Workshop "E-Learning for people with special needs"

Learning in Virtual College:

• Integration in the virtual learning environment as stimulus for motivation and self-development.
• Situational leadership.
• Entrepreneurship and Social Project Management.
• Written business language for communication.

„E-LEARNING: LEADERSHIP AND LIFE COMPETENCE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DEAF”
This topic was selected by organizers of the International Workshop that took place in Kyiv on 15-16 June, 2006 with participation of representatives of Ukraine 3000 Charitable Foundation, Ukrainian Deaf Association (UTOH), Loyola College, Maryland, U.S.A., National Pedagogical University named after M.Drahomanov, National Academy of Science and Ukrainian Distance learning System.

The Workshop started with Master-Class „E-course Management” conducted by Viktoriya Loboda, Methodologist of Ukrainian Distance Learning System, post-graduate student of National Pedagogical University named after M.Drahomanov, and Halyna Paykuch, Loyola College, Maryland, USA.

Kateryna Yushchenko in her greeting to the participants mentioned: „The majority of us do not imagine how to live in complete silence. But there are people who have never heard a sound in their life. It is our responsibility to help them. People with hearing impairments are separated from life. It is necessary to help them overcome barriers of their loneliness and isolation in the society of ordinary people. And you have taken this path. Providing access to education for deaf people is a chance for these special people to become an important part of the society. I would like to thank you for the opportunities that you open up for these people…

I do hope that this project will become an example for numerous initiatives in this area and will attract attention among the society to the necessity of systemic solution of the problem related to adaptation of people with hearing impairments. I appeal to you with the words of well-known Ukrainian Oleksandr Dovzhenko: “Life is so short. Hurry up to create the good!”. Yurij Gamota also addressed to the Workshop participants on behalf of Loyola College, USA, about the fact that in 2001 Professional development program “Deaf workforce education” was launched; as well as representatives of the Academy of Pedagogical Science and National Pedagogical University named after M.Drahomanov.

On the Development of Information and communication technologies in the system of UTOH Iryna Chepchyna, Head Deputy of Central Administration of UTOH . On the Role of up-to-date Information technologies in the Development of Creative Abilities of Youth with Hearing Impairments – Olena Andreyeva, teacher-gesture translator, Kharkiv oblast teaching and education complex for children with hearing impairments; Valentyna Butenko, Director of rehabilitation Center “Right to Choose”. On Diagnostics and Deaf Child Family Support Center – Yuriy Kramar, Headmaster of specialized school for deaf kids, Lviv.

On Global trends in deaf education. Potential threats of inclusive learning concept and the way they are projected in Ukraine. Ihor Kobel, working for doctor's degree at University of Alberta (Canada).

During the Workshop the participants had a chance to visit the Museum of History of the Deaf and exhibition of children’s pictures. Ensemble “Rayduha” of UTOH Cultural Center had their performance in front of the participants.

At the end of the Workshop the application was made concerning the formation of cross-sector partnership on education system development in Ukraine, which will allow to apply state-of-the-art information and communication technologies in order to guarantee open education for deaf people and will promote more effective development of their life competences.