title: Technology skills assessment for deaf and hard of hearing students in secondary school.
abstract: To BE COMPETITIVE in the workplace, deaf and hard of hearing students must not only possess basic computer literacy but also know how to use and care for personal assistive and listening technology. An instrument was developed and pilot-tested on 45 middle school and high school deaf and hard of hearing students in 5 public school programs, 4 urban and 1 suburban, to assess these students' current technology skills and to prepare them for post-high school expectations. The researchers found that the students' computer skills depended on their access to technology, which was not always present in the schools. Many students also did not know basic care practices or troubleshooting techniques for their own personal hearing aids (if worn), or how to access or use personal assistive technology.
authors.affiliation: Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA. pluft@kent.edu
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luft
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonello
authors.forename: Nichole K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Zirzow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D032882:Comprehension; D003197:Computer Literacy; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment; D003479:Curriculum; D003638:Deafness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D060345:Education of Persons with Hearing Disabilities; D004519:Education, Special; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004522:Educational Status; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education; D017150:Public Sector; D012574:Schools; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012656:Self-Help Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013672:Technology / Q000193:education*