Author: Sarisri Sukmawati
Affiliation: Universitas Ahmad Dahlan
Country: Indonesia
Co-Author(s): Yudhiakto Pramudya
Affiliation: Universitas Ahmad Dahlan
Country: Indonesia
Title:
“The Development of Astronomy in The Topic Apparent Motion of the Sun Using Sign Language at Special School”
Everyone cannot use verbal communication; some people can only use nonverbal communication; for example, the deaf. Indication language is a useful communication tool for disabled people, both in the form of hand gestures and body signals and facial expressions. One obstacle for deaf students in learning is the lack of vocabulary of sign language to express scientific concepts, including astronomy. “Francisco J.Duarte (CIDA), Universidad Pedag´ogica Experimental Libertador-Instituto Pedag´ogico de Matur´ın (UPEL-IPM) and Unidad Educativa Especial Bolivariana de Matur´ın (UEEBM) signaling languages from 2006 to 2007 for astronomy and space, there are a total of 112 astronomical and space concepts created in sign language and all sign languages from various countries will be integrated into Venezuelan Sign Language (LSV) (Cova, 2009).
In some countries, the astronomical sign language created to develop — the aims to facilitate the delivery of astronomical material to given in class. Vocabulary for astronomical sign language is still incomplete, making it difficult for students to understand astronomical material. In Indonesia, astronomical sign language has not developed. Therefore deaf students find it challenging to learn astronomy. Examples of this are Earth’s rotation material and the Earth’s revolution, because of the limitations of the astronomical Sign Language deaf students that it is difficult to describe that the earth rotates on its axis and the earth moves around the sun.
In addition to making visualization media for learning deaf students, Astronomical sign language is important as a medium of communication between teachers and students. Based on the results of interviews and observations in special schools, most deaf students have limitations in Sign language, especially vocabulary, astronomical sign language. In addition, in inclusion, schools are still limited to the use of teaching aids; this causes deaf students to be less motivated in learning. Most deaf students prefer to be given visual media for learning and are more active if learning has done outside the classroom with teaching aids.
On April 29, 2019, we together with deaf students jointly modified the astronomical sign language, resulting in 10 words of Indonesian astronomical sign language. Modified astronomical languages include astronomy, rain, summer, winter, spring, autumn, the rotation of the earth, the revolution of the earth, the sun and the earth. This Indonesian sign language will later be included in ASL (Astronomical sign languages). This astronomical sign language can be
used to explain the concept of seasonal changes, and help teachers communicate with deaf students.
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