�Videoconference 
Communication Support	
�Bill Clymer
�Christine Monikowski
�Benjamin Rubin
�February 27, 2013
�Goals
�Description of RIT and NTID
�Use of Web-based Video for Instruction and Support
�NSF Funded Research
�Series of interrelated grants 
�Cisco Funded Research
�Initial Findings
�Ongoing Research & Reporting
�Discussion

�Rochester Institute of Technology
http://www.rit.edu/overview/at-a-glance 
�Nine Colleges
�17, 652 Students
�3,756 Faculty Staff
�Technology Programs
�Diverse Community


�NTID Background
http://www.ntid.rit.edu/about 
�Founded in 1965 by Congress
�1,281 Students
�200 Faculty, 300 Staff
�Communication Support


�NTID Instruction
�Direct Instruction
�Approximately 500 students
�Faculty sign and teach
�Small classes
�Supported Instruction
�Approximately 600 students �cross registered�
��Mainstreamed� classes with other RIT Colleges
�Interpreters, Captioning, Notetaking, Tutoring
�NSF Cyber Community Grants
�Cyber Community
�IIS-0915268
�Summit 
�OCI-0749253
�Enrichment
�HRD-0927586
�Alliance
�HRD-1127955
�DHH Cyber Community
http://dhhcybercommunity.cs.washington.edu/ 

�ClassInFocus	
�ASL-STEM Forum
�DHH Cyber Community
http://dhhcybercommunity.cs.washington.edu/ 

�ClassInFocus	
�Lead to an investigation in systems and technology to support remote services.
�ASL-STEM Forum
�Online video forum
�http://aslstem.cs.washington.edu/ 

�DHH Cyber Community
http://dhhcybercommunity.cs.washington.edu/ 

�Summit
http://www.rit.edu/ntid/cat/summit 
��Summit to Create a Cyber-Community to Advance Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Individuals in STEM (DHH Cyber-Community)�
�The goal of the Summit was to conduct a conference with 50 leaders in the field of support service provision for postsecondary deaf students in STEM programs 
�The primary outcome was to report on the current state of online remote interpreting and captioning, and to identify the benefits and challenges associated with creating a multimedia application and network
�Enrichment
http://www.rit.edu/ntid/cat/enrichment 
��Enrichment : Testing the Concept of a Virtual Alliance for Deaf and Hard of Hearing STEM Students at the Postsecondary Level�
�The goal was investigate the creation of a virtual support network for deaf/hard-of-hearing college students around the country enrolled in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs 
�The primary outcome was a successful NSF Alliance Proposal!
�Alliance
dhhvac.org
�Model for Provision of Remote Tutoring and Mentoring
�NTID/RIT, Camden County College, and Cornell University are constructing an on-line community to support the learning needs of students who are deaf and hard-of-hearing in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).




�Video Guides
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3jz2bVv7WkWJAxCOsOV30Q/videos
�RemoteTutoring
�Cisco Research
�Three Strands
�Equipment Donation
�TelePresence
�Variables Within Interpreted TelePresence Scenarios
�Determine �best practices� when working with TP and interpreters
�Face-to-face within the TP system
�Remote with the TP system

�9 Scenarios/4 Days/Summer 2012
�Variables:
�Number of Deaf/Hearing participants 
�Level of interaction among all participants
�Level of technology within the TP system
�Different kinds of TP systems
�Location of interpreters
�When IN the environment and when REMOTE




�Our Goals for Participants
�Interpreters:
�To have the same interpreters across scenarios
�Nationally certified
�Flexible
�Deaf participants:
�To have the same �students� across scenarios
�Experience with interpreters
�Willing to give feedback
�Hearing participants:
�To have the same �presenters� across scenarios
�Some knowledge/experience working with interpreters

�What We Did
�Assigned everyone a �role�
�Ran the scenario, with 2 working interpreters and a third one observing/advising
�Distributed written feedback forms to all
�Conducted approx. 15 minute de-briefings with all participants
�Two interpreters now participated and third did the interpreting
�Made minor adjustments from feedback, took a short break, moved on to next scenario

�Report
�http://www.rit.edu/ntid/cat/sites/default/files/NTID-TelePresence_Oct2012_Final.pdf 


�Report of Each Scenario
�Report on Each Scenario
�Results - Primary Themes
�Cameras are voice-activated
�Problems for Deaf participants
�Problems for interpreters 
�Actual positioning of interpreters
�In the room, near the screen
�In the other room, near the presenter
�Interpreters cannot communicate with Deaf participants
�Remote
�Problems with lack of eye contact, re-adjusting tiles on the screen
�Quality � wow!!
�Future � lots of possibilities!!

�Discussion
�Questions
�Comments
�Resources