ITI Articles

For the first time, The Learning Connexion (TLC) will be providing onsite education for Deaf students. Until recently TLC had 10 extramural (EM) Deaf students, but thanks to an innovative team and a full time interpreter they can now open up the programme to further accommodate and inspire hearing-impaired students.

Eight tutors at The Learning Connexion are currently taking New Zealand Sign Language classes, which TLC is providing through professional development funding. A full time interpreter is making it possible for Deaf students to attend other functions outside the classroom, such as a recent talk given by one of TLC’s artists and tutors at a show she was exhibiting in Wellington.

Stefan Hall - EM Mentor and Visual Resources Programme Co-ordinator for Deaf Students - and Melissa Wyman have been working with the extramural DVDs and notes to improve on programme delivery for current and potential Deaf students. 

Working with the Course Content group in EM and AV, Stefan and Melissa have been creating visually stimulating resource notes that can be used in conjunction with the DVDs. These notes will also eventually be available for students with English as a second language, and for other students who may benefit from having more visual examples.

TLC’s initiative is already having an impact; a Deaf student, who recently moved here from Australia, was told about the course by the Deaf Association and intends to join the onsite programme next term.