SignAssess is an online learning system developed as a complete package to support online teaching and assessment

for learners of sign language and sign language interpreting

SignAssess is a complete software solution including:

Assignment builder tools

Browser-based video and audio recording

Variable resolution video recording

Remote storage and content streamed to users on demand

Support for multiple media types

Support for multiple video repositories

and time-based video commenting, for precision assignment feedback or analysis

SignAssess adheres to e-learning industry standards

and as is compatible with Learning Management Systems such as MOODLE or Blackboard

simultaneously accessible via SignAssess Mobile

a specialist mobile app for smartphone and tablet users

You are now going to see a very simple demonstration of SignAssess

In the demonstration I will be accessing SignAssess through a web browser

the same way a user would access it as a learning object inside an LMS such as MOODLE or Blackboard

I will demonstrate how to create an assignment using the assignment builder tools

and then attempt the assignment

demonstrating the different SignAssess features along the way

We begin with the assignment builder

from which I choose the different videos I wish to use in the assignment

and some basic assignment settings

First I give the assignment a name

Second I configure the assignment settings:

Option 1 - Whether I wish to record audio or not, in this case NO

Option2 - Whether this is a sign language interpreting exercise, which would provide additional interface components

in this case NO as this is only a very simple demonstration

and interpreting exercises are explored in another video in this series

Option 3 – To allow synchronous recording

meaning the learner can record an assignment submission whilst playing the stimulus material

in this case YES

Option 4 – Whether recordings can be appended

such as in a consecutive interpreting exercise

as this is not an interpreting exercise the default is NO

Option 5 – Whether feedback can be viewed on the submission timeline

YES, this feature will be illustrated as part of the demonstration

Option 6 – The maximum number of recordings allowed, in this case 1 is sufficient

And Option 7 – Whether the learner is allowed to delete an assignment when submitted

in this case YES

The assignment settings you see here can also be added to

We have, when providing SignAssess to external organisations, added additional settings including:

Control over video autoplay

Control over video recording duration

Control over whether learners can add comments to a submission

for use in an analysis exercise

Control over the number of learner comments allowed

And limits to the number of times the stimulus material can be played in an assignment

I will now add videos to the assignment

This is the video file picker, providing access to a video repository

This repository can be searched or indexed, and the repository can be structured into folders

including private or shared folders between users

If I wish I can also toggle between different quality versions of recordings

Alternating seamlessly between different repositories storing content at different resolutions and rates of compression

I have beforehand prepared videos for this assignment

the assignment will be a very simple locations exercise

First I include the assignment instructions in British Sign Language

Second the locations exercise stimulus material

and thirdly the completed exercise to self-correct against

I could also add a sample video if I wish but in this case I will not

OK with my assignment now built I can save it and begin

OK here is the assignment I built previously

In the centre of the screen here you can see the live feed from the camera

If I wish I can toggle between recording resolutions

In this mode I will be recording high resolution

Or in this mode lower resolution

For the purpose of this demonstration I will record at a lower resolution

Just below the…

video window you can see the maximum recording time which is set at 10 minutes

and these icons tell me that I am going to be recording video and not audio

On the right-hand-side of the screen I have the assignment instructions which are in British Sign Language

I will click play on those and give you a translation

This is an assessment of your BSL placement skills

First you will be shown a picture…of a table with a number of objects on it

Secondly you can film yourself explaining the layout of the objects

Thirdly you can compare your signing…

with another signing

and If you wish you can film again

OK let’s start the assessment

Here are the table and the objects

and I going to describe their positions using British Sign Language

I will just click record

OK, click stop on that

Now I have the opportunity to self-correct against a model

and re-record if I wish

and I can use these dual controls to compare the recordings

Lets just try that

OK, now if I wish I can record again or I can submit that

…and I think for this demonstration I will submit it

naming it “Submission 1”

OK, Now I can see my submitted assignment

I can see when it was submitted and the date

and if it has any comments or feedback attached

In some cases the learner would be asked to self-analyse their assignment by adding comments themselves

and/or feedback would be added by the educator

Let me add a comment myself

First I choose to “View or add a comment”

I can now pick a point on the timeline of the submission to comment on

So for example if I wanted to comment at this particular point of the video perhaps commenting on the handshape

I choose “Add comment”

Now I can record and attach a comment in British Sign Language

and along with my video I can add a written comment

In this case “Poor handshape”

If I wish to I can choose from a drop-down menu of predefined comments

I will just add that comment to my assignment

Now I can see that the submission has attached one comment

and that it appears at a particular point on the timeline

If I choose to view the comment on the timeline

I can see that at a particular point in the video

just here…

I have a comment

And I can also see the text comment

If I wish I can also move the comment along the timeline

and fine-tune the position where the comment is meant to be

I will first unlock it

and now I can drag it…

along the timeline

If I wish I can also review the entire assignment and all of the videos used

So its seamless assignment creation, delivery and precision time-based assignment feedback

This concludes my simulation

Please explore SignAssess further by choosing from the other videos in this series