StepWise method for deaf and hard-of-hearing STEM students in solving word problems

Abstract

At National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), a large percentage of the deaf / hard of hearing (d/hh) students enrolled in college level studies are challenged by their English and mathematical skills.1 Because of these two critical skills areas, they struggle to master the interpretation of a word problem or written instructional manuals to a problem in order to derive a correct solution. The StepWise procedural method was developed as a general step-by-step guideline for students to follow in solving a scientific, technological, engineering, or mathematical problem or the instructions of a word problem. The goal was to help d/hh STEM students focus on their English, mathematical and critical thinking skills while they sort through word problems. Based on several observations, some d/hh students who benefit from this method appear to have increased comprehension of the steps necessary to solve a word problem. If the resulting answer does not match the expected answer, StepWise allows students to redo the process. This StepWise method was developed and implemented during the winter of 2009 when the students struggled in an engineering course with physics and math emphases. This method will be tested in other engineering and information technology courses. In some programming courses, this method is available to students who develop software and web applications. Other applications are under investigation. Results for students who utilized the StepWise method will be presented and discussed. While the preliminary findings look promising, more work needs to be addressed. The goal of this paper is to share the preliminary findings and to collect feedback from the instructors at the conference. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2010.