VL2 Research Briefs-Now Available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin!

Due to popular demand, The Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center has translated the first four research briefs from Gallaudet University's Science of Learning Center on Visual Language and Visual Learning (VL2) first into Mandarin and Spanish. They are intended as a resource to inform families and caregivers of research findings, to summarize relevant scholarship, and, in the form of practice guides, to present recommendations that parents can use when addressing the multifaceted challenges of educating deaf and hard of hearing children.

VL2 is a Science of Learning Center (SLC) on Visual Language and Visual Learning, one of six SLCs funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and is hosted by Gallaudet University. NSF established the Science of Learning Centers to support interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research that presents new lines of thinking and inquiry into the science of learning. For more information on VL2 visit their website at Visual Language and Visual Learning

Research Brief 1: The Importance of Fingerspelling for Reading

This VL2 research brief, written by Sharon Baker, Ed.D., focuses on the importance of fingerspelling for reading. This also comes with three appendices for instructional guidance. (July 2010, Rev.)

Brief #1 in Spanish
Brief #1 in Mandarin

Research Brief 2: Advantages of Early Visual Language

This VL2 research brief, written by Sharon Baker, Ed.D., discusses the importance of early ASL acquisition shows in deaf children's cognitive development and literacy skills. (January 2011)

Brief #2 in Spanish
Brief #2 in Mandarin

Research Brief 3: Visual Attention and Deafness

This VL2 research brief, written by Elizabeth Hirshorn, Ph.D. Candidate, explains that deafness leads to changes in visual attention, especially the periphery, as evident in the brain. Changes in visual attention can have implications for reading and classroom environment. (May 2011)

Brief #3 in Spanish
Brief #3 in Mandarin

Research Brief 4: Reading and Deaf Children

This research brief, written by VL2's Early Education Longitudinal Study (EELS) co-PI and Gallaudet University Professor Donna Morere, provides an overview of the research related to deaf children and reading.

Brief #4 in Spanish
Brief #4 in Mandarin

Research Brief 5: Eye Gaze and Joint Attention

This research brief, written by Amy Lieberman, PhD, provides an overview of the importance of eye gaze and joint attention in language acquisition.

Translations into Spanish and Mandarin will be available in 2013.

Research Brief 6: Children with Cochlear Implants

Full title of Research Brief No. 6 is as follows: The Implications of Bimodal Bilingual Approaches for Children with Cochlear Implants.

This brief is done in a collaboration with Clerc Center, at Gallaudet University.

Translations into Spanish and Mandarin will be available in 2013.

Research Brief 7: The Benefits of Bilingualism

This research brief, written by Sarah Fish, PhD Candidate and Jill Morford, PhD, explains the various benefits of bilingualism.

Translations into Spanish and Mandarin will be available in 2013.

Research Brief 8: ASL/English Bilingual Education

This research brief, written by Maribel Garate, PhD, outlines models, methodologies, and strategies of ASL/English Bilingual Education.

This brief is done in collaboration with Gallaudet University's Department of Education.

Translations into Spanish and Mandarin will be available in 2013.

This is also available on VL2 website by visiting: http://vl2.gallaudet.edu/document.php.