Sign language instruction system and method

• US 6,491,523 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2000
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Janice Altman
• Original Assignee: Janice Altman
• Inventors: Altman, Janice
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, Chanda
• Application Number:
  US09/560,937
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 434/114, 434/112, 434/156
• US Class Current: 434/114
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/009 Teaching or communicating with deaf persons G09B21/04 takes precedence; deaf and dumb persons G09B21/00

Abstract

A system and method for teaching sign language to a student. The method includes pre-recording a presentation on a medium. The presentation has an instruction portion wherein instruction related to a plurality of sign language signs is given, and a game playing portion wherein each of the plurality of signs is presented for recognition by the student. The medium is configured to be displayed on a display device, such as a video player or computing device. The method also includes providing a gaming surface having a plurality of symbols thereon, each of the plurality of symbols corresponding to a sign language sign presented in the game playing portion of the presentation. The method further includes instructing the student to record, in response to each sign displayed during the game playing portion of the presentation, the presence of the symbol corresponding to the displayed sign on the gaming surface.

Claims

1. A method for teaching sign language to a student, the method comprising:

pre-recording a presentation on a medium, the presentation including an instruction portion wherein instruction related to a plurality of sign language signs is given, and a game playing portion wherein each of the plurality of signs is presented for recognition by the student, the medium being configured to be displayed on a display device;

providing a game board with a gaming surface divided into a plurality of symbol regions, each symbol region having a symbol positioned therein, each of the symbols being a pictorial or word representation of a sign language sign presented in the game playing portion of the presentation; and

instructing the student to record, in response to each sign displayed during the game playing portion of the presentation, the presence of the symbol corresponding to the displayed sign on the gaming surface, by covering the symbol with a game piece.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display device is a video display, and the medium includes a video recording configured to be displayed on the video display via an associated video player.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the medium is a medium chosen from the group consisting of videocassette, digital video disk, and laser disk.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the display device is a computing device including a monitor and a processing unit, and the medium includes computer-executable software configured to display the presentation on the monitor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the medium is a medium selected from the group consisting of CD ROM, optical disk, magnetic disk, and PROM cartridge.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the presentation includes a plurality of game segments, each game segment having a respective instruction portion and a respective game playing portion, the game playing and instruction portions of each game segment, respectively, including introductions to and presentations of a plurality of sign language signs.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes providing a plurality of game-playing surfaces for a single presentation.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing each student with a respective gaming surface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming surface includes a hand-receiving portion configured to be at least partially covered by the hand of a student.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming surface is hand-shaped.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the presentation further includes a review portion including a review of the signs taught in the instruction portion of the presentation.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the student who first records the presence of all of the symbols within a predefined subset, wins.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the symbols include pictorial symbols.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the symbols include word symbols.

15. A method for teaching sign language to a student, the method comprising:

pre-recording a presentation on a medium, the presentation including an instruction portion wherein instruction related to a plurality of sign language signs is given, and a game playing portion wherein each of the plurality of signs is presented for recognition by the student, the medium being configured to be displayed on a display device;

providing a gaming surface having a plurality of symbols thereon, each of the plurality of symbols corresponding to a sign language sign presented in the game playing portion of the presentation; and

instructing the student to record, in response to each sign displayed during the game playing portion of the presentation, the presence of the symbol corresponding to the displayed sign on the gaming surface;

wherein the gaming surface includes a hand-receiving portion configured to be at least partially covered by the hand of a student; and

wherein the hand-receiving portion includes a depression.

16. A method for teaching sign language to a student, the method comprising:

pre-recording a presentation on a medium, the presentation including an instruction portion wherein instruction related to a plurality of sign language signs is given, and a game playing portion wherein each of the plurality of signs is presented for recognition by the student, the medium being configured to be displayed on a display device;

providing a gaming surface having a plurality of symbols thereon, each of the plurality of symbols being a pictorial or word representation of a sign language sign presented in the game playing portion of the presentation; and

instructing the student to record, in response to each sign displayed during the game playing portion of the presentation, the presence of the symbol corresponding to the displayed sign on the gaming surface;

wherein the gaming surface includes a hand-receiving portion configured to be at least partially covered by the hand of a student; and

wherein the hand-receiving portion includes a palm region and a plurality of digit regions.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a symbol is positioned adjacent each respective digit region.

18. A sign language instruction system for use with a display device, the system comprising:

a medium configured to be displayed on the display device;

a presentation stored on the medium, the presentation including an instruction portion wherein instruction related to a plurality of sign language signs is given, and a game playing portion wherein each of the plurality of signs is presented for recognition by a student;

a game board with a gaming surface divided in grid fashion into a plurality of symbol regions, each symbol region having a symbol positioned therein, each of the symbols being a pictorial or word representation of a sign language sign presented in the game playing portion of the presentation; and

at least one game piece configured to cover a symbol on the game board.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the medium is selected from the group consisting of videocassette, digital video disk, laser disk, CD-ROM, floppy disk, optical disk, and magnetic disk.

20. A sign language instruction system for use with a display device, the system comprising:

a video recording configured to be displayed on the display device;

a presentation stored on the video recording, the presentation including a plurality of game segments, each game segment having an instruction portion wherein instruction related to a set of sign language signs is given, and a game playing portion wherein each of the set of signs is presented for recognition by a student; and

a substantially flat game board having a gaming surface having a plurality of symbol regions arranged in a grid pattern, each symbol region containing at least one symbol, each of the symbols being a pictorial or word representation of a sign language sign presented in the game playing portion of the presentation, each of the symbol regions being configured to receive a respective game piece to record the presence of a corresponding sign in the game playing portion of the presentation.