ASL online: The design and implementation of a Web-based American Sign Language course

American Sign Language can be of use as an effective mode of communication for deaf children. This study examined the development and implementation of an Internet-based introductory-level course in American Sign Language. Caretakers of deaf children and other children who communicate visually are often unable to attend traditional American Sign Language courses and can benefit from an online course. Student opinions and suggestions for improvement were collected. Demographic information, pretest scores, and posttest scores were compared with those of students in a traditional classroom-based American Sign Language class. An independent-samples t-test found no significant difference in receptive vocabulary test scores between the two groups of students. Online instruction is well suited for the development of receptive skills acquisition. A higher percentage of male students participated in the online course than participated in the traditional course. Students who registered for the online course tended to be older and nearer to completing their degree programs than students who registered for the traditional course.