SIF II (HEA)
"Deaf Studies in Ireland" Project
The SIF II "Deaf Studies in Ireland" project was originally calculated to consolidate the activities of the Centre for Deaf Studies (CDS) (established in 2001) as an essential national resource by (i) implementing a Bachelor degree option (two years added to the pre-existing two diploma years in Deaf Studies, ISL teaching and ISL/English interpreting) and (ii) collaborating with other HEA-funded institutions to deliver courses outside Dublin.
Distance delivery was conceptualised as having three components:
- an extension of the web-based learning support that CDS already provides for its students in collaboration with Blanchardstown Institute of Technology (ITB) (requires ongoing research and development)
- teaching provided in other institutions by teachers recruited locally
- intensive teaching provided by staff based in Dublin but travelling to other institutions for this purpose.
In parallel with this, a research strand was also conceived to look at aspects of Deaf Studies which would, in turn, support future blended teaching and learning.
Due to funding cutbacks, there have been some alterations to the scope of the project, but the core aspects remain as planned. Namely,
(i) the implementation of a Bachelor in Deaf Studies at Trinity College,
(ii) the development of digital teaching and learning materials to support the roll-out of blended learning (with research and development implications due to the technical requirements associated with developing and delivering high quality content in ISL – aspects of this work were funded by EU monies due to the cuts to SIF II monies), and
(iii) the rolling-out of a research strand in Deaf Studies associated with the programme. CDS is working in partnership with the Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown in delivery these SIF II strands.