ASL ASL Technology & Assistive Tools in Instruction 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which technology platform is most commonly used in the United States to provide real-time video relay services (VRS) that ASL instructors should familiarize students with?
- CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation)
- Video Relay Service (VRS) platforms such as Sorenson or Purple (Correct answer)
- FM loop systems
- Cochlear implant processors
Correct answer: Video Relay Service (VRS) platforms such as Sorenson or Purple
VRS platforms like Sorenson and Purple allow Deaf individuals to make phone calls through an ASL interpreter via video, and ASL instructors should ensure students understand this communication technology.
Question 2: CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) provides accessibility in educational settings primarily by:
- Translating spoken English into ASL via a video interpreter
- Converting spoken words into instant text captions on screen (Correct answer)
- Producing Braille output from signed content
- Amplifying sound for hard-of-hearing students
Correct answer: Converting spoken words into instant text captions on screen
CART uses a trained captioner to convert spoken language into real-time text displayed on a screen, providing communication access for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
Question 3: When recording ASL instructional videos for online delivery, which technical element is most critical for visual clarity of handshapes?
- High-contrast background (plain, non-distracting color) (Correct answer)
- High-quality audio recording equipment
- Overhead lighting positioned behind the signer
- Screen text overlays covering the hands
Correct answer: High-contrast background (plain, non-distracting color)
A plain, high-contrast background ensures that handshapes, fingerspelling, and movement are clearly visible without visual interference in ASL instructional videos.
Question 4: Which feature of a video captioning tool is most important for ensuring accessibility of ASL instructional content for Deaf students?
- Auto-generated captions only, without human review
- Accurate, human-reviewed captions synchronized with the video (Correct answer)
- Captions displayed only in a small corner of the screen
- Captions available only as a downloadable transcript
Correct answer: Accurate, human-reviewed captions synchronized with the video
Human-reviewed, accurately synchronized captions ensure that Deaf and hard-of-hearing students can access all spoken content in ASL instructional videos without errors.
Question 5: ASL instructors using a learning management system (LMS) should ensure videos are:
- Embedded as autoplay content without pause controls
- Downloadable, captioned, and viewable at adjustable playback speeds (Correct answer)
- Restricted to streaming only with no replay option
- Watermarked so students cannot reference them after class
Correct answer: Downloadable, captioned, and viewable at adjustable playback speeds
Accessible LMS videos should allow students to replay, adjust speed, and access captions — all of which support ASL learners who need to study visual movement repeatedly.
Question 6: Videoconferencing platforms used for online ASL instruction must meet which minimum technical requirement?
- Support screen sharing of text documents only
- Provide high-definition video with minimal lag for visual communication (Correct answer)
- Include an audio-only fallback mode
- Limit sessions to fewer than five participants
Correct answer: Provide high-definition video with minimal lag for visual communication
Since ASL is a visual language, videoconferencing platforms must deliver high-definition, low-latency video to preserve handshape and movement accuracy during online instruction.
Which technology platform is most commonly used in the United States to provide real-time video relay services (VRS) that ASL instructors should familiarize students with?