# The Effectiveness of an Authentic E-Learning Environment for Deaf Learners
## 6 Discussion  
Initially, it is important to mention that the results proved that the motivation among deaf learners increased when there were authentic themes to design the e-learning setting. The results from the current study revealed the positive impact of adopting authentic learning relevance with real-world situations for designing e-learning for deaf learners. The mixed-method analysis of e-learning evaluation through pre-test, post-test, and interview shows reliable improvements in learning British Sign Language (BSL). The result strongly indicates that authentic e-learning positively impacted deaf learners in their first online learning experiences. For instance, an increase in the mean in the post-test was observed (mean increase from 140.45 to 170.91). These findings highlight the benefits of adopting an authentic theme in fostering engagement between deaf learners in learning environments [37, 42, 43]. Observation and video recordings provided a closer view and communication patterns that were not fully captured in the interviews. The analysis of the interview part provided more detail about the strengths and challenges of the e-learning approach and how adopting a dynamic (real-world) theme increases the communication and motivation between learners and enhances their understanding. Moreover, the results show that participants applied authentic concepts in practice and showed their confidence in using foreign sign language [24, 38, 40]. In addition, this aligns with research suggesting that authentic online learning impacts increasing motivation among learners [39]. In addition, another study on hearing learners, such as [38], believed that learning from real-world situations plays an important role in developing education and shows that the nine principles of authentic learning to design learning environments are also applicable in online contexts. Additionally, technology tools to design effective, authentic e-learning settings and authentic tasks should be employed. Technology tools are important to increase motivation, especially for deaf learners who may need more support. Adopting technology in learning design also improves the digital skills of learners [44]. This was also found from the results in which deaf participants mentioned their technology knowledge improvement. We would like to highlight that trying to integrate authentic themes in online courses and design tasks for deaf learners can sometimes be complex for the instructor. Therefore, the teacher must first increase the level of technology knowledge, which is the most important vehicle to increase motivation through communication. Future studies may explore how to tailor different ICT tools and technology tools to increase motivation among deaf learners. In addition, as indicated by [PERSON] et al. [16], learning through an authentic learning approach increases collaboration between learners and encourages them in the learning process. Adopting authentic tasks as the main element in an authentic e-learning setting increases collaboration between deaf learners when they have to produce something as a final product and present it. Additionally, the results conducted by studies on authentic subjects and tasks, increase motivation and communication through authentic themes [37, 45, 46]. Using visual materials provides motivation and creates scaffolding opportunities for designing tasks for deaf learners. As stated by [47], visualization is the first factor for deaf learners and affects their reading skills. Although integrating technology tools is helpful in increasing the visualization of online learning, it needs to increase the technology literacy of deaf learners, ref. [45] believed that the challenges of using technology tools are due to having enough teachers with a good level of knowledge for these learners. It seems that adopting technology tools assists deaf learners in video calling communication and then increases collaboration in completing their tasks.