Virtual Classrooms for Hearing-impaired Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Distance learning has become an essential educational option during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, students with varied needs require diverse learning experiences. For example, deaf and hard-of-hearing students need specific accommodations to aid their learning. This study aimed to identify the obstacles that instructors face when conducting virtual classroom sessions for these students. Data were collected from 11 lecturers who taught deaf or hard-of-hearing students using distance learning tools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Time, technical problems, and lack of simultaneous translation are among the barriers that must be overcome to address the learning needs of this group of students. Recommended improvements to the virtual classroom experience for deaf or hard-of-hearing students were provided.