Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) - National Technical ...

INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY AT NTID
Under the leadership of RIT President William W.
Destler, the university is increasing its emphasis on
innovation and creativity, both in the curriculum and
in other activities across campus.
NTID Electric Bike Club
Innovation and Creativity -156-
The sampling of projects below reflects the
innovative and creative activity underway within the
National Technical Institute for the Deaf.
NTID students work together to build light electric vehicles designed to incorporate battery, motor and
controller innovations that reduce carbon emissions while creating a quality, affordable vehicle. Designs
for a campus fleet of electric bicycles are being developed.
Arson Experiment
Students in the Chemical Technology course in the Laboratory Science Technology (LST) program are
given charred pieces of wood from a simulated crime scene. They use advanced gas chromatographymass
spectrometry (GC/MS) knowledge and instrumentation to determine if the simulated fire was an act
of arson. Students design the testing methodology and present the results in the form of a mock trial.
Work Environment Simulations
A simulated laboratory testing company is established by the students in Laboratory Science Technology
Laboratory Applications I-VI courses, where the students assume roles within that company, such as
safety officer, quality control analyst and technician. Open-ended and real-world examples of laboratory
analysis are assigned. Students work in teams to complete the task, responding to the assignment with
a properly prepared technical memo, and present the work in a mock department meeting. These
simulations occur throughout the students’ LST program. Students develop the company name and
logo that they keep throughout their program, and obtain a sense of teamwork in a laboratory
work environment.
Digital Language Lab for Interpreting Instruction
The NTID American Sign Language and Interpreting Education Department uses a state-of-the-art digital
laboratory for ASL/English interpreting instruction. There are three multimedia labs with 10 stations in
each. Each station is equipped with a computer, camera, dual monitors, keyboard and headset with
microphone. Each lab is equipped with two digital control racks that connect to a 2 TB server, two
ceiling-mounted robotic video cameras, a microphone, speakers, a ceiling-mounted video projector,
a wall-mounted projection screen, and a separate instructor’s station with room controls.
Interpreting students use digital technology to record their interpreting between American Sign Language
and spoken English. The labs allow them to review their work easily and improve their interpreting skills.
When they are finished with an assignment, students can save their work to their own digital folder on the
server, or they can save it to a USB drive. They also can drop their files into their instructor’s digital folder
for assessment. The ability to digitally capture and store video and audio files on the network, enables
students and faculty to assess interpreting work immediately. The system provides secure anytime,
anywhere access to the files from any computer on the RIT/NTID network or from home.
Deaf Initiative in Technology
Deaf Initiative in Technology (DiiT) offers workshops that provide computer, graphic communication and
business-based training for deaf and hard-of-hearing adults. Faculty members from NTID’s Information
and Computing Studies, Arts and Imaging Studies, Engineering Studies, Business Studies and Liberal
Studies Departments offered workshops on a wide range of topics during the 2008-2009 academic year.
In addition to providing training for adults, the project supports professional development for faculty and
curriculum development for NTID students. To date 628 deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals have
attended 84 different DiiT workshops.
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