Project: “The Science of Stuttering” (TSS) is a web-based module for use in an existing university or college level course in phonetics, sociolinguistics, or clinical phonetics. It is also suitable for standalone individual use. TSS is created through collaboration with people who stutter (PWS), their families, friends and caregivers and speech language pathologists. This open education resource will introduce learners to issues in stuttering research and help develop skills that will be useful for students considering graduate study in speech language pathology. It is meant to challenge everyone to better understand the lived experiences of PWS and SLPs in the clinical treatment of stuttering.

TSS explores what stuttering is from a medical perspective and compares this with social science research on stuttering. Learners can test their understanding of this content through several short quizzes. The second unit features vignettes (short interactive, documentary videos) that look at the lived experiences of people who stutter in social contexts. The third and final unit is an H5P branching scenario/interactive story that introduces students to a mock clinical assessment in which learners can take on the role of a speech language pathologist assessing a client who stutters, and vice-versa. This Theory of Mind activity provides an opportunity for learners to consider the emotions, beliefs, and communicative practices of both participants in a clinical encounter.

Other Team Members: Amelia Robinson, Speech-Language Pathologist; Sandy Crowley, Speech-Language Pathologist; Greg O'Grady, Chair, Newfoundland and Labrador Stuttering Association; and Donna Downey, Manager, Media Services, Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, Memorial University

Course: Linguistics 4700: Experimental Phonetics