Syllabus

Course Title/section number:

ASL-001-1384/1398 Elementary ASL I

Units:

5

Class Days/Times:

Fully Online Instruction, Room ONLN

Instructor:

Mr. William Blais

Contact Information:

wblais@collegeofthedesert.edu

760-880-8123

Office Hours and Location:

Will be scheduled through zoom.  Access can be found in the Confer Zoom tab on the home page.  An email link will be sent the Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings.

Monday 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Tuesday 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Wednesday 8:00 am - 9:00 am

*Hours are subject to change based on student needs.

*Exceptions will be made on an individual basis.

Course Catalog Description:

This course presents the fundamentals of American Sign Language in
an intensive method, with many lectures conducted in ASL. Students
learn basic grammar and vocabulary of ASL, with an emphasis on both
expressive and receptive skills. The history, values, and attitudes of
American Deaf culture are explored.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate engagement in ASL conversation, exchanging information on a variety of topics.
  2. Identify the basic structures ASL employs to convey linguistic features.
  3. Describe and discuss the beliefs, values, attitudes and history of the American Deaf culture.
  4. Create ASL storytelling and narratives, utilizing Elementary/Level one, ASL skills.
  5. Demonstrate an Elementary level of comprehension of the grammar structure of ASL and apply them in dialogues.

Course Objectives:

  1. Students will be able to explain and share personal reactions to a variety of familiar contexts.
  2. Students will be able to illustrate their ability to relay factual information on topics related to people, places, and things.
  3. Students will be able to compose personal introductions and farewells that are appropriate to Deaf Culture.
  4. Students will be able to negotiate basic directions, requests, and demands.
  5. Students will be able to demonstrate their comprehension of the basic physical and personality descriptions learned.
  6. Students will be able to identify and apply proper names through the use of finger spelling via teacher-aided cues, and identify finger-spelled loan signs.
  7. Students will be able to recognize and demonstrate their ability to produce numbers 1-100.
  8. Students will be able to analyze similar signs and identify the different parameters.
  9. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of basic ASL syntax by using topic/comment and structure when asked simple questions, demonstrated though glossing simple English sentences into ASL order.
  10. Students will be able to use number incorporation in pronouns, age and time signs.
  11. Students will be able to apply knowledge of grammatical non-manual markers by identifying and producing the markers for the four basic types of sentences (declaratives, negatives, yes-no questions, -questions) in a prepared presentation.
  12. Students will be able to identify and demonstrate the meaning of basic selected classifiers.
  13. Students will be able to identify and demonstrate the meaning of basic selected classifiers.
  14. Students will be able to apply their knowledge of important dates, persons, and events in American Deaf history.
  15. Students will be able to values, attitudes, or opinions that would be considered Culturally Deaf.
  16. Students will be required to attend and participate in selected events where ASL is used, and exposure to cross-cultural variables is present.
  17. Students will be able to illustrate a basic introductory conversation in ASL by demonstrating their receptive/expressive skills by having one-on-one dialogue.
  18. Students will be able to compose their comprehension of Deaf history, Deaf culture and Community by writing papers, through participation in class discussions, and completion of written exams.
  19. Students will be able to sign a conversation in the context of everyday situations at a basic introductory level of signing fluency by producing dialogue measured by the instructor

Required Materials

  • Smith, C., Lentz, Ella Mae & Mikos, Ken (2008). Signing Naturally: Units 1-6 San Diego, CA DawnSignPress. ISBN: 978-1-58121-2
  • Access to the internet is required for this course

Graded Components: 

  • Discussions/Participation: Students are required to participate in all assigned discussions as noted in the assignment.
  • Timed Video Quizzes: students will access through canvas and complete quiz of current material.
  • Timed Video Midterm and Final Exams: students will access through canvas and complete exam of up to date material
  • Written Assignments: students will complete and submit through canvas required assignment.
  • Video Assignments: student will practice, sign, and send video homework through canvas.
    • Feedback, written and/or video, and grades will be submitted in a timely manner (usually within 2-3 days).  Feedback can be found along with the grade in Canvas, 

Grade Weights or Point System:

  • Discussions:  5 @ 15 points - 10% of grade*
  • Quizzes: 13-14 @ 30-45 points - 15% of grade*
  • Midterm exam / Final exam 1 each @ 150 points - 20% of grade
  • Written assignments: 1 @ 30 points - 10% of grade*
  • Video assignments: 26 @ 5-55 points - 45% of grade*
  • *amount subject to change

Instructor Drop Policy

Student Responsibilities
It is important that students attend the first class meeting of each course
in which they are enrolled, whether or not it is designated as a lecture or
a lab. Faculty may drop students who do not appear in the first lecture or
lab session. The primary responsibility for class attendance and course
schedule rests with the student. Consequently, students must process
all adds or drops to their course schedules and are held responsible
for updating their own enrollment records. To be officially recorded,
adds and drops must be submitted electronically via WebAdvisor by the
appropriate deadlines (check deadline dates in the Schedule of Classes
or online by viewing section detail information on WebAdvisor). Students
are expected to attend all sessions of a course in which they are enrolled.
Anticipated absences should be reported to instructors in advance in
order to complete assigned work by due dates. All other absences should
be reported to instructors immediately upon returning to class and any
missed coursework should be made up. If an emergency requires a
long absence and the instructor cannot be reached, students should
contact the appropriate instructional dean or designee. Students are held
financially accountable for every course in which they are registered and
are responsible for their own class schedule and any changes made via
WebAdvisor.


Faculty Responsibilities
Prior to census (20% of the class), a faculty member may drop a student
for “no show” (students who registered, but never attended class), when a
student does not attend the first class session. At census, in accordance
with Title 5, section 58004, instructors must drop any student identified
as a no show. Instructors shall clear their rolls of inactive students not
later than the end of the last business day before the census day for all
students. An instructor may elect to drop inactive students.
"Inactive students" include:
1. Students identified as no-shows,
2. Students who officially withdraw,
3. Students who are no longer participating in the courses and are
therefore dropped by the instructor.
The instructor has the responsibility for maintaining accurate attendance
records in accordance with established procedures

Academic Integrity

In accordance with College of the Desert’s Student Code of Conduct cheating and plagiarism with not be tolerated. Incidents of cheating and/or plagiarism will result in a failing grade on the work and a report filed with the Office of Student Life.

Classroom Conduct

This class is online asynchronously (no classroom)

Disabled Students Programs and Services Links to an external site.

College of the Desert views disability as an important aspect of diversity and is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. The Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) office is the office that collaborates with students with disabilities to provide reasonable accommodations. Please contact the DSPS office at (760) 773-2534, dspsinfo@collegeofthedesert.edu, or visit CSSC Room 101 for more information. Once registered with DSPS, students will be provided with an Authorized Academic Accommodations form that can be shared with faculty.

Veterans Services Links to an external site.

Welcome Veterans! If you have any special circumstances (e.g. V.A. apt, upcoming deployments, drill requirements, or disabilities) you are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor.

International Students Links to an external site.

Studying (enter course subject) in a foreign language is challenging. Therefore, all international students may use official translators during exams. Cell phones cannot be used as translators. Also, if you have ANY questions about definitions or content please see me after class, come to my office hours, or make an appointment to talk to me.

Additional Student Resources Links to an external site.

Library Services, Tutoring, and Counseling can all be linked to through your student Canvas website at: MyCOD Links to an external site.

Important Dates

  • September 7, 2021: Last day to ADD
  • September 7, 2021: Last day to DROP and qualify for a refund
  • September 12, 2021: Last day to DROP without a “W”
  • November 19, 2021: Last day to DROP with a “W”
  • Final Exam Week: December 11-17, 2021

Weekly Schedule

Please see modules and syllabus.