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Deaf Technology & Access

Tenth graders explore the technology that makes the world accessible for Deaf people — videophones, captions, and relay services for communication, and flashing or vibrating devices for alerts — and sort each tool by its purpose.

Grade 10Deaf Technology55 minutes1 class periodACTFL / Visual LanguageExplicit teaching4 StandardsACTFL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Know Deaf technology.
  • ✓Tell communication from alerts.
  • ✓Sort the tools.
  • ✓Value accessibility.
Essential Question

Technology opens the world for Deaf people. Which tools are for communication, and which are for alerts?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Sort It · Interactive

Communication or Alert?

Project this and sort each tool into Communication (talking) or Alerts (getting your attention).

📱 Sort each — for communication or for alerts?Try it
💬 Communication
🔔 Alerts
Tap a tool, then tap a box.
The Lesson · Visual-Language Flow (Warm-Up · Present · Practice · Sign · Reflect)

55 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Warm-Up — Technology Opens the World

6 min

Which Deaf-access tools are for communication, and which for alerts?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a videophone.
  • Ask what it’s for.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Wonder.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — Deaf Technology

13 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Present communication tools.
  • Present alert tools.
  • Note how each helps.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Listen.
  • Listen.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Sort Them

15 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Communication or Alert?
  • Sort each one.
  • Discuss.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sort.
  • Say.
  • Explain.
4

Sign — Sign

15 min

Students sign.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Fingerspell VP and VRS.
  • Sign PHONE and LIGHT.
  • Sign to a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Spell it.
  • Sign it.
  • Sign.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a communication tool.
  • Name an alert tool.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Name one.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (Intermediate-Mid).

ACTFL
Cultures 2.1

Explore Deaf accessibility.

ACTFL
Cultures 2.2

Explore cultural tools.

ACTFL
Communities 5.1

Value accessibility.

ACTFL
Connections 3.2

Connect to technology & rights.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Technology picture cards.
  • Give short descriptions.
  • Use images.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with videophone and light.
  • Sort one at a time.
  • Use pictures.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Research VRS.
  • Compare tech over time.
  • Design an alert device.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 📱Technology cards
  • 💻Communication or Alert?
  • 📚Reference books
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

technologytools that help accessvideophone (VP)signed video callscaptionstext on the screenVRSvideo relay service (interpreter)flashing lighta visual alertvibrating alarma touch alertaccessibilitymaking things usable for allalerta signal to get attention
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Is a videophone (VP) for communication or alerts?
Communication — it lets Deaf people make signed calls.
QUESTION 2
Is a flashing doorbell light for communication or alerts?
An alert — it signals that someone is at the door.
QUESTION 3
What does VRS (Video Relay Service) do?
It connects a Deaf signer and a hearing person through an interpreter over video.

Reflect: Deaf technology.

Have students name one communication tool and one alert tool for Deaf access (like a videophone and a flashing light). A printable Deaf-technology sheet is in the World Languages library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Deaf Technology & AccessFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Deaf Technology & AccessQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Deaf Technology & AccessPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: accessibility, alert, captions, flashing light, technology, vibrating alarm, videophone (VP), VRS
  1. a touch alert
  2. signed video calls
  3. a signal to get attention
  4. tools that help access
  5. video relay service (interpreter)
  6. making things usable for all
  7. text on the screen
  8. a visual alert

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Is a videophone (VP) for communication or alerts?
  2. Is a flashing doorbell light for communication or alerts?
  3. What does VRS (Video Relay Service) do?
Answer key — Part A: 1) vibrating alarm · 2) videophone (VP) · 3) alert · 4) technology · 5) VRS · 6) accessibility · 7) captions · 8) flashing light
Part B: 1) Communication — it lets Deaf people make signed calls. 2) An alert — it signals that someone is at the door. 3) It connects a Deaf signer and a hearing person through an interpreter over video.