Course Syllabus

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Issues, policies, and methods in teaching secondary students with disabilities in general education classrooms

This is a 2 credit online class.  You should expect to spend 6-8 hours each week completing assignments for this course.  This is equivalent to the amount of time you would spend attending and completing assignments for a 2 credit face-to-face course.  Please set aside this time and plan accordingly to be successful.  

PREREQUISITES

• Enrollment in Secondary Education Program
• Sec Ed 276 (may be concurrent enrollment)
• FBI Fingerprint background clearance

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Demonstrate sensitivity to individuals with disabilities.
• Describe the effects of cultural, ethnic, and language diversity on the education of individuals with disabilities.
• Describe the steps in the Individual Education Program (IEP) process, including Individualized Transition Plans for students aged 14-22.
• Use research-supported methods for academic instruction of individuals with disabilities including explicit instruction, learning strategies, task analysis, and active participation.
• Describe models and strategies of consultation and collaboration including co-planning and co-teaching.
• Define special education and describe the legal structure of services for individuals with disabilities, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
• Develop a personal philosophy of special education which includes an understanding of the implications of Least Restrictive Environment as defined in IDEA.
• Demonstrate knowledge of basic classroom management theories and an understanding of teacher attitudes and behaviors that influence behavior of individuals with exceptional learning needs.
• Describe the characteristics and educational implications of students with high and low incidence disabilities.
• Demonstrate ability to identify and prioritize areas of the general curriculum and provide accommodations for individuals with exceptional learning needs.

TEXTBOOK INFORMATION

No textbook is required for this course. All materials are online.

Do not post any content from this course on another website without direct consent from the professor.

ASSIGNMENTS

• PLC Assignments: Professional Learning Community Assignments will be completed in your professional learning community groups with peers from your content area. Each PLC assignment is different and will require you to work in different ways.  These may include

1. Meeting together in person with your PLC group members
2. Working virtually through the virtual meeting rooms provided on the home page
3. Working together on a Google Doc

Please read directions carefully for each PLC assignment to understand how to work with your group.

• Participation:  There are several assignment on the first lesson that are considered participation assignments.  These assignments will help you get signed up for an organized for taking the course.  They will not take a lot of time.  There are a few other participation assignments throughout the course.
• Discussions: Discussion boards will give you the opportunity to collaborate with other classmates and express your opinions and ideas about the concepts you are learning. Discussion board assignments will require you to post about a topic and return later to the discussion to comment on ideas from your peers. Please watch for due dates for both the initial post and the comments on your peers' posts.
• Quizzes: Quizzes will assess your knowledge and completion of the readings for various lessons. A study guide is provided in each lesson to help you prepare for the quiz. Make sure you can answer the study guide questions for each lesson before you begin the quiz. Quizzes are closed book, closed notes and taken in one sitting.
• Disability Characteristic Assignments:  There are a few assignments under disability characteristics that will help you understand more about different types of disabilities.
• Field Experience: You will complete 12 hours of field experience during this course. You will gain valuable experience interacting with students with disabilities, observe how students and teachers interact in classrooms and see the benefits and concerns with addressing the needs of students in inclusive settings. During your 12 hours of field experience, you will complete 3 assignments of your choosing. These assignments will be turned in at the end of the semester.

You must complete the 12 hour field experience to pass the course. If you complete 12 hours you will earn the grade you receive in the course. If you complete 9-11 hours, you will lose 5 points off your final grade for each hour you did not complete. If you complete less than 9 hours, you will not earn a passing grade in the course.  

Late work will be counted off 10% each day it is late.

Grade Breakdown

GRADE SCALE