Category Archives: IDK

With young readers now having the latest screen-based reading options like e-books, touch-phones, DVDs and more, we are firmly in the digital age. In the US, a new DVD to teach children sign language is now on release. It is … Continue reading →

Universities in Ireland have used the Moodle interactive teaching system for years, while schools are just “getting it”. In this piece, we show how the universal design of the Moodle-based Connect School system enables seamless inclusion in class for all … Continue reading →

The first-ever iPhone subtitle application promises to give movie buffs the chance to receive subtitles directly to their phone for the movie/DVD of their choice. It’s a great solution until more cinemas provide subtitled movies and as the app develops, … Continue reading →

Many deaf children grow up to be bilingual – communicating in both Irish Sign Language and in English. This can be a challenge for parents. How do they juggle using both, and which option should be used when? Early use … Continue reading →

This piece follows on from IDK’s earlier post, Infant Literacy Skills: Newborn To Three Years, and complements other IDK posts on early-years literacy. The bottom line is that children learn about literacy from birth, regardless of their hearing ability. While early … Continue reading →

With IBM’s 2010 KidSmart PCs application deadline approaching on July 8th, 2010 for primary schools in Dublin city & county, IDK asked one school in Cork, how their pupils like the PC unit. Pupils at St Columba’s GNS with facility for … Continue reading →

Australia has introduced its first mainstream “Model Classroom” for deaf students at LaSalle Catholic College in Bankstown. Classrooms are planned to maximise learning in mainstream schools with interactive whiteboards, captioned resources, visual computer content and sound-field systems. The pilot project … Continue reading →

Many people are unaware that seven different forms of intelligence are known of. Few people excel in all areas so it helps to identify where you fit. Recent studies show that deaf people can have a head-start in the area … Continue reading →

In Ireland deaf children have the chance to communicate by text, sign or voice. This is not always the case in developing countries, where children can be isolated from society due to the lack of access to communication. The world’s … Continue reading →

Children need to develop literacy skills before their first day of school and research consistently shows children learn literacy skills even before talking. Emergent literacy theorists believe that children start learning about literacy (reading and writing) from birth. Infants can learn … Continue reading →