This article examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sign language interpreting profession drawing on data from a fourth and final survey conducted in June 2021 as part of a series of online “living surveys” during the pandemic. The survey, featuring 331 respondents, highlights significant changes in the occupational conditions and practices of sign language interpreters due to the sudden shift towards remote video-mediated interpreting. The findings reveal a range of challenges faced by interpreters, including the complexities of audience design, lack of backchanneling from deaf consumers, the need for heightened self-monitoring, nuanced conversation management, and team work. Moreover, the study highlights the physical and mental health concerns that have emerged among interpreters as a result of the shift in working conditions, and a need for interpreters to acquire new skills such as coping with the multimodal nature of online interpreting. While the blend of remote, hybrid, and on-site work has introduced certain advantages, it also poses new challenges encompassing workload management, online etiquette, and occupational health concerns. The survey’s findings underscore the resilience and adaptability of SLIs in navigating the shift to remote interpreting, suggesting a lasting transformation in the profession with implications for future practice, training, and research in the post-pandemic era.
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Seven college lecturers and two senior support staff were interviewed during 2021 about their experiences teaching in hybrid virtual classrooms (HVC). These technology-rich learning environments allow teachers to simultaneously teach students who are in class (on campus) and students who are joining remotely (online). There were two reasons for this choice: first, ongoing experimentation from innovative teaching staff who were already using this format before the COVID-19 pandemic; secondly, as a possible solution to restrictions on classroom size imposed by the pandemic. Challenges lecturers faced include adjusting teaching practice and lesson delivery to serve students in the class and those online equally; engaging and linking the different student groups in structured and natural interactions; overcoming technical challenges regarding audio and visual equipment; suitably configuring teaching spaces and having sufficient pedagogical and technical support to manage this complex process. A set of practical suggestions is provided. Lecturers should make reasoned choices when teaching in this format since it requires continued experimentation and practice to enhance the teaching and learning opportunities. When external factors such as classroom size restrictions are the driving force, the specific type of synchronous learning activities should be carefully considered. The structure and approach to lessons needs to be rethought to optimise the affordances of the hybrid virtual and connected classroom. The complexity of using these formats, and the additional time needed to do it properly, should not be underestimated. These findings are consistent with previous literature on this subject. An ongoing dialogue with faculty, support staff and especially students should be an integral part of any further implementation in this format.
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In een hybride virtueel klaslokaal (HVC) zijn docenten en/of studenten zowel fysiek als digitaal synchroon bij een onderwijsonderdeel aanwezig. De online studenten danwel docenten kunnen thuis zijn, of bevinden zich bijvoorbeeld in een authentiek werksituatie of ergens in het buitenland. Hybride virtuele klaslokalen zijn ontworpen om studenten op locatie en studenten op afstand aan elkaar te verbinden. De fysieke en digitale onderwijsactiviteiten lopen synchroon aan elkaar. Het kan daarmee ook digitaal aanschuifonderwijs genoemd worden. Wat zijn de voordelen van het HVC? Wanneer gebruik je het en wanneer gebruik je het niet? Op welke manier gebruik je het dan en welke consequenties heeft dit voor het didactische repertoire? Welke technische opstellingen horen hierbij? Het lectoraat Teaching Learning & Technology heeft onderzoek gedaan naar de inzet van HVC in het onderwijs en vanuit interviews met docenten en ondersteuners praktische handvaten ontwikkeld op zowel didactisch als technisch niveau. Deze zijn te lezen in het onderzoeksrapport.
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