Sign Language Lab
Lab Description
The Sign Language Lab is housed within the Interpreter Education Program suite of offices. The Lab is open year round, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The lab consists of an 850 plus videotape library; individual study carrels each with a TV, VCR, DVD player, and headphones; a permanent videotaping area for student use and testing, study tables, and a Lab Assistant office area. Current events information, inservice training opportunities, job announcements and literature pertinent to the field are displayed in the Lab. Lab Assistants who are Deaf and faculty members are available to assist students individually or in a tutoring group situation.
Study and Lab Assignments
The skills necessary to succeed in the program cannot be mastered through classroom attendance alone. The successful student will need to devote time to study, practice, skill development, observation, and community involvement. In general, college students can expect to invest two hours of study time for every hour of class time. Interpreting students are expected to devote at least that amount of time, if not more. Additionally, students are required to view videotapes and to videotape themselves throughout the program of study.
Videotapes are not available for loan or copy. Playback units and selected videotapes are available for student convenience in the Media Center of the Ottenheimer Library during standard library hours. Please check with the library for day, evening and weekend hours as they may vary depending on the semester and holiday breaks.
Rules for Lab Use
The Lab is a study area with a “no-voice” communication policy. It is to be kept quiet at all times to allow each student equal access to a non-distracting environment in which to concentrate. The Lab should be kept neat and clean at all times, and it is each student’s responsibility to discard waste in appropriate receptacles.
- A Videotape Catalog Index contains a description of each videotape and is divided by course title and/or topic. The descriptions include such information as, content, skill level, speed of fingerspelling, speed of signing, and no voice and voice-overs.
- All videotapes are numbered and color coded by topic. A list of topics is attached to the respective black cabinet containing those tapes.
- All videotapes and other materials should be replaced after use. Rewind and replace videotapes to the appropriate location in the black cabinets.
- Headphones should be used at the carrels when watching videotapes with voice-over.
- All social conversations and activities should take place in the hallways outside of the Lab and the offices.
- Occasionally, the Lab will be used exclusively for videotaping expressive quizzes, midterm exams and final exams. On these days, it will be posted that the Lab is closed.
- If any problems arise, or assistance is needed, see the Lab Assistant or any of the instructors.
- DVD’s associated with class assignments may be checked out from the unit secretary for use in the Sign Language Lab.
Videotaping of Performances and Viewing
As a courtesy to other students, view your videotaped performance in one of the available carrels, NOT in the camera used for videotaping. Other students may be waiting for the camera and viewing delays the use of the area by other students requiring the videotape equipment.
Pagers and Cell Phones
Pagers and cell phones should be TURNED OFF or on vibrate.
Children in School
The faculty may deny visitors and/or children in classrooms and in the Lab. It is understood that on occasion a visitor may be appropriate and/or you must bring your child(ren) to UALR. In either case, prior permission of the instructor is required.
Security System
A security system is installed to prevent video theft. The Crime Unit at UALR will file formal charges against any student(s) caught removing videotapes form the Lab.