2010-11 7-12 Classroom Research Grants Recipient
Carrie M. Fisher
Rochester School for the Deaf, Rochester, New York
Visual Mathematics Dictionary and Phrases: Investigation on Mathematics Term Recall and Conceptual Understanding
Carrie M. Fisher collaborating with Christopher A.N. Kurz, Rochester Institute of Technology
Research has shown that deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HH) students demonstrate serious lags behind hearing peers in mathematical knowledge and skills development. The focus of this project is to investigate the effect of a student-created visual mathematics vocabulary and phrase on literacy development of D/HH students. There is an urgent need for classroom research and education in the area of mathematics vocabulary for D/HH students, this project seeks to stimulate and evaluate an innovative pedagogical practice of student engagements in vocabulary and concept development with American Sign Language and English support. The objectives for this project are to make the visual dictionary and phrases available to D/HH students and to evaluate the effect of the visual mathematics vocabulary and phrases on student learning: vocabulary recall and conceptual understanding.