A Guide for Teachers and Resource Creators

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A Guide for Teachers and Resource Creators
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What is Sign Planet ?

• SignPlanet.net is a new and exciting web
  collaboration that makes a world of sign language
  resources accessable to people across
• Australia,
• the UK,
• New Zealand,
• and soon to
• America and
• Canada.

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What does Auslan.net include ?

• Auslan.net is the Australian arm of
  SignPlanet.net
• It includes Special Sections for
• Children Which requires little to no reading
  skills and includes games, songs and more
• Adult learners Which is specifically designed
  for parents and adults learning sign.
• Baby Signers Which focuses on information and
  resources for those using sign language with
  babies and toddlers
• Teachers Desk Which this presentation is
  focused on.
• There is also an About Section, that includes
  useful information for beginners and an
  extensive Course database

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Welcome to the Teachers Desk
The Teachers Desk has been designed as the
creation hub of Auslan.net From here you can
Print, Search, Save, and Create Resources using
Sign Images, description of How To Perform the
signs and Clipart (especially beneficial for
those students with low literacy skills)
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Teachers Desk - Print
From here you can access a range of pre made
worksheets, charts, flashcards, song sheets,
labels for the classroom and alike. You can save
these resource on your PC, or simply print them
as required. These resources can be searched,
based on topic, keywords or sign images included,
through the SEARCH section of the site.
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Teachers Desk - Search

• From the SEARCH section you can
• Search the PRINTABLE RESOURCES
• Search for a single Sign
• Search/View Signs by Category
• Search/View Signs by Learning Level
• View Signs through the Online Tutorial

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Teachers Desk - Search
cow
Search results will deliver direct matches and
key word matches to help you find the exact sign
you are looking for.
To Save this image Right button click, select
Save Picture As
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Teachers Desk - Search
Listings include Descriptions of how the sign is
performed
A bank of both adults and children signing is
being built. Children often sign with less
clarity and more enthusiasm ?
Click to view
AJ (pictured below) signing dog with 5 taps to
the leg instead of only 2.he always signs dog
this way. It is important to remember that, just
as a 5 year old may not say a word correctly
they may not sign a word precisely either.
Click to view
Click View Image To open Video files in a new
window, at a larger size
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Teachers Desk - Create

• The CREATE section is the largest and most used
  section of the site.
• From here you can create your own resources via
• Text To Sign Conversion
• Categories
• Learning Levels
• Phrase Interpreter (ALPHA VERSION ONLY)
• As each section is quite large on its own we will
  go through each individually

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Teachers Desk CreateText to Sign Conversation

• You can influence the outcome of your Text To
  Sign translation via the following chooses
• State selection
• Include Fingerspelling
• Include Sign English filler words

Step 1 Select State As sign use within
Australian states varies, each sign within the
Image database has been classified based on state
usage. If you are an experienced an Auslan user
you should select ALL, and make selections
between signs yourself, on the following screens.
Alternatively, you may choose to select your
state (E.g. NSW), and have the software
automatically make selections between sign
variations for you. As educators are usually
aware of the differences and have specific sign
preferences we recommend they select ALL.
Step 2 Include fingerspelling If you tick this
box the software will include the fingerspelling
for any missing signs. You may wish to use this
option if you are translating complex terms, or
peoples and place names, that would be
fingerspelt.
Step 3 Include Sign English filler words A
number of teachers asked us to include the option
of including filler words (such as did, is,
had, am etc.) that would not normally be
signed in Auslan, to assist children, especially
those with other learning difficulties, to read.
This is optional. If in doubt we recommend NOT
ticking this box.
Step 4 Type Text Type the text you wish to
convert to images in the box and click CONVERT.
We recommend the first time you do this to click
the to get hints and tips about this
feature
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Teachers Desk CreateText to Sign Conversation
Type the phrase or words you wish to translate
and click convert. The screen on the far right
will then appear if you do not opt to include
finger spelling, the one below right has
fingerspelling included.
These features will be explained in coming pages
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Teachers Desk CreateText to Sign
ConversationMultiple Image Selection
When you convert a word that has multiple signs
to choose from that sign will appear outlined
(pictured right).
Click the outlined image to open the image
chooser
Click the sign you wish to use
This is an example of Simple worksheet design.
Print from here or copy/save images and or words
for use in other software such as word.
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Teachers Desk CreateBy Category or Learning
Level
We have developed an extensive list of Categories
for you to choose from. If you choose to click
Learning Levels instead you would be presented
with a list of 9 learning levels based on normal
language acquisition of young children. These
are more appropriate for children under five
years of age. Simply click the category/learning
level that you are interested in to view all
listings within that category/level .
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Teachers Desk CreateWorksheet designer
Whether you choose to enter your own word list
through the Text-To-Sign Converter, or selected a
category or learning level, you will end up with
a screen similar to this one, which displays the
category Fruit Vegetables.
You can remove images from your output by
unticking the box to the left of the heading
You can save these images for use in other
software by selecting save picture when you
click your right mouse button. Or highlight
items and use the copy and paste function
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Teachers Desk CreateWorksheet designer

• There are currently 6 output styles
• Simple (from Text-To-Sign Conversion only)
• Dictionary
• Writing Worksheet
• Circle the Sign
• Circle the object
• Dice
• For all styles you can choose
• The number of signs per sheet (and thus the size
  of the images)
• Whether or not to include the clip art images
• The font size and style
• The border size and color
• Very soon you will also be able to include sign
  descriptions as well!

NOTE You can save images and descriptions from
the site to use in any software (For example
within a word document) and create any style
output you need.
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Teachers Desk CreateOutput Example - Dictionary
Here are 2 different Dictionary Page examples
that use Arial and sign Alphabet as the fonts
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Teachers Desk CreateOutput Example Writing
sheet
Modify sign size by selecting less images per
page. You can also change the font size and
style, box outlining and images displayed
By selecting the sign Alphabet font you can
create writing sheets entirely in Auslan
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Teachers Desk CreateOutput Example Circle
the sign/object
You can choose to either display a sign and have
children circle the correct picture or display
the picture and select the correct sign
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Teachers Desk CreateOutput Example - Dice
These Dice Examples have been produced using the
In The Classroom category. This category is
great for find the object games within the
classroom.
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Teachers Desk CreatePhrase Interpreter
We are currently working on the first ever full
English to Auslan translation software. In time
this function will allow you to translate
sentences from English grammar order to Auslan
grammar order. Currently it is only in its
formative stages and will convert limited phrases
.
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Teachers Desk - Share
The site includes a Share section that allows
you to share your ideas with others and benefit
from the ideas of others. You can also tell us
what you need or would like to see on the
site. Keep up to date with the latest additions
to the site under the New Features
section Plus you can get helpful hints and tips
here that will help you make the most of the site
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Teachers Desk - LOTE
The site includes a special curriculum section
that includes teaching notes and material to
support signing children from babies to high
schoolers.
In conjunction with education departments and
teachers across the country we are also
developing an AUSLAN LOTE curriculum and full
support material that will be available through
this site soon!
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Ideas and Application for the classroom
Book translations Translate school readers and
library books, to help both the signing student
and their parents, other teachers and students
improve signing skills. Labels and Flash
cards Make signs for places in the school (E.g.
toilet, library, staff room etc) classroom
objects (desk, blackboard, window etc) to help
everyone become familiar with signs. Reminder
Sheets for non-signing teachers, tuck-shop
helpers and alike Make up subject specific sheets
of words/sign for teachers, and those other
workers around the school to help increase
overall communication between the signing student
and those within their school community. Cloze
Exercises (paragraph where words are left out)
Create worksheets on the fly that substitute
words ( E.g. Nouns in a sentence) with sign
images as a bridge between Auslan and English
grammar and writing. Communication boards
Utilising both the clipart and sign images
communication boards and social stories for pre
reading and or learning delayed or multi disabled
students. Song sheets, spelling lists,
educational games, worksheets, . . . . . . . .
The possibilities are endless! WHAT COULD YOU
DO?
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A World of Sign Language At You Fingertips