ISL OLabs Training Session at Amrita Speech & Hearing Improvement School

The Amrita CREATE team conducted a training session at the Amrita Speech & Hearing Improvement School, Thrissur, on November 18, 202, with the objective of introducing students to the newly developed ISL OLabs platform. This innovative digital learning tool is designed to support students in learning Indian Sign Language (ISL), building vocabulary, and constructing English sentences through interactive, game-based activities and assessments.

To ensure effective learning within the limited time available, the team focused on enabling a select group of students to gain proficiency and further assist their peers. Eight upper-grade students who are already familiar with basic signing were chosen as student leaders. They interacted comfortably with the visiting team comprising Ms. Anu (Deaf Signer), Mr. Hashim (Deaf Signer), and Mr. Tito (Interpreter).

The student leaders were trained on the “Fruits” module of the ISL OLabs program using tablets. The training covered three key components:

• Words-only section
• Sentence-construction activities
• Multiple-choice assessment module

The session took place in the school’s computer lab. Student leaders were informed that they would guide younger students later in the day and were encouraged to maintain a supportive and patient approach. They were reminded that younger learners might require time to replicate signs, and their efforts should be appreciated.

In the afternoon, students from Grade 4 and Grade 1 joined the session. The older students demonstrated excellent leadership as they assisted the younger children in navigating the activities. Both groups remained attentive and fully immersed in the curriculum for nearly an hour, with no distractions observed. The engagement levels reflected the effectiveness of interactive and visually guided ISL learning.

Feedback collected from teachers was very positive. They highlighted the value of activity-based learning for enhancing Indian Sign Language skills and supporting English sentence formation among students.

The visit underscored the potential of ISL OLabs as a meaningful tool for inclusive and accessible education. The active participation of students and the enthusiastic response from faculty reaffirm the initiative’s impact and future promise. This program supports SDG 4 (Quality Education).