Early Language and Literacy Lecture Series

Many students who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) require additional assistance to develop literacy skills. Research indicates that many students who are DHH do not possess age-appropriate English literacy skills after graduating from secondary school.

In this VDEI Online Literacy Video Series, 9 prominent academics discuss the importance of early language underpinning literacy, research in literacy development and ideas for practice. 

This extensive resource of 63 videos (each 15-30 minutes in length) is delivered in manageable lecture size presentations, with learning checks featured throughout  to consolidate the knowledge gained.

This series is best viewed in sequence, however can be dipped in and out of as a handy resource for developing knowledge in a particular area or to trigger discussion within a team.

See the Presenters section below for more detailed information on the topics within this comprehensive online literacy video series.

Those who register for the VDEI Online Literacy Video Series will have access for 12 months.

VDEI recommend the use of Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari (Macintosh users only) as the preferred web browsers to seamlessly register and access this learning.

Participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of how speaking, listening, reading, writing, and thinking are interrelated and developmental
• Define and describe the four components of emergent literacy: form, meaning, phonological and phonemic awareness
• Describe and apply the theoretical perspectives on typical literacy development and how students who are DHH may require extra tuition to develop literacy skills
• Describe and use a variety of test assessments of pre-literacy and literacy skills
• Demonstrate an understanding of evidence-based literacy teaching
• Demonstrate and understanding of research related to the literacy development of children who are DHH
• Identify strengths and challenges in the development of students literacy skills; and,
• Be able to plan students’ literacy learning needs.

1.  Dr Pat Spencer
Pat’s series is titled “Beginnings: Social and Cognitive Foundations of Literacy”. She looks at how what happens during the period from birth to three years of age underpin literacy.
2.  Professor David Ertmer
David explores a range of topics including prelinguistic vocal development and the impact of hearing loss, and prelinguistic speech development and intervention for infants and toddlers. David discusses the phonological development of young children with cochlear implants and assessment and intervention using a new assessment – The Open- and Closed-set Task. He explores speech intelligibility and phonological ability to literacy.
3.  Dr Connie Mayer & Dr Beverly Trezek (who present together)
Connie and Beverly unfold a series of 16 videos where they begin by exploring the importance of language development as a foundation for literacy. They then discuss how to support literacy development from birth to the early school years. Connie’s expertise is on writing development while Beverly expertise is on reading development each area is explored throughout the series.
4.  Associate Professor Elizabeth Fitzpatrick
Elizabeth explores the impact of hearing loss on literacy and how LENA (Learning from Language ENrichment Analysis) can be used to help parents understand a strong pre-literacy foundation. Elizabeth looks at language and literacy and the relationship between listening, vocabulary and literacy. She also explores language and literacy development for children with mild-moderate hearing loss. Elizabeth outlines some perspectives from teachers about difficulties observed in students. 
5.  Dr Stacey Tucci
Stacey outlines brain development and where to find evidence-based practices and what to do if there are no evidence based practices. She explores two initiatives for students who are deaf or hard of hearing- “Foundations for Literacy – An early Literacy Curriculum for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Pre-schoolers” which was developed by an interdisciplinary team of researchers and teachers of children who are DHH, and “Strategic and Interactive Writing Instruction” originally conceived by Dr Kimberley Wolbers.
6.  Dr Shirin Antia
Shirin delivers a series of 3 lectures on Vocabulary and outlines a strategy called “Vocabulary 4 Success” which has proven to be effective and which can be incorporated into a student’s program.
7.  Professor  Margaret Harris
Margaret explores a range of related topics – how deaf children learn to read, the factors that predict reading attainment, the importance of speechreading for literacy and how teachers can support the development of phonological skills.
8.  Dr John Luckner
John explores a range of topics as discrete units such as “Itinerant teachers and literacy” and “Literacy and students with additional disabilities”. In “Cognitive Strategy Instruction” he outlines steps to explicitly teach students strategies to help students monitor and evaluate their own comprehension. John explores other areas such as reading fluency, motivation and reading, and facilitating the behaviours of skilled readers.