The future is here and the AIU’s Deaf/Hard of Hearing Support team is at the forefront!
As we step into the 2023-24 academic year, we are excited to announce the implementation of the program’s innovative Student Performance Measures (SPMs). Three dynamic educators — Samantha Estremera, Mindy Robbins, and Lenette Sostmann — dedicated their summer months to paving a trailblazing path for the students in our program. The work focuses on leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to empower transition-age students who are deaf or hard of hearing for the world beyond the classroom.
In an era shaped by virtual interactions and the burgeoning growth of AI, it’s more essential than ever that students, especially those who have unique access needs, are equipped with digital literacy and other 21st-century skills. The focus of the program’s SPMs will enable our students to not only become critical consumers of readily available digital information but to engage in creativity and harness AI tools productively and responsibly. The work of educators will provide students the opportunity to cultivate a culture of inclusivity and positive learning experiences using AI-driven solutions and accessibility tools.
This year-long learning journey will culminate with students showcasing final projects and insights regarding AI in a special technology-themed volume of the AIU Deaf and Hard of Hearing Support Program’s in-house magazine. The magazine will be a testament of students’ learning, achievements, and the educators’ relentless efforts to ensure student success after high school.
To kickstart this transformative journey, an all-day, back-to-school training session was held on Thursday, August 18, 2023, at the AIU for the program’s Teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing. Time was devoted to exploring the implications of AI technology for the access needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing students. It was a productive training and led all educators to embrace this initiative with enthusiasm.
The program is eager to step into a future where technology and inclusivity meld, ensuring that all learners with hearing differences have equitable access to the world around them and post-secondary opportunities.