Technology use via students with hearing impairment: Hear your voice and be heard

Abstract

The study which aimed to develop the technology use process in reading and writing activities for students with hearing impairment using Wikis was designed as an action research. Participants were seven fifth grade students attending the Research and Education Center for Children with Hearing Impairment (ICEM) at Anadolu University in Eskisehir during the 2012–2013 academic year and their two teachers. Research data were obtained via course plans and evaluations, course observations, video recordings of the courses, reflective diaries related to the courses and semi-structured interviews with the teachers. No problems were encountered during the training given to teachers and researchers in integrity and in two consecutive sessions and presented the skills related to the activities. According to the teachers’ views on the project; the teachers were satisfied with the project, the project increased the visibility of ICEM and it improved the technological efficiencies of both the students and the teachers and supported the development of students’ vocabulary. Keywords: Hearing impairment, technology use, Web 2.0, Wiki.