ABOUT THE PROJECT
CHED: Chess Platform for Deaf People” (Project Number: 613577-EPP-1-2019-1-RO-SPO-SCP) is a project supported by the European Commission through the Erasmus+ programme: Support for Collaborative Partnerships in the field of Sport.
The project “Chess platform for deaf people” aims to contribute to the elimination of existing barriers to mass sports for deaf people, to provide equal opportunities for participation to chess in by developing an online chess learning platform with explanations in sign language and building a network of organizations willing to support this over time. Currently, there are many interactive platforms that offer chess lessons, but none is fully accessible to deaf people, containing visual explanations.
Deaf people communicate through sign language, a real language with a specific grammatical structure that has all the main features and functions of human languages, but it is different from the language used by the hearers. Very few of the deaf people, especially those with hearing parents who have had the opportunity and mood for considerable efforts, have completed normal education, university studies and understand the written language, being able to read on the lips, but also in this case the degree of understanding is different. Deaf people are considered persons with disabilities and the vast majority of them are socially, culturally and sportily marginalized due to the language barrier. Although chess, the “sport of silence” is a sport adapted to deaf people, there has been lately the lack of interest of young deaf people in this sport.
In order to greatly reduce isolation, the deaf people, even if they wear prosthesis, need to be helped to not feel marginalized in society. In this respect, the main goals of deaf people refer to the formal recognition of sign language. Considering people with hearing disabilities as cultural and linguistic minorities is an idea that is gaining more ground in developed countries due to the intensification of sign language studies, the progress that has been made in studying deaf culture and history, with impact on the legislation and the conscience of the hearing people.
Sign language is a powerful symbol of identity in the collectivity of deaf people, because they fight for their own identity in a world that has not understood them over the ages, which has discredited their language and denied their own culture.
Chess is the sport that can ensure the development of intellectual potential.
Objectives
The objectives of CHED project are:
- to contribute to the elimination of existing barriers to mass sports for deaf people;
- Supporting sports activities of people with disabilities;
- To proposes an interactive online platform for learning chess adapted to deaf people by introducing the sign language;
- To promote social inclusion in and through sport;
- To increase self-confidence and emancipation of deaf people.
ACTIVITIES
The activities of CHED project are:
- To develop a Report of the current situation of the access to sport (with particular reference to chess) for deaf people in partner countries and at EU level (including Policy level, Research field, Practice field);
- To develop a EU platform for chess for deaf people with sign language videos;
- To develop chess courses for deaf people (initiation, basic, intermediate and advanced) using OERs (Open Educational Resources);
- Building the European chess network for deaf people, consisting of partner’s national networks formed by stakeholders interested in promoting chess to the deaf people.
Results
INTELLECTUAL OUTPUT 1
Report of the current situation of the access to sport (with particular reference to chess) for deaf people in partner countries and at EU level (including Policy level, Research field, Practice field)
The Report of the access to sport (with particular reference to chess) for deaf people in partner countries and at EU level (including Policy level, Research field, Practice field) highlight the obstacles encountered by this category of people with disabilities in practicing sport and what are the facilities created by each partner country for their overcoming; how do they respond to EU goals?; how can we attract as many deaf people as possible to the sport, especially to chess?; what are the expectation of deaf people from online environment?.
The report is based on a research on deaf sports regulations in each partner country and at EU level and on applying questionnaires/interviews/discussions to the target group to find out what the real needs are and the problems they face in practicing sport in general and chess in special.
Link to download:
CHED IO1a National and European Reports
CHED IO1b Results of Questionnaire Survey
INTELLECTUAL OUTPUT 2
The chess platform adapted to sign language.
The platform is a great learning opportunity for beginners or advanced deaf athletes, thus helping to increase the interest in chess and to stimulate and encourage the athletes, especially young people, to participate in local, national and international competitions.
In order to become an active category in the social and sports life of the community, it is important that deaf people communicate, exchange ideas and good practices with deaf and hearing people from other countries. This will help them to increase self-confidence, emancipation and make their voice heard at community, national and European level. Highlighting the deaf chess players with notable results will help to increase the number of followers of this sport among deaf people.
Access the platform here: www.chessfordeaf.com
INTELLECTUAL OUTPUT 3
Curriculum and lists of skills
Skills, curriculum and assessment instrument for each performance level of the non-formal training in chess for deaf people (initiation, basic, intermediate and advanced) using OERs ( Open Educational Resources.
Based on the list enumerating the specific skills and attitudes, the framework of the curriculum is accorded to headings like specific competences, topics, methods, teaching aids, learning materials and performance criteria.
INTELLECTUAL OUTPUT 4
Training material
The non-formal training material is realized in form of scenarios with the support of chess trainers and experts. Divided in initiation, basic, intermediate and advanced level, it starts addressing the simplest chess bases, like rules and first moves. Key openings, advanced endgames and more complicated procedures are explained in the followed more complicated levels.
Go to the platform to access the training.
INTELLECTUAL OUTPUT 5
Online chess courses
The training is transferred via interactive online courses created with 2D animation, Sign Languages and subtitles. The innovative tool makes the course easy to understand and more attractive.
INTELLECTUAL OUTPUT 6
Assessment instruments
The evaluation tools aim to validate the acquired deaf users’ skills, to promote their self-confidence and the desire to improve their learning. The assessment is included in the platform, available before and after each course level.
Latest News
The online courses
The online courses of "CHED – Chess platform for deaf people" (project number: 613577-EPP-1-2019-1-RO-SPO-SCP) are now available through the platform. The courses have been realized following the concept of interaction. In fact, they include an interactive chessboard...
The chess platform
The consortium of the Erasmus+ project "CHED - Chess platform for deaf people" (project number 613577-EPP-1-2019-1-RO-SPO-SCP) reached another important goal: finalized the innovative platform development and the non-formal training. Hosted on Moodle, the platform...
A new result: the assessment tools
The KA2 Erasmus+ "CHED – Chess platform for deaf people" project met the goal to develop the assessment instrument to validate the chess learning of the trained platform users. The assessment is an important section of the platform through which access the training....
Partners
