My Reflection
I have always been fascinated with sign language. When I was younger my mother would buy me books about sign language, and I would try to teach myself. When I was in high school I finally got the opportunity to take a couple of sign language classes at a local community college. I enjoyed the classes so much, but even more than that I enjoyed the people I got the opportunity to meet. For the first time in my life, I got the opportunity to interactive with a society outside my own. I was able to sign (basic words) to individuals who were deaf, and it was so amazing being able to communicate. I enjoyed the experience very much, and one day I hope to take more classes in sign language and become more fluent in the language. The reason I decided to do my topic on the debate on cochlear implants, is because many of the amazing deaf individuals I met, were faced with the decision to get one. Some of my deaf friends had scars from where their parents had them get an implant as a child, and they chose to get it removed as an adult. I thought the decision to get an implant was an easy one, but as I did research and got to know people in the deaf community, I realized how wrong I was. There is so much controversy over this medical device, and although I personally don't have an opinion on whether people should get them or not, I do think its a debate hearing adults should make themselves more informed on. Its hard to say your opinion on the matter without getting your facts together first.
One of the most fascinating things I learned about while working on this project is that once you get a cochlear implant you have to undergo months of speech therapy. I assumed that once you got the implant, eventually you would just learn to understand terms. Apparently I was wrong. Therapy is actually required to make sure individuals get the most from their implants and learn how to function with them on. I also found the picture above interesting of the baby with a cochlear implant. Although having the implant at an early age with help the baby to communicate more as a hearing individual as he grows up, I thought it was very strange to see an implanted baby so young. I didn't realize that doctors approved surgeries on basically infants.
In order to tie this in to a classroom I would want to teach my students about culture and individual differences. This would be a great lesson to include to just teach my students in general about differences or if a student in my class has a cochlear implant, to teach them why it is in place.
As far as actual standards, for third graders I would focus on 3.H.2.1. explain change over time through historical narratives. I would discuss how Thomas Galluadet and Laurent Clerc worked so hard to develop a form of communication for deaf individuals. As a class we would do research and find journal entries and letters written from both of these individuals. After learning about the impacts they made on deaf culture and the development of sign language, I will have the students write their own letter to these men, explaining how much times have changed since then. This will require the students do a lot of research and learn about two very important men, that often get overlooked in social studies classes.
We will also go over 3.H.2.2. explain how multiple perspectives are portrayed through historical narratives. The students will learn how many people didn't think sign language should be developed because because didn't believe the deaf had the ability to learn. We will learn through the perspective of those who believed in the deaf, those who didn't believe in the deaf, and the deaf themselves. This will allow students to study three very important view points that have made a massive impact on society. Students can choose one of those three perspectives and write from that point of view.
In fifth grade, I could cover the standard 5.C.1.2. exemplify how the interactions of various groups have resulted in borrowing and sharing of traditions and technology. The actual development of sign language resulted from many different deaf families coming up with ways to communicate with each other. The families shared their signs with one another until eventually a language was established. Along with the signs came various traditions relative to only the deaf community. Students will studies these different traditions and discuss similarities and differences among our own community. I can also pose the question if whether or not the development of cochlear implants was a result of hearing adults sharing their technology with the deaf. Students will have to do research to find out if the individual responsible for developing the cochlear implants was hearing or not, and then they will have to draw their conclusion if it was actually a beneficial invention to the deaf society.
The main thing I learned from this project that I will take with me as an elementary school teacher is to always check out multiple perspectives before coming to a conclusion on a topic. I assumed getting a cochlear implant was in the best interest of the recipient, but after doing my research I realized how much that person is missing out not getting to be a member of the deaf community. I learned pros and cons of both sides of the argument and I became a lot more informed. Without knowing your facts it is so easy to assume one side of the argument is right and one side is wrong, but I realize now, unless I was actually faced in that situation it would be really hard for me to make up my mind whether or not I would get a cochlear implant. As a future social studies teacher, I will definitely make a point to teach my students about multiple perspectives, and I vow to not teach my students from a linear point of view.
One of the most fascinating things I learned about while working on this project is that once you get a cochlear implant you have to undergo months of speech therapy. I assumed that once you got the implant, eventually you would just learn to understand terms. Apparently I was wrong. Therapy is actually required to make sure individuals get the most from their implants and learn how to function with them on. I also found the picture above interesting of the baby with a cochlear implant. Although having the implant at an early age with help the baby to communicate more as a hearing individual as he grows up, I thought it was very strange to see an implanted baby so young. I didn't realize that doctors approved surgeries on basically infants.
In order to tie this in to a classroom I would want to teach my students about culture and individual differences. This would be a great lesson to include to just teach my students in general about differences or if a student in my class has a cochlear implant, to teach them why it is in place.
As far as actual standards, for third graders I would focus on 3.H.2.1. explain change over time through historical narratives. I would discuss how Thomas Galluadet and Laurent Clerc worked so hard to develop a form of communication for deaf individuals. As a class we would do research and find journal entries and letters written from both of these individuals. After learning about the impacts they made on deaf culture and the development of sign language, I will have the students write their own letter to these men, explaining how much times have changed since then. This will require the students do a lot of research and learn about two very important men, that often get overlooked in social studies classes.
We will also go over 3.H.2.2. explain how multiple perspectives are portrayed through historical narratives. The students will learn how many people didn't think sign language should be developed because because didn't believe the deaf had the ability to learn. We will learn through the perspective of those who believed in the deaf, those who didn't believe in the deaf, and the deaf themselves. This will allow students to study three very important view points that have made a massive impact on society. Students can choose one of those three perspectives and write from that point of view.
In fifth grade, I could cover the standard 5.C.1.2. exemplify how the interactions of various groups have resulted in borrowing and sharing of traditions and technology. The actual development of sign language resulted from many different deaf families coming up with ways to communicate with each other. The families shared their signs with one another until eventually a language was established. Along with the signs came various traditions relative to only the deaf community. Students will studies these different traditions and discuss similarities and differences among our own community. I can also pose the question if whether or not the development of cochlear implants was a result of hearing adults sharing their technology with the deaf. Students will have to do research to find out if the individual responsible for developing the cochlear implants was hearing or not, and then they will have to draw their conclusion if it was actually a beneficial invention to the deaf society.
The main thing I learned from this project that I will take with me as an elementary school teacher is to always check out multiple perspectives before coming to a conclusion on a topic. I assumed getting a cochlear implant was in the best interest of the recipient, but after doing my research I realized how much that person is missing out not getting to be a member of the deaf community. I learned pros and cons of both sides of the argument and I became a lot more informed. Without knowing your facts it is so easy to assume one side of the argument is right and one side is wrong, but I realize now, unless I was actually faced in that situation it would be really hard for me to make up my mind whether or not I would get a cochlear implant. As a future social studies teacher, I will definitely make a point to teach my students about multiple perspectives, and I vow to not teach my students from a linear point of view.