade of a "B.") Please understand that I will grade you according to the same standard as if you were one of my in-class students who had been attending class twice a week for three months. To pass an expressive test in distance education course will require a serious effort. I don't wish to discourage you, quite the opposite. But I do want you to be informed ahead of time that you will need to work hard to do well.

Question:
Where can I learn and practice fingerspelling and numbers?

Answer:
Learn and practice basic fingerspelling at http://asl.gs, http://asl.ms/mobile
You can learn numbers at NUMBERS and then you can practice numbers at http://asl.bz (That asl.bz site works best on a desktop not a phone).

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