Abstract
The Independent Learning Centre (ILC) has been promoting eLearning and encouraging students to engage in their role as independent learners for many years. To further enhance the effectiveness of the eLearning resources for all CUHK students and promote inclusive culture in CUHK. ILC has decided to seek professional help from a social enterprise: SLCO Community Resources (「語橋社資」) to add subtitles or create a sign language interpretation version for self-learning videos that has been developed for different purposes. The project aims to benefit students with different level of hearing impairment or other special education needs (SEN) as well as general students. While the revised self-learning videos will allow and encourage students with different level of hearing impairment or other SEN to foster their independent learning skills, the added subtitles (Cantonese, Mandarin or English) can aid learning including retention, comprehension, accuracy and engagement, which means general students are also expected to have their learning effectiveness increased by viewing these videos. 98 videos from “Orientation of ILC”, “GE Reflective Journal Micro-Modules” (TDLEG), “中文思辨寫作 (與人文對話及與自然對話)＂(TDLEG) and “The Interview Skills Development System Extended” (TDG), totaling 11 hours, are selected. Once ready, the videos will be incorporated into the redesigned online platform and the revised micro-modules accordingly.
Brief write-up
Project objectives
The project aims to enhance the effectiveness of the eLearning resources for all CUHK students and promote inclusive culture in CUHK through self-learning videos. A social enterprise: SLCO Community Resources was hired to add subtitles (captions) or create a sign language interpretation version for over hundred subject-specific videos from 4 online platforms.
Activities, process and outcomes
SLCO produced and sent the VTT and MP4 files to the Independent Learning Centre (ILC) for final editing and upload. Subtitles in traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese or English subtitles were added to the videos. The sign language interpretation video and the original video will be shown in a 3:7 ratio. Example of these videos could be viewed by the following links:
1. https://www.ilc.cuhk.edu.hk/CH/mission.aspx
2. https://www.ilc.cuhk.edu.hk/EN/mission.aspx
As the production is heavily affected by the fourth and fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, only videos from 3 out of 4 online platforms (*centre’s introduction and reflective Journal writing) were completed. The rest are still under process. Positive feedbacks and comments have been received from both students and colleagues for this project.
Deliverables and evaluation
The feedbacks and comments collected from a survey and review reports form student helper were very positive. Academic papers are going to be presented in international conference and published in the conference proceedings.
Dissemination, diffusion, impact and sharing of good practices
The updated self-learning videos have already been promoted through ILC website, emails, and mass mailings. Appreciation and inquires on development process of these videos have been received from different department and units of CUHK.
Impact on teaching and learning
The project has positive impact on student’s learning. This could be supported by comments, such as “It encourages me to conduct self-learning as I am in a better zone of proximal development as I am not the best in Putonghua. The subtitles allowed me the ability to comprehend the concepts being said more clearly in a more convenient way.”
